Lead Finance Business Partner

Location: Harwell

On behalf of UKRI, we are looking for a Lead Finance Business Partner (Inside IR35) for a 12 month contract contract based in Harwell 2 days per week - remainder WFH (as and when required attendance will be considered for further afield candidates)
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is the national funding agency investing in science and research in the UK.UKRI invests £8 billion of taxpayers’ money each year into research and innovation and the people who make it happen. They work across a huge range of fields - from biodiversity conservation to quantum computing, and from space telescopes to innovative health care. They give everyone the opportunity to contribute and to benefit, bringing together people and organisations nationally and globally to create, develop and deploy new ideas and technologies.

As a Lead Finance Business Partner your main responsibilities will be:
* Lead budgeting, forecasting and financial planning for the Transformation Programme.
* Provide financial analysis, insight and recommendations to support strategic and operational decision-making.
* Monitor financial performance against budgets, forecasts and agreed KPIs.
* Identify financial risks, opportunities and variances, developing appropriate mitigation actions.
* Produce accurate and timely management information for senior stakeholders.
* Lead financial reporting and benefits tracking to assess delivery against savings and income targets.
* Support investment appraisals, business cases, options analysis and funding submissions.
* Act as a trusted financial advisor to the Transformation Programme Director, senior leaders, Finance and wider stakeholders.
* Provide constructive financial challenge and improve financial understanding and accountability among budget holders.
* Partner with commercial, business development and operational teams to identify income generation and financial sustainability opportunities.
* Develop and review financial models, pricing approaches, costing methodologies and commercial scenarios.
* Analyse profitability, cost recovery, contribution margins and return on investment across products, services and projects.
* Provide financial input into commercial proposals, partnerships and investment decisions.
* Work with procurement and contract management teams to improve supplier value and identify cost efficiencies.
* Support transformation, efficiency and continuous improvement initiatives through robust financial analysis.
* Ensure financial activity complies with relevant regulations, policies, controls and delegated authorities.
* Identify and manage financial and commercial risks across the programme portfolio.
* Support audit activity and implementation of recommendations.
* Drive improvements to financial reporting, planning processes, systems and ways of working.
* Promote data-driven decision-making and share financial best practice across the organisation.

Essential:
* Qualified accountant (CCAB, CIMA or equivalent) or significant relevant finance experience.
* Demonstrable experience working as a Finance Business Partner.
* Strong experience in budgeting, forecasting, financial planning and management reporting.
* Experience providing financial advice and constructive challenge to senior stakeholders.
* Proven experience developing financial models, business cases and investment appraisals.
* Commercial awareness and experience supporting income generation, contracts or business development.
* Experience analysing financial and operational performance to identify improvements and opportunities.
* Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
* Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex financial information to non-financial stakeholders.
* Strong stakeholder management,…