Finance Planning & Reporting Analyst

UK Research & Innovation
Salary: 46743 per annum.
Band: UKRI Band E.
Contract Type: Open ended.
Hours: Full-time. (flexible working available)
Location: Polaris House Swindon Wiltshire - Hybrid working available. (Min 2 days per week in the office)

Closing Date: 26th April 2026.

About the role

Two great opportunities have arisen to join UKRIs Strategic Financial Planning and Reporting Team responsible for strategic financial planning analysis financial management and reporting. The team works across the nine Councils and the Corporate Hub to deliver strategic insights and decision support tools to senior decision makers in the organisation.

These are critical roles in a dynamic and fast paced environment suited to a bold and driven individual with a strong commitment to the provision of high-quality financial information and to continuous improvement.

Working at the heart of this team you will have primary responsibility for supporting the Planning and Reporting Leads in:

• Delivery of multiyear planning and reporting.
• Enhancing the current planning and reporting models and embedding the reporting cycle for UKRI.
• Transitioning the Strategic Financial Planning and Reporting from current manual processes and collation of data to a single integrated system-based solution harnessing the opportunity presented by the introduction of Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications and complementary reporting systems and tools.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a bold individual to help develop the role assist with the introduction of new methods of data analysis utilising systems such as Oracle Fusion EPM Power BI and Databank and input into shaping the role and work of the team.

The successful candidate will need to build and maintain strong relationships with Finance Business Partners and the UKRI Finance Data & Systems team and will involve working across the breath of UKRI including with the Strategy team Analysts and DSIT who all use elements of UKRI financial reporting to inform policy development operational decision making and setting organisational indicators and metrics.

You will have a pivotal role in maintaining a good relationship between UKRIs Strategic Financial Planning and Reporting Team and DSITs Finance Business Partnering team in what is a dynamic and fast paced environment.

The right individual will also have the opportunity to gain invaluable knowledge of the technical aspects of government finance including budgeting rules handling public money delegations and understanding and responsibility for the allocations process.

Your responsibilities

Primary:

• Lead the monthly production of the UKRI in-year management accounts.
• Own the generation of the high-quality quarterly / bi-monthly UKRI future year forecast this will include setting out the guidance for data collection teasing out assumptions used by finance business partners quality-assuring the returns and summarising findings.
• Reviewandchallengetheforecasts for in-year or multi-yearsubmittedbythecouncilsanalysingtherisksand opportunities for UKRI identified throughout the individual businessareas.
• Havingafirmunderstandingofthefinancialriskspressuresandopportunitiesbothinyear and in future years to ensure effective financial decision-making in theseareas.
• Be able to present and summarise information clearly adapting the style and method of reporting used for differentstakeholders as well as for different publications (e.g. the Annual Report and Accounts or the Operation Plan).
• Be a subject matter authority for the systems used to report data to DSIT understanding and influencing the month endprocess.
• Maintain and develop the UKRI consolidation reporting model implementing improvements and controls to ensure the process is efficient and errors areminimised.
• WorkwithkeystakeholdersinStrategytoidentifyreportingimprovementsensuringtheUKRI reporting brings together and focuses on the key spendactivities.
• Work with the finance business partner community to enhance monthly commentary working with DSIT to embed a process to remove duplication and ensure effective communication.
• Developing leading and maintaining strong working relationships with key stakeholders in the finance businessareas.
• Ensure communication remains open and regular with the business partners so that all parties are aware of their responsibilities relating to month end budgets forecasts and any papers.
• Buildastrongunderstandingofthevariousentitiestoprovideeffectivechallengeandsupport whenreviewingthemonthlyforecastsreceivedviatheEPMsubmissionmadebyeachcouncil.

Other Responsibilities:

• Build and maintain good working relationships with internal and external stakeholders such astheNAODSITandGIAAdevelopingandinfluencingastrongnetworktofacilitateeffective workingrelationships.
• Act as a key liaison point between DSIT and UKRIfinance.
• Run budgets held within EPM ensuring that they are aligned with the allocation letters following any in year changes and running the annual budget profile process.
• Management and co-ordination of regular and ad hoc commissions from DSIT including Future Year Forecasts and HMT Mains & SupplementaryEstimates.
• Gain a strong understanding of the delegation process understanding the specific budgetary ringfences and controls UKRI is required to adhereto.
• Ensure that there is adequate cover in the team providing support in the allocationprocess.
• Deputise for the Planning and Reporting Leads as and whenrequired.

Personal Specification

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

Essential

• Qualified Accountant(ACA/CIMA/ACCA/CIPFA) or Equivalent experience. (S)
• Adapt to changing priorities a can-do attitude and a willingness to support colleagues across the Strategic Financial Planning and Reporting Team. (I)
• Ability to take initiatives plan and progress tasks independently. (S&I)
• Strongmanagementaccountingbudgeting&forecastingexperienceandaparticularlystrong knowledge of MS Excel including modelling andcontrols. (S&I)
• Clear demonstrable relationship management and influencing skills with ability to instil confidence withinstakeholders. (I)
• Personal resilience approach to solve issues in shorttimescales. (I)
• Aptitude for and application of continuous improvement ability to innovate and challenge and to offer insights and ideas with practicalapplication. (I)
• Good organisational skills ability to deliver at pace and meeting changing priorities to time whilst retainingaccuracy. (S&I)

Benefits

We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. UKRI are committed to supporting employees development and promote a culture of continuous learning!

A list of benefits below:

• An outstanding defined benefit pension scheme.
• 30 days annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent).
• Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities.
• Employee assistance programme providing confidential help and advice.
• Flexible working options.
  

Plus many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance!

For further information on our benefits please see:

Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer.

Please apply online if you experience any issue applying please contact

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