Finance Manager

This is an exciting opportunity to join UCL as a Finance Manager in the UCL School of Pharmacy. We are one of the most highly rated pharmacy schools in the UK, comprising four research departments, approximately 250 staff, and over 2000 students. The UCL School of Pharmacy is currently rated 7th in the world by QS Rankings (Pharmacy and Pharmacology) as well as 10th in the Shanghai Ranking (Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science).

About the role

• Provide leadership for the Finance Team with line management responsibility for staff within the team, ensuring the team structure meets Divisional and Faculty needs.
• Support the Director and the Divisional Manager with strategic and operational planning, providing and analysing financial management information as necessary.
• Lead the Divisional Finance element of sponsored research pre‑ and post‑award processes and funder’s terms and conditions, working with Research Services to ensure accurate management of the grant portfolio of the Division.
• Coordinate the preparation of budgets, monthly variance and quarterly forecasting, year‑end processes and annual planning activities for the Division as part of the institutional financial calendar while ensuring they underpin the Divisional Strategy and activities.
• Manage the Division’s financial commitments and review these regularly with the Divisional Manager and Director, highlighting risks to achieving the budget.
• Lead on all budgets, setting and monitoring these regularly and discussing with budget holders to ensure accounts do not run into deficit.
• Review, develop and implement financial processes to enhance the Division’s economic control, practices and efficiency, ensuring these align with appropriate Faculty and UCL policies.
• Liaise and coordinate with the Divisional Manager and HR Team Manager regarding new appointments, contract extensions, and replacements, ensuring appropriate authorisation against agreed‑upon budgets.
• Actively implement and ensure good finance practice, minimising charges to the suspense account and clearing any costs charged promptly.
• Develop and maintain an excellent working knowledge of UCL Finance systems and reporting tools to provide relevant financial information to support decision‑making.
• Act as authorised signatory for purchase orders and expenses within authorised delegated authority limits.
• Ensure expenditure is appropriate and in line with UCL financial regulations.
• Provide information to the Divisional Manager and Faculty Director of Operations to approve expenditure where required.
• Work effectively with the Faculty Management Accountant and wider UCL Finance Team to ensure the Divisional financials are prepared to a high standard and submitted on a timely basis.

About you

• Education to degree level or substantial financial management experience.
• Professional Qualification in accountancy or equivalent knowledge acquired by experience.
• Experience working in a finance role within a large and complex organisation.
• Knowledge of research grant administration.
• Demonstrable experience in effective budgetary management and control, including planning, forecasting and reconciliations.
• Contracts administration experience.
• Experience of working in HE in the UK or an equivalent environment.
• Ability to lead and motivate a team to deliver a high‑quality service.
• Excellent data analysis, interpretation and reporting skills.
• Ability to analyse problems and proactively identify solutions.

What we offer

We offer good benefits.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, fairness and inclusion, and being a place where we all belong. Therefore, we encourage applications from candidates likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and, for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women. Our department holds an Athena SWAN Silver award, recognising our commitment to advancing gender equality.