Funding Assurance Officer
Funding Assurance Officer
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Job Description
This is the Internal Only Recruitment Site for UK Research and Innovation Staff for roles within Innovate UK (UKRI).
Please apply for jobs via this site only if you are employed by UK Research and Innovation (employees with access to Innovate UKs Workday system may apply via the Careers application within the system).
If you are not a current UKRI employee you can view vacancies at the externally advertised stage at the links given in the About Us information on the right. If you wish to apply for the position below please ensure that you comply with the requirements of the recruitment process by submitting both a full CV and application letter. Ideally you should also advise your manager of your application.
Applications must be submitted by
0Funding Assurance Officer
At Innovate UK project assurance has two important purposes: to ensure appropriate management of public money; and to track and hold project partners to account for maximizing the successes outcomes and impacts of projects we support.
*Please note this advert will close on the 3rd July 2025 at 23.59pm.
Watch our video Why Join Innovate UK here.
Title: Funding Assurance Officer
Band: UKRI Band D (UKRI Ts & Cs)
Salary: 36650 gross per annum
Reports to: Funding Assurance Manager
Location: Swindon (Hybrid Working
Contract: Permanent
Innovate UK recognises the importance of work-life balance and we will be happy to discuss any requests for flexible working arrangements.
Job Purpose:
At Innovate UK project assurance has two important purposes: to ensure appropriate management of public money; and to track and hold project partners to account for maximizing the successes outcomes and impacts of projects we support. The focus of this role is primarily to ensure that the funding assurance framework is adhered to and project claims are reviewed as per the risk-based approach and that any internal investigations and site audits are conducted as requested by project finance and the wider business.
We particularly welcome female applicants as women are under-represented within Innovate UK in this type of role.
Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities: (S&I) Assessed at both shortlisting and interview
- The role holders main responsibility is to provide funding assurance to a portfolio of Innovate Uks projects.
- The role holder will be responsible for supporting and providing expert advice to internal and external stakeholders across a portfolio of projects within a series of Programmes and acting as a key contact representing funding assurance.
- This will result in needing to support in resolving often complex sensitive and high-profile cases.
- The role holder may be expected to attend meetings at each of the project phases to represent Innovate Uks interests regarding funding assurance.
- Having oversight of a project the role holder will be expected to use gathered insights to identify project activity risk.
- By conducting analysis of claim trends and behaviors together with continuous review of spend profiles/forecasts to identify understand and manage funding risks.
- The role holder will need to be able to document key summary of issues and possible mitigations for review/approval where needed including change to participant or project risk ratings.
- Be available to support on site applicant audits where necessary to investigate unresolved issues identified through financial review by making pertinent enquiries and obtaining the evidence required to ensure a thorough investigation.
- The role holder may be expected to review and approve Project Change Requests to ensure project costs and claims remain in line with compliance and eligibility requirements.
- The role holder will be expected to complete a detailed review of project partner financial claims including but not limited to:
- a validation of supporting evidence to ensure compliance with Innovate UK and State Aid requirements using the risk-based approach.
- Ensuring claims adhere to the approved eligible costs.
- Diligent scrutiny of all supporting information records (e.g. timesheets invoices goods-in notes asset register) using appropriate investigative techniques with particular attention to identification of fraud.
- Effective liaison with claimants to resolve issues identified through financial review by making pertinent enquiries and obtaining the evidence required.
- In addition to the above the role holder will need to support other ad-hoc business requirements as necessary.
- This includes contributing to and supporting the delivery process improvements as part of ensuring an efficient effective funding assurance framework whilst working with other teams to ensure efficient end-to-end processes for Innovate UK and our customers.
This is not an exhaustive list and you might be encouraged to undertake any other duties across the wider directorate commensurate with the Band and level of responsibility of this post for which the post holder has the key experience and/or training.
Shortlisting criteria
(S) Assessed at shortlisting
(I) Assessed at interview
(S&I) Assessed at both shortlisting and interview
Person Specification:
We are looking for someone with a positive can do attitude as well as the following qualifications and experience.
