Innovate UK has the following secondment opportunity available for employees of Innovate UK Business Connect:

Applications must be submitted by

Assurance Reviews Manager

At Innovate UK project monitoring has two important purposes: to ensure appropriate management of public money; and to track and hold project partners to account for maximising the successes outcomes and impacts of projects we support. The focus of this role is on the first objective working closely with those responsible for the second.

*Please note this advert will close on the 26th February 2026 at 23.59pm.

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Title: Assurance Reviews Manager

Band: UKRI Band E (UKRI Ts & Cs)

Salary: 46743 gross per annum

Reports to: Head of Funding Assurance

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 monitoring has two important purposes: to ensure appropriate management of public money; and to track and hold project partners to account for maximising the successes outcomes and impacts of projects we support. The focus of this role is on the first objective working closely with those responsible for the second.

We particularly welcome female applicants as women are under-represented within Innovate UK in this type of role.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

• Manage and deliver the financial review of project claims in a fast-paced dynamic environment including:

• Primary focal point and lead in triaging and resolving complex sensitive high profile cases
• Managing Financial Assurance Officer team escalations including 2nd level scrutiny of project partner financial claims and validation of supporting evidence to ensure compliance with Innovate UK and State Aid requirements
• Diligent scrutiny of all escalations by reviewing supporting information records (e.g. timesheets invoices goods-in notes asset register) using appropriate investigative techniques with attention to identification of fraud
• Conduct 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
• Based upon Innovate UKs Funding Assurance policy assess/conduct internal controls review on large companies in accordance with process
• Compiling and presenting reports including detailed findings together with assessments/recommendations for internal review/escalation
• Managing/approving/implementing any changes to the applicant risk status register ensuring adequate audit trail is maintained for future inspection. Liaising with Project Finance regarding any change status
• Manage the Funding Assurance Officers to ensure a cohesive team and individual personal growth
• Timely engagement with relevant Innovate UK colleagues to review project claims holistically identify or mitigate more complex issues and respond to information and evidence requests e.g. from the Counter Fraud team
• Ability to escalate and clearly articulate a key summary of issues and possible mitigations for review/approval where needed
• Support the upskilling/training of Monitoring Officers to enable a more robust review process rules
• Contribute to and deliver process improvements as part of ensuring an efficient effective financial claim review process whilst working with other teams to ensure optimum end-to-end processes for Innovate UK and our customers
• Support Head of Assurance in other ad-hoc reviews and business requirements as necessary

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 -AAT/CIMA/IIA full or part qualified(S)
• Line management experience(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(S&I)
• Experience articulating complex issues to non-experts (I)
• Financial acumen and rigour with a healthy level of skepticism (I)
• Audit experience (I)
• Fraud awareness and understanding (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 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;