Senior Funding Assurance Manager in Swindon

Overview

Funding assurance in UKRI covers both research and innovation funding and spans the lifecycle of the award process from its inception at designing a scheme to post‑project reporting. Its purpose is to provide our Accounting Officer with an overview to support the production of our annual reports and accounts, through outlining our control environment and evidencing regularity and propriety in managing public money. The funding assurance activities undertaken throughout the grant lifecycle are integral to inform decision making and improve the design and effectiveness of the corporate governance, risk management and internal control processes in relation to research and innovation funding.

The primary purpose of the Funding Assurance Senior Manager is to provide front‑line delivery of research‑related funding assurance work that contributes to the outcomes reported in the UKRI annual report and accounts. The postholders will undertake reviews of research organisation arrangements for administering research as well as reviews of grant activities and expenditure against terms and conditions of funding.

These roles will also contribute to joint working with other teams in UKRI and other research funders in line with the reducing bureaucracy agenda along with other agreed UKRI harmonisation principles.

Responsibilities

• To be responsible for undertaking and delivering Funding Assurance work in line with agreed methodologies.
• To develop and maintain a detailed understanding of the terms and conditions under which research funding is awarded and contribute to, and advise on, the on‑going development of UKRI terms and conditions.
• To develop and maintain strong working relationships with key stakeholders, both internal to UKRI and externally with research administrators and managers at Research Organisations and other funding bodies.
• To represent the Funding Assurance Team at meetings, conferences, seminars, and workshops as required.
• To provide monthly status updates on the agreed plan of work to the Funding Assurance Lead.
• To contribute to team meetings, (and ad hoc meetings, where appropriate).

Qualifications

• A degree or equivalent qualification, or a recognised Accountancy or Internal audit qualification, or a Management of Risk or equivalent qualification. (S)
• Ability to analyse complex data and summarise in concise and clear reports. (S&I)
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills, and ability to present to diverse audiences at all levels (written and oral). (S&I)
• Ability to plan and prioritise competing workload demands. (I)
• Knowledge of the principles of Full Economic Costing / Horizon Europe Guarantee. (S&I)
• Knowledge of the Research Organisation sector and/or Funding bodies. (S&I)
• Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
• People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,743, UK Research and Innovation contributes £13,541 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

• An outstanding defined benefit pension scheme.
• 30 days\’ annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full‑time equivalent).
• Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities.
• Employee assistance programme, providing confidential help and advice.
• Flexible working options.
• Plus many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work‑life balance!

For further information on our benefits please see: Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).