An opportunity is available to join the University’s new Integrated Research & Impact Support team as part of the University’s Corporate Services Directorate. The postholder will provide dedicated support and expert advice across the University-wide research finance portfolio, with a particular focus on the post-award service for all research funders and across all Colleges in the University.
This post is one of four management posts in which Bangor is investing in its new research and impact support team.
The role leads and manages a team to deliver an effective service to support Principal Investigators with the management of their research grants and contracts and to liaise with external stakeholders and partners.
Successful candidates will have at least degree level (or equivalent) and hold a Professional Financial qualification (e.g. Fully qualified ACCA (or equivalent) , the proven ability to work across a high-volume portfolio with a particular focus on the post-award service.
This is a full-time, permanent position.
The successful candidate will be expected to commence as soon as possible.
The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post.
This role will be located on campus at Bangor. Through our Dynamic Working framework, there will also be the option to spend some time working remotely (although remaining in the UK) to support work life balance, which will be discussed further with candidates at interview.
Applications will also be considered to carry out this role on a part-time or job share basis
Applications will only be accepted via our on-line recruitment website, jobs.bangor.ac.uk. However, in cases of access issues due to disability, paper application forms are available by telephoning 01248 383865.
Closing date for applications: 15th July 2022
Committed To Equal Opportunities
Purpose of the Job
As part of the Integrated Research & Impact Support (IRIS) team in Corporate Services, provide dedicated support and expert advice across the University-wide research finance portfolio, with a particular focus on the post-award service for all research funders and across all Colleges in the University. The role leads and manages a team to deliver an effective service to support Principal Investigators with the management of their research grants and contracts and to liaise with external stakeholders and partners.
To undertake the financial administration of a portfolio of research grants and contracts ensuring that budgets are set in line with grant conditions, providing timely reports to all stakeholders, and identifying and communicating developments in the funding of a range of project sponsors. To ensure that information is managed and reported in accordance with awarding body, statutory, and University requirements.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
- Provide expert advice and support on the post award management of research grants and contracts from a diverse range of funders.
- Lead and manage the Research Finance team to deliver research finance support and advice through a strong customer-focused approach across the University.
- Be part of the IRIS management team, ensuring that post-award matters are considered as part of the wider remit of IRIS.
- To act as a University Authorised Signatory for grant offer letters and contracts: checking contract terms and conditions, assessing contract risk and potential financial exposure for the University.
- Ensure timely provision of financial information to ensure effective monitoring and management of the research grant portfolio and maximisation of cost recovery within funder guidelines.
- Put effective systems in place to support PIs so that projects are monitored and funds spent in line with plans and available budgets, to include pro-active management of large grants.
- To manage and coordinate relevant information for the preparation of statutory returns and information required for the production of Quarterly Management Accounts, 5 Year Financial Forecasts and Financial Statements.
- Provide financial information relating to research for external returns (e.g. REF, HE-BCI and HESA) and work closely with Finance Services to ensure that research finance is fully integrated into wider processes, including: year-end, depreciation, fEC, TRAC, reconciliation, external reporting.
- Lead and oversee financial reporting across the portfolio of projects and the full lifecycle, ensuring timely submission of invoices and statements and compliance with funder requirements and timelines.
- Ensure that income/expenditure have been correctly recognised in the accounts according to standard accounting practices.
- Lead and oversee funder-instigated audits, and internal/external audit, ensuring that records are scrutinised and documentation prepared to funder timelines and requirements, liaising with other Corporate Services as required.
- Put systems in place to pro-actively manage the project reporting and close-out phase of projects to ensure that eligible costs are charged to projects in a timely manner, cost recovery is maximised and reports are prepared in advance of funder deadlines.
- Develop, manage, implement and monitor the University’s policies, processes and systems for post award grant management and support, identifying good practice and introducing changes.
- Advise PIs and the wider IRIS team on research finance and broader matters, including procurement, travel and subsistence, subsidy control, Brexit, VAT etc, drawing on internal/external specialist advice.
- Develop detailed knowledge of the requirements of key external funders and establish effective working relationships with them.
- Working across the Colleges, develop good relationships with College Directors of Research and PIs to ensure that the service meets and is responsive to internal stakeholder needs.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues in Professional Services to ensure seamless business processes and support across all aspects of research and impact activity, including:
- the governance and legal team on research governance and contracts;
- other teams in Finance Services;
- the business intelligence team to develop analysis of internal and external research and impact performance data;
- the business planning team and REF manager to set, monitor and review appropriate core and leading indicators for research and impact as part of the University’s annual business planning round and REF preparation.
- Devise communication tools and deliver training to a range of internal audiences.
- Develop business processes and systems to support research and impact; contributing to the definition of requirements, procurement, implementation and development of systems as required.
Other Duties and Responsibilities
- The post holder will be expected to participate in performance review and developmental activities.
- The post holder will be expected to comply with the University equal opportunities policies, Dignity at Work and Study Policy and the University’s Welsh Language Policy and the Welsh Language Standards.
- The post holder has a general and legal duty of care in relation to health, safety and wellbeing and must take all reasonable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for him/her self and for other members of staff, students and visitors affected by his/her actions or inactions. The post holder is also required to comply with all applicable health and safety policies, procedures and risk assessments.
- The post holder must comply with relevant legal and financial policies and procedures and be aware of their responsibilities in terms of the legal requirements of their posts.
- Any other duties which are in line with the grade and responsibilities for the role.
Person Specification
Qualifications/Training
Essential
• Educated to at least degree level (or equivalent)
• Professional Financial qualification (e.g. Fully qualified ACCA (or equivalent)
Experience/Knowledge
Essential
- Experience of working with the academic community to deliver effective research finance management
- Good knowledge and understanding of the current issues in Higher Education including the policy and funding environment as they relate to research and impact. • Extensive experience of administration and management of research and knowledge exchange grants in higher education or elsewhere demonstrating the ability to ensure that all planned activity is properly monitored and accounted for, and deadlines are met
- Experience of collating and analysing qualitative and quantitative data and information.
- Understanding and experience of providing and delivering an exceptional level of customer and/or support service.
Desirable
- Proven experience of managing large, complex, multi-partner projects across a range of funder types and liaising with external partners and stakeholders.
- Experience of managing successful funder-instigated audits.
Skills/Abilities
Essential
- Good financial knowledge and understanding of sound financial practices for budgeting, monitoring and financial claims and understanding of technical accounting regulations.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships and engage proactively and effectively with staff and stakeholders.
- Excellent organisational skills, including the ability to prioritise own work and deliver to agreed deadlines.
- Proven ability to interpret and adhere to detailed and precise requirements, and to advise on their impact effectively and appropriately.
- Proven ability to lead and manage the work of a team and to work effectively as part of a matrix team structure.
- Excellent communication skills both written and verbal.
- A commitment to customer focus and the need to provide an efficient, professional and effective service internally and externally.
- High level of numeracy, with the ability to understand and interpret a variety of figures and statistics, and deliver accurately against operational deadlines.
- Demonstrated ability to work to high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
- Experience of pro-actively improving internal systems, policies and procedures whilst ensuring compliance within a regulatory framework.
- Excellent problem-solving skills and an ability to deliver creative and innovative solutions.
- Excellent numerical, Digital and IT skills (Microsoft Office).
Other
Desirable
- The ability to communicate through the medium of Welsh is desirable for this role. If applicants are not able to speak / write in Welsh at present, there are many opportunities to learn if the successful candidate wishes to do so.