The Senior Research Finance Officer provides high-quality post-award financial management and reporting support across a portfolio of research projects, with a particular focus on year-end activities, reconciliations, funder claims, invoicing, and financial compliance.
The role is responsible for ensuring that research project finances are accurately maintained throughout the year, with robust controls at month-end and year-end to support statutory reporting, audits, and funder requirements. The post holder plays a key role in cash-flow management through the timely submission of claims and invoices and supports departments and investigators by offering clear financial advice and problem resolution.
Role information:
*Job title: Senior Research Finance Officer
*Hourly rate: £31.98 PAYE inclusive of holiday pay
*Location: Tooting
Key Responsibilities
Research Portfolio Management
*Take ownership of a defined portfolio of research grants and contracts, ensuring accurate financial management from account set-up through to close-down.
*Act as the main finance contact for Principal Investigators and departmental staff for all post-award financial matters.
*Monitor project spend against budget, identifying risks, variances, and corrective actions early.
Year-End and Period-End Financial Support
*Lead and support year-end and month-end processes for research accounts, ensuring deadlines are met and balances are accurate.
*Prepare and review accruals, prepayments, and deferred income relating to research projects.
*Support internal and external audits by providing reconciliations, evidence, and explanations as required.
Reconciliations and Financial Control
*Prepare, maintain, and review detailed reconciliations for all research accounts within the portfolio.
*Investigate discrepancies and ensure timely resolution in line with College policies.
*Ensure data integrity across finance and research systems.
Funder Claims, Invoicing, and Income Management
*Prepare and submit funder financial claims, invoices, and expenditure statements in line with funder terms and conditions.
*Coordinate partner and subcontractor expenditure, ensuring claims are accurate and supported.
*Work closely with Credit Control to support timely income collection and cash-flow management.
Journals and Adjustments
*Calculate and post journals, including overhead recovery, indirect and estates costs, cost transfers, and corrections.
*Ensure journals are fully supported, compliant, and approved in line with financial regulations.
Reporting and Data Analysis
*Produce regular financial reports for investigators, departments, and management.
*Download, analyse, and manipulate financial data using finance systems and Excel to support decision-making.
Compliance and Continuous Improvement
*Ensure compliance with funder rules, College financial regulations, and audit requirements.
*Identify opportunities to improve processes, controls, and consistency across research finance activities.
*Contribute to a collaborative "one-team" approach across research and finance functions.