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- Tasks: Support project managers with finance tasks across 800+ impactful projects.
- Company: Join UKCEH, a leading not-for-profit research institute focused on environmental solutions.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, 27 days leave, and a 10% pension contribution.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in environmental research while developing your finance skills.
- Qualifications: 5 GCSEs including Maths and English; finance experience and strong IT skills required.
- Other info: Full training provided; join a supportive team and foster an inclusive culture.
The predicted salary is between 30684 - 32563 £ per year.
Salary – £30,684 – £32,563
Hybrid working (50/50)
Part-time, 18.5 hours
We reserve the right to close this advert early if we find the right candidate, so we encourage you to apply early.
UKCEH is looking for a Project Finance Support Officer to join our team of talented individuals, contributing to scientific discovery and generating the data, insights and solutions that researchers, businesses and governments need to solve complex environmental challenges.
Working at UKCEH is rewarding. Our science makes a real difference, enabling people and the environment to prosper, and enriching society. We are the custodians of a wealth of environmental data, collected by UKCEH and its predecessors over the course of more than 60 years.
As a valued member of our team, you’ll get:
- 27 days annual leave, rising to 29 days after five years, plus 3 days for our Christmas closure
- 10% employer pension contribution
- Enhanced maternity and paternity leave (subject to qualifying requirements)
- 24 hour, 365-day access to support with physical, mental, social, health or financial issues plus access to our trained Welfare Officers
- Flexible working opportunities
Do you enjoy working with numbers, thrive in a varied role, relish being a key point of contact and can support and prioritise between multiple projects without getting lost in the details? If so, this could be the perfect opportunity for you.
Our Finance team is at the heart of UKCEH, supporting project managers across 800+ projects in the UK and internationally. We’re looking for a part-time, permanent Project Finance Support Officer—a fantastic opportunity to apply your finance skills in a dynamic, impact-driven environment while enjoying long-term career stability.
We need your strong numeracy and excellent communication skills to help our environmental scientists manage their finances across multiple projects, ranging from £1k to over £2m in value. These projects are diverse, scientifically impactful, and can be UK-based, international – or both. Your role will be instrumental in ensuring their success, enabling our scientists to focus on delivering meaningful research with confidence. You’ll be joining a leading independent, not-for-profit research institute that’s committed to recruiting talented people like you, progressing your career and giving you the support you need to thrive at UKCEH.
Your main responsibilities will include:
- Assisting project managers with project set-up, revisions, reporting, year-end processing and closure in Workday
- Supporting project accountants with workflow approvals
- Conducting regular project budget reviews and making necessary revisions
- Generating invoicing schedules and producing expenditure statements for customer invoicing
- Providing guidance and training to project managers on financial systems, reports, and budgeting tools
- Resolving ad hoc financial processing and reporting queries
This role is people and process-focused, so we need you to be flexible, proactive, and content to support project managers across multiple teams, without being deeply embedded in each project. You will build relationships with colleagues across all sites, so it’s important to develop and maintain strong working relationships.
For the role of Project Finance Support Officer, we’re looking for somebody who has:
- 5 GCSEs at Grade C/4 or above (including Maths and English)
- Previous proven experience working in a finance capacity
- Excellent attention to detail and numeracy skills, and an understanding of budgetary control principles
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain financial concepts to non-financial colleagues
- Strong organisational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities
- Strong IT skills, including intermediate level, or above, Excel skills
Desirable skills:
- Experience working within an academic, science, research, or public sector organisation
- Demonstrable knowledge/experience of using finance systems
- Experience of using Workday system and managing content on SharePoint (full training provided)
You\’ll be joining a supportive and forward-thinking team of around 20 people, working across all four of our sites. Recent internal promotions have created new opportunities for external talent to join us, making this an exciting time to become part of our team. We foster an inclusive, open, and collaborative environment, ensuring that everyone benefits from our shared success. Full training will be provided on all our systems and processes.
If we’ve just described you, we’d love to meet. Apply now.
Please send us your CV, accompanied by a covering letter which highlights any relevant skills and experience, together with what excites you most about the role and working for UKCEH.
* Unfortunately, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position at this time.
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Project Finance Support Officer employer: UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Contact Detail:
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Project Finance Support Officer
✨Tip Number 1
Make sure to familiarize yourself with the Workday system, as it's mentioned in the job description. Even if you haven't used it before, showing a willingness to learn and adapt can set you apart.
✨Tip Number 2
Highlight your experience in managing multiple projects simultaneously. The role requires strong organizational skills, so be ready to discuss how you've successfully juggled various tasks in previous positions.
✨Tip Number 3
Since communication is key in this role, think of examples where you've explained complex financial concepts to non-financial colleagues. This will demonstrate your ability to bridge the gap between finance and project management.
✨Tip Number 4
Research UKCEH's recent projects and initiatives. Being knowledgeable about their work will not only help you in the interview but also show your genuine interest in contributing to their mission.
We think you need these skills to ace Project Finance Support Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Cover Letter: Make sure to customize your cover letter to highlight your relevant skills and experiences that align with the responsibilities of the Project Finance Support Officer role. Mention specific examples of how you've successfully managed finances in previous positions.
Highlight Your Numeracy Skills: Since the role requires strong numeracy skills, be sure to emphasize your experience with numbers and budgeting in both your CV and cover letter. Provide concrete examples of how you've used these skills in past roles.
Showcase Communication Abilities: The job requires excellent communication skills, especially in explaining financial concepts to non-financial colleagues. Include examples in your application that demonstrate your ability to communicate complex information clearly and effectively.
Express Enthusiasm for the Role: In your cover letter, convey what excites you most about the opportunity to work at UKCEH. Discuss your passion for contributing to environmental research and how you see yourself fitting into their mission.
How to prepare for a job interview at UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
✨Showcase Your Numeracy Skills
Since the role requires strong numeracy skills, be prepared to discuss your experience with numbers and financial data. Bring examples of how you've successfully managed budgets or financial reports in previous roles.
✨Communicate Clearly
Excellent communication is key for this position. Practice explaining complex financial concepts in simple terms, as you may need to do this for non-financial colleagues. Think of examples where you've successfully communicated financial information.
✨Demonstrate Flexibility and Proactivity
The job involves supporting multiple project managers across various teams. Be ready to share instances where you've adapted to changing priorities or taken the initiative to solve problems without being prompted.
✨Build Relationships
Since the role is people-focused, emphasize your ability to build and maintain strong working relationships. Prepare to discuss how you've collaborated with colleagues in the past and how you approach teamwork.
