Head of IT Finance in Swindon

Salary: £70,752 per annum.
Band: UKRI Band G.
Contract Type: Fixed Term (18 Months)
Hours: Full-time/ Part Time. (minimum 0.8 FTE) (flexible working available)
Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire or BGS, Keyworth, Nottingham- Hybrid working available.
Closing Date: Sunday 8th March 2026.

About the role
The Head of IT Finance and Sourcing provides operational leadership and oversight of financial planning, commercial management, and procurement activities within the DDaT function. The role ensures that IT investments deliver value for money, comply with government financial and commercial standards, and support organisational priorities. The postholder will lead on budget management, supplier engagement, contract governance, and cost optimisation, working collaboratively across IT, Finance, and Procurement teams. This role is pivotal in enabling effective delivery of IT services, while maintaining robust financial controls and commercial assurance.

Key areas of accountability

• Strategic Financial Management: Lead the development, monitoring, and reporting of the IT budget, ensuring alignment with organisational objectives and public sector financial regulations.
• Value for Money and Cost Control: Identify opportunities for cost savings and efficiency across the IT portfolio, ensuring public funds are used effectively and responsibly.
• Governance and Assurance: Ensure financial and commercial activities meet internal governance standards and external audit requirements, including compliance with Managing Public Money and commercial assurance frameworks.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with senior leaders, programme teams, and external partners to ensure financial and sourcing strategies support wider organisational and government priorities.
• Risk and Resilience: Monitor financial and commercial risks, implementing mitigation strategies and ensuring continuity of service.
• Team Leadership and Capability Building: Lead and develop a high-performing team, fostering a culture of integrity, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Performance Reporting: Establish and maintain KPIs and dashboards to track financial performance, IT procurement progress, and efficiencies, informing decision-making and transparency.

The role includes line management of a small team and reports into the Deputy Director Business Management.

Personal Specification
The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).

• Essential
• Proven experience in leading finance and/or commercial functions within a complex organisation. (S)
• Strong understanding of public sector financial management, including budgeting, forecasting, reporting and delivering value for money. (S&I)
• Demonstrable experience in strategic sourcing, supplier management, and contract negotiation. (S&I)
• Knowledge of public procurement regulations and frameworks (e.g. Procurement Act PA2023, CCS frameworks). (S)
• Ability to interpret and apply government financial and commercial guidance (e.g. Managing Public Money). (S&I)
• Excellent ability to build effective relationships with stakeholders, influence decision-making, and communicate complex information clearly. (S&I)
• Leadership and People Management: Ability to lead and inspire teams, manage performance, and foster a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement. (S&I)
• High level of integrity, accountability, and commitment to public service values. (S)
• Strategic Thinking: Evidence of strategic planning and decision-making in financial and commercial contexts. (I)
• Delivery Focus: Track record of delivering outcomes in complex environments, managing competing priorities, and driving efficiency. (I)

Benefits
We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. We are committed to supporting employees' development and promote a culture of continuous learning.

• 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).

UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer.

Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact us. Please note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager.

For more information, please visit or contact UKRI - UK Research and Innovation.

UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation. Supporting some of the world's most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.

More information can be found at Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI.

How we support EDI in the workforce
At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community.

For further information, please visit 'How we support EDI in the workforce'.

Disability Confident Employer
As users of the disability confident scheme, any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply
Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the 'experience' section of the application.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.