Job Description

At HR Wallingford, we design smart, resilient solutions across the natural and built environments to help everyone live and work more sustainably with water. By harnessing research, data insights and the power of our collective expertise, we help the world to better understand the changing influence and impact of water.

We are currently looking to recruit a Finance Manager who will be responsible for leading the day-to-day financial operations of the business, ensuring the integrity and accuracy of financial information, maintaining a robust control environment, and supporting the delivery of business objectives through high-quality financial reporting and analysis.

Reporting to the Group Financial Controller, the Finance Manager will oversee the month-end close process, manage the operational finance team, ensure compliance with statutory and group requirements, and provide analytics to support decision-making across the organisation.

The role acts as a key link between operational finance and senior management, driving continuous improvement in financial processes, controls, and reporting.

Key responsibilities

Responsibilities will include tasks under subjects such as:

• Financial Reporting & Control
• Budgeting, Forecasting and Analysis
• Process Improvement
• Stakeholder Management
• Treasure and Compliance
• Team Leadership & Development
• Act as deputy to the Group Financial Controller during periods of absence.

About you

For the role you will need to demonstrate:

• CCAB qualified accountant or equivalent financial qualification
• Very good knowledge of UK GAAP
• Proven experience of operating within a similar business facing role in a commercial environment – must be within a services/contract-based environment such as professional services
• Strong balance sheet discipline and understanding of business/project controls.
• Sound commercial awareness and the ability to provide 'value add' insight to non-finance
• Advanced Excel spreadsheet skills and a good understanding of how to extract and analyze management information from core business systems.

Desirable Skills and experience

• Experience of shaping processes and IT systems to produce enhanced Management Information and analysis to drive improved business performance.
• Engineering sector/consultancy sector experience

What Success looks like

• Timely, accurate and well‑controlled financial reporting.
• A skilled, motivated finance team.
• Continuous improvements in financial processes and controls.
• Clear, insightful reporting that enhances commercial decision‑making
• Strong international financial governance
• Effective cashflow and FX management
• Finance embedded as a trusted business partner across the organisation

About us

We deliver smart solutions where water interacts with people, infrastructure and the environment.

It’s our exceptional people that make us who we are. A diverse range of individuals, we work together to push the boundaries of conventional thinking. We are innovators, bridging the gap between academia and industry. As a not-for-profit company, we don’t have shareholders; instead our profits are used to advance our research and to develop our people, our tools and our technology. We value the independence this brings us, our business and our environment in the long term, creating a company that we are all proud to be part of.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity in our workplace. We do not discriminate, and work to create an inclusive culture across our business.

Further information

• Download a full job description and person specification.
• Check out our exceptional benefits at hrwallingford.com/careers.
• Salary range: £55,000 to £65,000 dependant on experience.
• The closing date for applications is 4th December 2026.

How to apply

If you are excited about this role but unsure whether you’re the right fit, we encourage you to apply. We’re also happy to answer any questions by emailing careers@hrwallingford.com

Interested? Please apply providing your CV with covering letter.

Additional information

Our privacy notice for job applicants, available from our website, explains how we collect and process the personal data you may provide us when you apply for a job with us through our websites, or by any other means. This notice also explains how we’ll store and handle that data and keep it.

HR Wallingford are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity in our workplace. We do not discriminate, and work to create an inclusive culture across our business.