AMS PSR

On behalf of UKRI, we are looking for a Senior Financial Accountant (InsideIR35) for a 3 months contract based in Swindon 2 days per week.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is the national funding agency investing in science and research in the UK.

UKRI invests £8 billion of taxpayers’ money each year into research and innovation and the people who make it happen. They work across a huge range of fields – from biodiversity conservation to quantum computing, and from space telescopes to innovative health care. They give everyone the opportunity to contribute and to benefit, bringing together people and organisations nationally and globally to create, develop and deploy new ideas and technologies.

This role sits within Innovate UK Working closely with the other Senior Financial Accountants, Financial Control Mangers and Financial controller

The role will be responsible for ensuring accurate financial reporting, completion of external audits and working closely with National Audit office (NAO), Government Internal Audit ( GIA) and Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) colleagues

As a Senior Financial Accountant, your main responsibilities will be:

• Provides strong leadership across finance teams, collaborating effectively with colleagues, partners and cross‑functional stakeholders to resolve issues, improve processes and support organisational objectives.
• Manages complex and challenging situations with sound professional judgement, escalating appropriately and maintaining high standards of financial integrity and control.
• Delivers accurate monthly, interim and year‑end financial accounts for UKRI entities, ensuring high‑quality reporting into central government systems and alignment with departmental requirements.
• Works closely with Finance Business Partners to ensure robust reconciliations, accurate management accounts, and timely preparation of consolidated trial balances to support statutory reporting.
• Leads engagement with the National Audit Office (NAO) and Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA), providing clear audit evidence, strengthening internal controls and implementing audit recommendations.
• Supports continuous improvement across financial control, contributing to the successful implementation of UKRI’s new cloud‑based ERP system and embedding enhanced financial processes.

Essential:

• Experience preparing financial accounts, including notes from trial balance, with a solid understanding of accounting principles.
• Proven experience supporting external audits, providing audit evidence and liaising effectively with auditors.
• Ability to manage deadlines and shifting priorities, working independently and as part of a team while maintaining high accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, able to engage clearly with internal and external stakeholders.
• High level of Excel competency, with strong experience working in finance environments.

Desirable:

• CCAB qualified (desirable) or qualified by experience

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.

Disability Confident 

As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, UKRI guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. This scheme encourages candidates with a disability and/or neurodivergence to apply. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

Armed Forces Covenant 

UKRI guarantees to interview veterans or spouses / partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates / military spouses or partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following "this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different".