Job summary
Research Costing & Contracts Officer - Band 5
Fixed term: 12 months - Full time 37.5 hours per week
The post will be based within the Research & Development department, and will report to the Contract and Costings Associate. The Post holder will maintain the robust R&D costing system to ensure all non-commercial studies and grant applications are costed in a systematic, efficient and timely manner.
The post holder will be the first point of contact for all Research Stakeholder requesting costing and contract support for non-commercial studies and grants applications.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be responsible for the management of both the R&D Costings and the R&D Contract shared inboxes including escalation of new contracts and costings to the appropriate staff and allocating workloads as required.
The post holder will be required to develop a good understanding of the clinical research funding environment including cost attribution.
The post holder will be responsible for preparing the costing proformas for all non-commercial Grant applications as well as costings where KCH are participating as a site in a study.
The post holder will provide support to the Research Director for internal costings as part of the business planning cycle.
The role requires good communication skills particularly in explaining finance to non-finance staff.
About us
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1.8 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London.
The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King's to another level.
We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.
King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Financial & Contracts Activities
- First point of contact for all Research Stakeholder requesting costing and contract support for non-commercial studies and grants applications.
- Manage the R&D Costings and Contract shared inboxes including escalation of new contracts and costings to the appropriate staff and allocating workloads as required.
- Manage the contracts tracker ensuring that it is updated in real time.
- Provide a costing template for basic information, to action costing request.
- Complete the costing template using the IRAS form or Schedule of Activity forms (training will be provided).
- From study protocols, and information obtained from researchers, cost proposals for new studies, agree prices and cost with funders and investigators.
- If a funding shortfall arises, liaise with sponsors/ funder and provide support for research teams to negotiate prices, and then agree the final costing for contracts, escalating to senior staff as required.
- Identify all research costs. Liaising with the study team/ Principal Investigator (P.I) to verify staff time and all other activities relating to the study.
- Monitor and manage the costing mail in box and action all costing request in a timely manner.
- Create and manage folders for each costing request submitted.
- Analyse information that is received from various departments within the Trust to ensure that costs are calculated correctly and reports show an accurate position.
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further details of the main responsibilities of the role.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Financial & Contracts Activities
- First point of contact for all Research Stakeholder requesting costing and contract support for non-commercial studies and grants applications.
- Manage the R&D Costings and Contract shared inboxes including escalation of new contracts and costings to the appropriate staff and allocating workloads as required.
- Manage the contracts tracker ensuring that it is updated in real time.
- Provide a costing template for basic information, to action costing request.
- Complete the costing template using the IRAS form or Schedule of Activity forms (training will be provided).
- From study protocols, and information obtained from researchers, cost proposals for new studies, agree prices and cost with funders and investigators.
- If a funding shortfall arises, liaise with sponsors/ funder and provide support for research teams to negotiate prices, and then agree the final costing for contracts, escalating to senior staff as required.
- Identify all research costs. Liaising with the study team/ Principal Investigator (P.I) to verify staff time and all other activities relating to the study.
- Monitor and manage the costing mail in box and action all costing request in a timely manner.
- Create and manage folders for each costing request submitted.
- Analyse information that is received from various departments within the Trust to ensure that costs are calculated correctly and reports show an accurate position.
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further details of the main responsibilities of the role.
Person Specification
Education & Qualifications
Essential
- 5 GCSE Maths and English grade A-C
- Relevant degree or professional qualification or equivalent experience.
Desirable
- Intermediate/advanced excel course.
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Demonstrate experience of income and expenditure accounting and financial reporting.
- Demonstrate experience of negotiating agreements.
- NHS/HEI research experience.
- Experience of analysing large volumes of data, drawing conclusions and report findings.
- Experience of communicating finance information to non-finance staff.
- Experience of working in a multi- disciplinary team.
Desirable
- Experience of working within the NHS and an understanding of current issues.
- Experience working with Budget holders in an Acute Trust.
- Experience of producing costings for grants submission.
Skills and Competencies
Essential
- Demonstrate good analytical skills with the ability to deal effectively with large quantities of complex data, both financial and non-financial.
- Ability to prioritise objectives & targets.
- Plan & manage activities to achieve deadlines.
- Ability to analyse financial & clinical study data, & draw appropriate conclusions.
- Ability to build effective working relationships with staff across the Trust, including consultants, and non-financial managers.
- The post holder will be self-motivated with good organisational skills and a logical approach to time management.
- Use own initiative and act independently.
Person Specification
Education & Qualifications
Essential
- 5 GCSE Maths and English grade A-C
- Relevant degree or professional qualification or equivalent experience.
Desirable
- Intermediate/advanced excel course.
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Demonstrate experience of income and expenditure accounting and financial reporting.
- Demonstrate experience of negotiating agreements.
- NHS/HEI research experience.
- Experience of analysing large volumes of data, drawing conclusions and report findings.
- Experience of communicating finance information to non-finance staff.
- Experience of working in a multi- disciplinary team.
Desirable
- Experience of working within the NHS and an understanding of current issues.
- Experience working with Budget holders in an Acute Trust.
- Experience of producing costings for grants submission.
Skills and Competencies
Essential
- Demonstrate good analytical skills with the ability to deal effectively with large quantities of complex data, both financial and non-financial.
- Ability to prioritise objectives & targets.
- Plan & manage activities to achieve deadlines.
- Ability to analyse financial & clinical study data, & draw appropriate conclusions.
- Ability to build effective working relationships with staff across the Trust, including consultants, and non-financial managers.
- The post holder will be self-motivated with good organisational skills and a logical approach to time management.
- Use own initiative and act independently.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details
Employer name
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Denmark Hill
London
SE5 9RS
Employer's website
https://www.kch.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