Experience & Qualifications:
Essential
- Educated to degree-level or relevant equivalent experience (S&I)
- AAT/CIMA/IIA part qualified or willingness to study towards (S&I)
- Hands on experience of working within a process-driven service-orientated competitive procurement environment. (I)
- Financial management and analytical review experience with focus on quality and attention to detail balanced with cost-effectiveness. (I)
- Experience articulating complex issues to non-experts. (I)
- Financial acumen and rigor with a healthy level of skepticism (I)
- Audit experience (I)
- Fraud awareness and understanding (I)
- Knowledge/awareness of State Aid regulations
Desirable
- Understanding of structure of government and key Innovate UK partner organizations such as the (S&I)
- Research Councils and Devolved Administrations o Interest/background/experience in innovation or research business competitiveness and technology policy or delivery (S&I)
Skills:
- Demonstrable analytical skills and attention to detail (I)
- Proven team working capabilities. (I)
- Ability to manage workload and priorities in a fast-paced organisation. (I)
- Professional skepticism and an inquiring mind to not accept things at face value. (I)
- Self-organisation skills and a demonstrable ability to manage and prioritise own workload to meet tight deadlines. (I)
- Strong presentation skills and an ability to engage an audience.
- Exceptional communication (both written and oral) skills the ability or produce clear concise and accurate presentations and written documents. (I)
- IT literate including managing data and maintaining audit trails and data integrity. (I)
- A resilient approach and developed negotiation skills. (I)
- Ability to manage often conflicting demands of multiple stakeholders whilst protecting the integrity and ownership of the documented processes. (I)
- The ability to respond calmly under pressure and to make impartial and well-considered judgments in complex situations as and when required. (I)
- Solution focused with the ability to thrive in agile / changing environment. (I)
- Able to quickly assimilate and apply new information. (I)
Competencies:
All team members demonstrate compatibility with and capability against our Core Competencies such as:
Thinking and Problem Solving Stakeholder management Communication skills Influencing Self-awareness/self-management Strategic awareness Working with others Project management
Some of the above competencies will be assessed at interview stage in addition to the criterias listed in the person specification.
Travel Requirements:
Swindon -based: There may be the occasional requirement for national travel.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion:
Innovate UK is a diverse workforce of people. We believe that encouraging these differences and drawing the best from them will build a productive environment in which everyone feels valued where talents are fully utilised and in which organisational goals are met. Underpinning this is a belief that it is a fundamental right for everyone to be treated equally with fairness respect and dignity. We will act directly and use our influence to ensure that this right is promoted and upheld; we encourage applications from all those who meet the criteria set-out in our role profiles.
Equal Opportunities:
We are an equal opportunities employer committed to employing any person who meets the criteria for our roles. When undertaking recruitment we may require applicants to undertake certain tests or assessments some of which will be online and others may be in-person. If you have a disability heath condition or specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia then you may be entitled to support with undertaking this type of assessment exercise. Where you feel that reasonable adjustments are required to support you we ask that you advise your recruitment point of contact in a timely fashion providing further information. In confidence Innovate UK will then review your application for adjustments and provide support as required.
UK Research and Innovation:
Innovate UK is partner organisation within UK Research and Innovation. If successful in securing the position your employer will be UK Research and Innovation. More information can be found online Benefits:
We offer a benefits package crafted to provide an excellent work/life balance. This includes 30 days annual leave 10.5 public and privilege days flexible working hours an exceptional defined benefit pension scheme and access to a variety of support networks and discount schemes.
Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
Flexible Working:
We understand the importance of work-life balance and are happy to discuss the possibility of flexible working with applicants.
Pre-employment Screening:
To enable us to hire the very best people we will conduct a comprehensive pre-employment check on successful applicants as part of the recruitment process.
The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.
UKRI supports research in areas that include animal health agriculture and food security and bioscience for health which includes research on animals genetic modification and stem cell research. Whilst you may not have direct involvement in this type of research you should consider how this aligns with your personal values or beliefs. To enable us to hire the very best people we will conduct a full and comprehensive pre-employment check as a crucial part of the recruitment process on all individuals that are offered a position with UKRI. This will include a security check and an extreme organisations affiliation check.
Applications must be submitted by;
0Required Experience:
Unclear Seniority
Employment Type
Full-Time
