Main Purpose of the Job

The Financial controller is the operational leadership role for the finance team of approximately 25 staff. Primarily internally focused, the role is responsible for the day to day running of the finance team and ensuring appropriate financial controls are in place. Balance sheet controls, day to day banking, accounts payable, accounts receivable and VAT all form part of the operational team.
The post holder has responsibility for the annual audit, coordinating the information for auditors and preparing the annual accounts for 4 charities and 6 other companies.
The role reports directly to the Finance Director and provides support in ensuring the finance team is operating effectively.

Key Relationships

This role is primarily internally focused ensuring the financial team is running smoothly.   Other interactions include other NBI functions (HR, contracts, computing) and some external reporting.   The role is also responsible for the annual reporting to UEA.

Main Activities & Responsibilities

Percentage

People Management
• Motivate finance team to achieve strategic goals
• Set and review stretching job performance targets for individual financial accounting staff
• Hold staff accountable for achieving their targets
• Day to day support for finance team

40

Financial Reporting
• Ensure accurate financial information available 5 working days of book month end
• Ensure appropriate returns are prepared for BBSRC and other stakeholders
• With Finance Director, maintain appropriate Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for financial accounting services, and benchmark with similar institutes world-wide
• Management reporting for subsidiary company and student programmes

20

Safeguard Corporate Assets
• Ensure internal controls are sufficiently robust and are operationally reliable to safeguard financial and physical assets
• Maintain an up-to-date asset register
• Protect physical assets through adequate legal, insurance and internal audit policies
• Up to date with current guidance on GDPR
• Ensure up to date controls in place in relation to supplier fraud

20

Statutory Reporting, Company Secretarial and Compliance
• Prepare statutory accounts for all legal entities
• Coordinate the preparation of corporation tax returns for the charities subsidiary companies
• Ensure corporate governance and company secretarial responsibilities are fully discharged
• Oversee preparation of appropriate returns for HM Revenue & Customs (eg VAT)
• Prepare appropriate financial returns for Charity Commission and other statutory bodies
• Ensure professional legal and tax advisors obtained where necessary

20

As agreed with line manager, any other duties commensurate with the nature of the role

Education & Qualifications

Requirement

Importance

Qualified accountant. A recognised professional accounting or equivalent business qualification with significant relevant experience post qualification.

Essential

Specialist Knowledge & Skills

Requirement

Importance

Excellent IT skills with the understanding of financial systems and the ability to work with IT specialists to produce a fit for purpose financial system

Essential

Good knowledge of VAT

Essential

Project management skills

Desirable

Experience in a multi company environment

Desirable

Knowledge of charities SORP

Desirable

Relevant Experience

Requirement

Importance

Recent and extensive experience working in a financial control team

Essential

Experience in preparation of statutory accounts

Essential

Experience in managing external audit

Essential

Management of finance team (any size)

Essential

Prior experience of working for a research organisation or University

Desirable

Interpersonal & Communication Skills

Requirement

Importance

Significant leadership skills

Essential

Ability to learn quickly and handle complex ideas with a clear logical approach to problem solving

Essential

A highly motivated and determined individual demonstrating energy and a proactive approach to financial management

Essential

Ability to take initiative and proactively promote ideas, concepts

Essential

Have attention to detail and to work with a high level of accuracy

Essential

Good communication skills, both written and verbal

Essential

Additional Requirements

Requirement

Importance

Attention to detail

Essential

Willingness to embrace the expected values and behaviours of all staff at the Partnership, ensuring it is a great place to work

Essential

Ability to maintain confidentiality and security of information where appropriate

Essential

Able to present a positive image of self and the Partnership

Essential

Promotes equality and values diversity

Essential

Willingness to work outside standard working hours when required

Essential

NBI Partnership

The NBI Partnership provides non-scientific services to the John Innes Centre (JIC), Quadram Institute Bioscience (QIB), Earlham Institute (EI) and The Sainsbury Laboratory (TSL). All of these organisations carry out scientific research funded by the UK Government, European Union, Charitable and Industrial Sponsors. The Partnership employs around 140 staff to cater for the needs of approximately 1100 Research Staff, Students and Visiting Scientists who are all located in close proximity on the Norwich Research Park.

The John Innes Centre, Quadram Institute Bioscience, the Earlham Institute and The Sainsbury Laboratory are registered charities (No’s 223852, 1058499, 1136213 and 106550) and are Equal Opportunity Employers.

For more information about working at NBI Partnership, please click here.

Department

Finance

Living in Norfolk

• Visit Norfolk
• Schools in Norfolk
• Childcare in Norfolk

Interim Financial Controller

The Norwich Bioscience Institutes Partnership (NBIP) has an exciting opportunity for an Interim Financial Controller to join their busy Finance department.

Background:

The Norwich Bioscience Institutes are a cluster of internationally renowned research organisations, working to tackle major challenges of the 21st Century – the sustainability of our environment, our food supplies and healthy ageing. 

The NBI Partnership provides high quality, non-scientific support services for the diverse community of staff, students and visiting workers at the Institutes (the Earlham Institute, John Innes Centre, The Sainsbury Laboratory and Quadram Institute Bioscience) and for the NBI Partnership.

Based on the Norwich Research Park amongst 230 hectares of parkland, you will be joining a committed, professional and welcoming team.  In addition, you will enjoy a competitive salary and annual leave, our defined contribution pension scheme, excellent recreational facilities and a range of other employee benefits.

The Finance team is responsible for dealing with all Finance matters for the main organisations on site and other subsidiary companies. Financial services provided include Management Accounts, Petty Cash, Expense Claims, Budgets and Grant Accounting. They also deal with all Statutory Accounting, VAT and Taxation issues.

The role:

The Financial Controller is the operational leadership role for the finance team of approximately 25 staff.  Primarily internally focused, the role is responsible for the day to day running of the finance team and ensuring appropriate financial controls are in place.   Balance sheet controls, day to day banking, accounts payable, accounts receivable and VAT all form part of the operational team.

The post holder has responsibility for the annual audit, coordinating the information for auditors and preparing the annual accounts for 4 charities and 6 other companies.

The role reports directly to the Finance Director and provides support in ensuring the finance team is operating effectively.

The ideal candidate:

The ideal candidate will be a qualified accountant, with a recognised professional accounting or equivalent business qualification with significant relevant experience post qualification.

They will have excellent IT skills with the understanding of financial systems and the ability to work with IT specialists to produce a fit for purpose financial system as well as good knowledge of VAT.

We are looking for an individual with recent and extensive experience working in a financial control team, with experience in preparation of statutory accounts and managing external audits.

Additional information:

Salary on appointment will be within the range £51,950 to £64,650 per annum depending on qualifications and experience. This is a full-time post for a contract of 6 months.

The NBI Partnership is an equal opportunities and disability confident employer. We are committed to attracting, recruiting and retaining the best talent, and welcome all applications.

The closing date for applications will be 7 April 2023.