Job Description

UKRI
Salary: £46,743 per annum.
Band: UKRI Band E.
Contract Type: Fixed Term (18 Months).
Hours: Full-time.
Location: Swindon, Wiltshire - Hybrid working available, minimum 2 days a week in the office.

Closing Date: 27th May 2026.

Employees applying for any opportunity which may mean being away from your substantive role for a temporary period of time, please refer to the Recruitment Policy for further information in the first instance. If you are made an offer, please ensure you liaise with your Line Manager and the designated HR Team as soon as possible in order that implications of any move are clear and understood, prior to a move taking place.

About the role

Working closely with the other Senior Financial Accountants, Financial Control Mangers and Financial controller, the role will be responsible for ensuring accurate financial reporting, completion of external audits and liaising with National Audit office (NAO), Government Internal Audit (GIA) and Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) colleagues.

Your responsibilities:

Leadership / Teamwork / Collaboration

• Effective and active contributor to the team, where appropriate makes proactive suggestions to improve ways of working and coordinates with other teams within UKRI.
• Build & maintain good working relationships with colleagues & partners and provide input where needed to assist in the resolution of queries, & to share findings.
• Deal effectively with challenging situations and consults at a higher level when necessary.
• Adaptable and flexible approach to work; able to effectively multi-task

Delivery / Programmes / Projects / Process

Responsible for delivering allocated tasks and functions in support of the financial control team including:

• Production of monthly, interim, and year-end financial accounts for 1 UKRI entity including reporting onto DSIT accounts portal.
• Working in partnership with the UKRI entities Finance Business Partners (FBP) to ensure accurate management, financial accounts and reconciliations.
• Support on the preparation of UKRI consolidated TB and detailed TB for interim and final accounts to support UKRI accounts consolidation.
• National Audit Office (NAO) liaison and provision of audit data sets.
• Providing training and advice to colleagues producing Counterparty and Whole of Government Accounts (WGA) datasets.
• Liaise with the Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA), to ensure that evidence and robust explanations are provided to describe current controls and support the development of additional controls; implement audit recommendations and agreed management actions.
• We are implementing a cloud-based ERP system. This role will be integral to implementing continuous improvement across financial control.

This job description is intended to provide a broad outline of the main duties and responsibilities only. The successful candidate will need to be flexible in developing the role in conjunction with their line manager. They may be asked to carry out any other delegated duty or task that is in line with the post.

Personal Specification

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

Essential

• CCAB qualified (desirable) or qualified by experience. (S)
• Previous experience working in a finance environment and dealing with tight deadlines, preparing financial accounts including notes to accounts from trial balance. (S/I)
• Experience of external audits, providing audit data and liaison with auditors. (S/I)
• Ability to prioritise work and meet tight timescales and adapt to regularly changing priorities. (S/I)
• Good understanding of financial accounts preparation and accounting principles. (S/I)
• Good written and verbal communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively with both internal and external customers. (S/I)
• Able to establish effective working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders. (S/I)
• Able to resolve problems independently whilst knowing when to consult or take advice. (S/I)
• Knowledge of Oracle/Fusion and Workday. (S)

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!

We are offering this position with a whole host of benefits including:

• 30 days holiday (in addition to 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days).
• Flexible working hours.
• An excellent defined salary pension scheme.
• Easily accessible public transport links/ free parking.
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.
• Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities.

For further information on our benefits please see :

Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact Recruitment@ukri.org.

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 https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact Recruitment@ukri.org.

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 www.ukri.org

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.

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be rejected and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

As part of the pre-employment checks there is a requirement to undergo Baseline Personnel Security Screening. BPSS is a pre-condition of employment and failure to achieve it may mean that the employment offer is rescinded. UKRI reserves the right to run, or re-run, security clearance as required during the course of employment.