Research Finance Process and Controls Specialist (3 Years Fixed Term)

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available until 31 July 2028 in the first instance.

We are seeking to appoint a Research Finance Process and Controls Specialist to play a key role in strengthening the University's post-award financial control environment, enhancing the robustness, consistency and transparency of research finance processes, and supporting the effective delivery of grant management and compliance obligations during a period of significant organisational change.

Working closely with colleagues across the Research Office, Finance Division, Governance and Compliance Division and the Schools and Departments across the wider University, the postholder will provide financial oversight and specialist support for post award process and controls working to strengthen operational control. This includes scrutiny, review, and quality checking of complex financial processes such as partner payments, elements of the Wellcome Trust quarterly return workflow, and the financial management of EU coordinator grants, to help ensure accuracy, compliance, and consistency across Post Award teams.

By strengthening operational financial controls during a period of significant organisational change, the postholder will also generate insights to inform the Finance Transformation and Research Support Transformation Programmes, supporting the development of future systems and processes and providing essential transitional capacity.

The Research Office is part of the Unified Administrative Service and is responsible for the central administration and for taking a strategic role in the oversight and development of all aspects of the University's research activities. The post holder will be a member of the Research Office's Assurance, Risk and Compliance function, which is charged with ensuring that the University has adequate and effective controls in place to discharge our compliance obligations and provide assurance to the central University while ensuring our controls and governance is designed and fit for purpose for the future of the University's systems and processes.

About you

We are looking for an experienced professional who is a qualified or part qualified accountant, or someone with strong financial experience. A strong understanding of a complex financial control environment and experience of process improvement is required. Experience of working in research grants administration is essential.

The University is supportive of hybrid working, where the majority of work is undertaken on University premises and some in a remote working environment. The aim of our approach is to enable as many staff as possible to work in a hybrid way if they wish and where their role allows. This arrangement is subject to change and will not form a part of the contractual terms of the role. This role requires onsite attendance for two days a week.

For more information about this role please see the further particulars document.

We welcome applications from individuals who wish to be considered for part-time working or other flexible working arrangements.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Please include details of your referees, including email address and phone number, one of which must be your most recent line manager. If you have questions about the application process, contact CROrecruitment@admin.cam.ac.uk.

Please ensure that you upload a covering letter and CV in the upload section of the online application. The covering letter should outline how you match the criteria for the post and why you are applying for this role.

Please quote reference EW49362 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

Key information

Department/location

Cambridge Research Office

Salary

£35,608-£46,049

Reference

EW49362

Category

Academic-related

Date published

20 April 2026

Closing date

4 May 2026