Head of Financial Planning and Analysis

Despite big improvements in healthcare in our lifetimes, today millions of people in the UK still live in poor health as they get older. Diseases like cancer, dementia, diabetes, and heart disease affect the lives of many people in our communities. Our goal is to create a world-leading resource for health research, to improve our understanding and spot the patterns of how and why common diseases start, so treatments can begin sooner and be more effective.

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Head of Financial Planning & Analysis to oversee and develop the organisation's financial planning, budgeting, forecasting and reporting activities. This role plays an important part in helping Our Future Health make informed decisions, allocate resources effectively and deliver its mission sustainably.

This is an opportunity to contribute to the financial direction of one of the UK's most ambitious health research programmes. Working closely with leaders across the organisation, you will help provide the financial insight, planning and analysis needed to support decision-making, prioritise resources and ensure the long-term sustainability of our work. Your expertise will help build the financial frameworks and reporting that enable Our Future Health to achieve its goals.

Our Future Health will be the UK’s largest ever health research programme, bringing people together to develop new ways to detect, prevent, and treat diseases. We are a charity, supported by the UK Government, in partnership with charities and industry. We work closely with the NHS and with public authorities across all nations and regions of the UK.

What you'll be doing

As Head of FP&A, you will lead the organisation's financial planning and analysis function, ensuring accurate forecasting, insightful reporting and effective financial decision-making across the business. You will work closely with senior stakeholders throughout the organisation, acting as a trusted advisor and helping to balance strategic ambition with long-term financial sustainability.

Your key responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

Leading organisational budgeting and forecasting

• Developing robust processes and timelines for annual budgets and rolling forecasts.
• Reviewing cost centre budgets and forecasts with budget holders to ensure accuracy and reasonableness.
• Consolidating departmental budgets and forecasts into an organisation-wide financial view.
• Working collaboratively with stakeholders to ensure overall organisational affordability.
• Producing budget and forecast reports for the Finance Director, Executive Team, Audit & Risk Committee and Board.

Driving financial reporting and analysis

• Leading the production and continuous improvement of management reporting.
• Providing insightful analysis and commentary on organisational performance, including workforce planning and long-term cash forecasting.
• Monitoring and analysing key financial metrics and scorecard measures.
• Ensuring reporting is accessible, relevant and supports effective decision-making.
• Reviewing project and funder budgets and reports before external submission.
• Providing constructive challenge and review of business cases before approval.

Leading and developing the FP&A team

• Managing, coaching and developing a high-performing FP&A team.
• Supporting the team in resolving complex financial issues and stakeholder queries.
• Providing cover and support across the wider Finance team when required.
• Ensuring processes are documented and knowledge is shared effectively across the team.

Building strong stakeholder relationships

• Acting as a trusted finance partner to senior leaders across the organisation.
• Attending Executive, Steering Committee and project meetings as required.
• Providing balanced support and challenge to help stakeholders make informed decisions.

Supporting the wider Finance function

• Working closely with the Finance Director on strategic and ad hoc projects.
• Supporting financial systems reviews and future finance system enhancements.
• Contributing to continuous improvement initiatives across the Finance team.