Research & Innovation Finance Officer

Job overview

Are you passionate about supporting research in the NHS? Do you enjoy a varied role where no two days are the same?

The Research & Innovation (R&I) Department at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT) is entering an exciting phase as we work towards University Hospital Trust status. We are seeking a motivated and dynamic individual to join us as a Research & Innovation Finance Officer and support this journey.

The successful candidate will have a strong financial background and be a collaborative team player with excellent interpersonal skills. You will work with a wide range of stakeholders and be comfortable managing multiple projects and priorities, demonstrating these abilities through the ELHT values. Experience in project management and/or developing reporting tools (e.g. Power BI or similar) would be advantageous.

We are looking for someone who thrives in a fast‑paced, evolving environment and values continuous professional development. The R&I Department, and ELHT more broadly, has a strong track record of supporting staff growth and career progression.

Please note that this role does not meet the criteria for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship under current Home Office guidance.

Main duties of the job

Job Purpose Provide a professional, timely and accurate finance service to the Research, Development & Innovation (RD&I) function, covering pre- and post-award grant management, study costing and negotiation, income recovery, reporting and compliance. The post holder supports the DERI Divisional Accountant and RD&I Operations Manager to ensure research studies are costed appropriately, contracted effectively and financially managed in line with Trust Standing Financial Instructions (SFIs), funder requirements and applicable research costing guidance (e.g. AcoRD/SoECAT). This role operates within a matrix management structure. While day-to-day tasks and study-specific direction will come from DERI Divisional Finance Manager (operational manager), line management responsibilities (e.g., appraisals, leave approval, sickness management) will be provided by the RD&I Operations Manager (functional manager).

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

3. Study Costing, Pricing and Negotiation

4. Income, Debtors and Payments

5. Reporting and Analysis

6. Governance, Compliance and Risk

7. Systems and Data

8. Continuous Improvement and Training

9. General Responsibilities

• Pre award management of Trust investigator led research grants and personal awards
• Prepare time-sensitive costings and budgets for Trust investigator-led grant applications in line with funder guidance and programme limits (including AcoRD/SoECAT where applicable).
• Advise investigators on eligible/ineligible costs and optimise budgets to maximise value within funder constraints.
• Coordinate the finance components of submissions, ensuring appropriate internal approvals and records for audit.
• Post-award management of Trust investigator led research grants and personal awards
• Liaise with collaborators and funders to set up accurate financial arrangements in accordance with the award terms and contracts.
• Produce regular financial analyses and variance reports; forecast expenditure and income; and support re-profiling where needed.
• Schedule and submit required financial returns (e.g. ASTOX) with appropriate internal sign-off, e.g grants and personal awards.
• Maintain complete, auditable documentation and support internal/external audit requests.
• Prepare financial appraisals for proposed studies (commercial and non-commercial), ensuring correct attribution of costs and pricing in line with Trust policy, AcoRD and market comparators.
• Negotiate costs with sponsors and partners on behalf of the Trust and draft/validate financial schedules for contracts.
• Ensure all costing templates and financial documentation are uploaded to EDGE and updated following amendments.
• Proactively raise invoices for research activity in line with agreements; monitor and recover income to agreed timelines; and resolve debt queries with sponsors and the Finance Department.
• Match remittances received without invoices and raise retrospective invoices where required.
• Administer participant payments (e.g. travel and inconvenience) in line with study terms and Trust policy.
• Produce monthly summaries from EDGE and Trust finance systems showing activity vs. income for all active funded studies.
• Develop dashboards and KPIs for grant/study finance (e.g. invoice turnaround, debt ageing, forecast accuracy).
• Present financial information in accessible formats to non-finance audiences and study management groups.
• Ensure compliance with Standing Financial Instructions, research governance, funder T&Cs, procurement and VAT rules.
• Identify financial risks and issues (e.g. under-recovery, overspends, contract gaps) and escalate with mitigation plans.
• Contribute to audit readiness, respond to audit requests and implement recommendations.
• Use EDGE and Trust finance systems (GL, e-procurement) to maintain accurate, timely data and reconciliations.
• Continuously improve data quality and develop tips/guides to support organisational learning from previous submissions and studies.
• Lead or contribute to finance process improvements (e.g. automation, templates, standard operating procedures).
• Contribute to wider research service process improvements (e.g. feasibility, transformation)
• Provide advice and training to investigators and RD&I colleagues on research finance (pre- and post-award, costing, invoicing).
• Engage with One NHS Finance programmes (e.g. Future-Focused Finance and regional Finance Skills Development networks) to maintain and develop professional skills.
• Build effective relationships across RD&I, Finance, clinical teams and external partners to deliver a professional service.
• Prioritise workload to meet deadlines; escalate barriers to the RD&I Operations Manager or DERI Divisional Accountant.