Finance Business Partner (18-month contract)

Your new company
This is an exciting opportunity to join the costings team for an Oxfordshire organisation as a finance business partner. The purpose of the role is to cover for a long-term absence over the next 18 months, liaising with internal stakeholders and identifying cost efficiencies.

Your new role
As the successful candidate, your duties will include:

• Produce and submit the TRAC return, ensuring full compliance with the latest OfS requirements.
• Maintain robust systems and records to ensure full compliance with current OfS TRAC and Full Economic Costing (FEC) best practice standards.
• Maintain and enhance the complex Excel model used for the TRAC return, and regularly review overhead recovery levels and pricing for external teaching, research, and commercial or collaborative contracts.
• Work with stakeholders and finance colleagues to review costing and pricing practices for externally funded research, enterprise projects, consultancy, and contract research-covering both pre award costing and post award expenditure to ensure compliance with funder terms.
• Partner with colleagues across stakeholders and Finance to design and implement new processes, approval routes, and guidance to support effective costing and pricing of research and other income generating activities, drawing on sector best practice.
• Collaborate with stakeholders and the finance team to develop or refine costing and pricing models for research infrastructure and facilities to maximise cost recovery and support long term sustainability.
• Collaborate with stakeholders and Finance teams to prepare and coordinate workload planning and review outcomes.
• Work closely with Heads of Finance and Planning to produce the annual Surplus Analysis, providing detailed insight into income, expenditure, and surplus/(deficit) across all income streams.
• Prepare the Surplus Analysis paper and attend senior leadership and committee meetings where the results are reviewed.
• Prepare papers for the Financial Sustainability Steering Group (FSSG), lead discussions on processes and findings, interpret key data insights, and document required follow up actions.
• Prepare papers for, and participate in, Finance and Resources Committee meetings as part of TRAC governance, as well as supporting other ad hoc costing projects.
• Represent the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) on TRAC and FEC matters in internal and external working or user groups.
• Act as the primary liaison between Finance & Legal Services, the OfS, Research Councils, and other external bodies, as well as internal stakeholders, on all FEC related matters.
• Undertake any additional duties or ad hoc projects appropriate to the role as required.

• CCAB qualified or part qualified accountant with strong experience in costing, pricing, and applying Full Economic Costing (FEC) principles.
• High level of numeracy, budgeting capability, and advanced IT proficiency, including Excel modelling and financial systems.
• Skilled in analysing, interpreting and presenting complex information clearly for both finance and non finance audiences.
• Able to develop practical, innovative solutions and exercise sound judgement while working independently to tight deadlines.
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and work collaboratively across diverse groups.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise effectively.
• Experience supporting or leading change initiatives within complex environments.

• 38 days annual leave including bank holidays
• Generous pension scheme
• 1 day in office per week, flexible hybrid policy
• Discounted access to sports and gym facilities.
• Discounted travel options to support sustainable and affordable commuting.
• Access to the discount card scheme.
• On site nursery provision.