Credible financial planning. Informed decision-making. Impacting the future.

Senior Finance Manager (Scientific Research & Innovation)

£68,000 - £72,000 (+ Benefits)

Reports to: Head of Finance (Core Purpose)

Department: Chief Operating Office

Contract: 12 month fixed-term contract

If you are on a permanent contract, we are open to exploring this role as an external secondment (a skills exchange programme where a permanent employee is seconded from their current organisation to work for Cancer Research UK. You would remain on your current company’s payroll and Cancer Research UK would pay your company as a supplier so that you can return to your current organisation at the end of this contract)

Hours: Full time 35 hours per week

Location: Stratford, London. Office-based with high flexibility (1-2 days per week in the office).

Visa sponsorship: You must be eligible to work in the UK to apply for this vacancy. Cancer Research UK is not able to offer visa sponsorship. 

Closing date: 29 November 2024 23:55

This vacancy may close earlier if a high volume of applications is received or once a suitable candidate is found, therefore we strongly recommend that you apply early to avoid disappointment. If you require more time to apply as part of a reasonable adjustment, please contact [email protected] as soon as possible.

Recruitment process: Two competency-based interviews (the first stage will be based onsite at Stratford)

Interview date:  05 December 2024

How do I apply? We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. CVs are required for all applications; but we won’t be able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, we ask you to fully complete the work history section of the online application form for us to be able to assess you quickly, fairly, and objectively.

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer.

We are professionals with purpose, beating cancer every day. But we need to go much further and much faster. That’s why we’re looking for someone talented, someone who wants to develop their skills, someone like you.

Cancer Research UK’s Finance team’s credibility and professionalism in handling money fundraised by public generosity is essential to the smooth running and future ambitions of our organisation, ultimately helping the charity reach our goal of beating cancer. This role will sit within our Core Purpose Finance team as the Senior Finance Manager for our Scientific Research & Innovation (R&I) and Policy, Information & Communications (PIC) directorates.

Cancer Research UK is the largest independent, non-commercial funder of cancer science worldwide. Our R&I directorate brings together our scientists, clinicians, Therapeutic Innovation, Centre of Drug Development (CDD), and network of global partners to develop ground-breaking ideas, research, and treatments to bring about a world where everybody lives longer, better lives free from the fear of cancer. In 2023/24, we committed £400m towards this life-saving research and are on track to spend over £1.5b on research over 5 years to deliver our Discover, Translate, and Partner strategies.

PIC works to identify and reduce the barriers that are stopping new innovations in cancer prevention, diagnosis, and care from being made available and used. They use their influence and expertise and work with people affected by cancer to ensure the benefits of our research are available to the public and that the UK’s cancer care, policies, and ecosystem are amongst the best in the world.

As a Senior Finance Manager, you will manage and lead the financial planning, management reporting, and analysis for these impactful business areas. You will connect closely with Cancer Research UK’s cause by partnering and collaborating with managers and leaders from across R&I and PIC to deliver our ambitious strategy. This will involve supporting, advising, influencing, negotiating, and challenging the leadership teams to add valuable input towards financial decision-making, forecasting, budgeting, our 5-year plan, and strategic development. You will also line manage and lead our Core Purpose Finance Team (4 direct reports) by supporting and coaching them to meet the reporting, budgeting, and partnering needs of the R&I directorate.

If you are a qualified Finance Manager or Finance Business Partner who has worked in a large scientific/ research organisation and thrives in building credible stakeholder relationships with leadership teams, we’d love for you to join our mission.

What will I be doing?

• Leading the preparation and execution of all financial planning for the Scientific Research & Innovation (R&I) directorate.

  • In 2023/24, we committed c.£400m towards cancer research and are on track to spend over £1.5b on research over 5 years.

  • This will include forecasting, budgeting, and 5-year financial planning, as well as input to strategy development.

• Producing and developing monthly and quarterly reporting for the R&I and Policy, Information & Communications (PIC) directorates:

  • Regularly leading the analysis of financial trends and activity.

  • Feeding findings into short-term forecasts and long-term plans.

• Providing analysis and scrutiny of financial outcomes and indicators of business performance to inform decision-making and direction.

• Building and developing knowledge and understanding of R&I and PIC’s operations as well as external economic factors and their impact on these directorates.  

• Building strong, credible stakeholder relationships with Directors and Heads in R&I and PIC:

  • Collaborating with stakeholders to develop the scope and value of business partnering and financial activity.

  • Ensuring systems and processes meet the requirements for improved reporting and analysis within R&I and PIC.

• Line managing a team of 4 (x2 Finance Managers, x1 Senior Finance Analyst, and x1 Finance Analyst). This will involve supporting and developing the team in:

  • The preparation of management accounts, variance analysis, budgeting, and forecasting.

  • Identifying and delivering continuous improvement of Finance services and business partnering.

• Embodying Cancer Research UK’s leadership behaviours by:

  • Driving for impact by aiming high, creating clarity, and acting decisively.

  • Embracing our mission as a collective effort.

  • Creating an environment where our Finance team can do impactful work by enabling ownership and building an inclusive workplace.

  • Fostering conditions where ideas and fresh approaches thrive by being curious and valuing challenges and ideas.

What skills will I need?

• Qualified or QBE Finance Manager or Finance Business Partner (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) who has led financial planning and decision-making within a large scientific research organisation (e.g., life sciences, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical, healthcare, charity etc).

• Significant experience leading on complex financial modelling, reporting, contract reviews, budgeting and forecasting; and contributing to year-end statements.

• A credible business partner who has built and managed strong, collaborative stakeholder relationships at all levels (including Heads and Directors).

• Proven ability to support, influence, and negotiate with senior managers and leaders in financial decision-making and planning while delivering strong financial controls.

• Line managed a team with experience setting objectives and KPIs, monitoring and tracking performance, recognising success, and supporting in improving underperformance.

• Clear communication with a demonstrable ability to present and explain financial information and guidance to non-financial stakeholders, colleagues, and management teams.

• Proactive in identifying opportunities to drive change and improvements to the team’s operational effectiveness, processes, approaches, outputs, and financial controls.

• Can set and meet deadlines while maintaining strong attention to detail and effectively managing expectations. 

Our organisation values are designed to guide all that we do.

Bold: Act with ambition, courage and determination  

Credible: Act with rigour and professionalism   

Human: Act to have a positive impact on people  

Together: Act inclusively and collaboratively

We’re looking for people who can believe in and embody these organisation values and can use them to drive forward progress against our mission to beat cancer.

If you’re interested in applying and excited about working with us but are unsure if you have the right skills and experience we’d still love to hear from you.

What will I gain?

We create a working environment that supports your wellbeing and provide a generous benefits package, a wide range of career and personal development opportunities and high-quality tools. Our policies and processes enable you to improve your work-life balance, take positive steps in your career and achieve your personal wellbeing goals.

You can explore our benefits by visiting our careers web page.

Additional Information

For more information about working with us please visit our website or contact us at [email protected].  

For more updates on our work and careers, follow us on: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

Our vision is to create a charity where everyone feels like they belong, benefits from and participates in, the work we do. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented.

We want to see every candidate performing at their best throughout the job application process, interview process and whilst at work. We therefore ask you to inform us of any concerns you have or any adjustments you might need to enable this to happen. Please contact [email protected] or 020 3469 8400 as soon as possible. 

Unfortunately, we are unable to recruit anyone below the age of 18, so that we can protect young people from health & safety and safeguarding risks.