Research Manager

Do you have experience in HR and finance administration within a Higher Education setting? Are you ready for a new challenge in a dynamic academic environment?

Signature Recruitment is seeking a Research Manager to join our client, a respected university based in London. This is a full-time, temporary role with an immediate start and offers the flexibility of hybrid working 3 days on-site and 2 days working from home.

About the Role:

As Research Manager, you will support both academic and professional services staff with a range of HR and financial administration tasks. Your responsibilities will include coordinating research grant applications, managing budgets and expense claims, and overseeing HR processes such as onboarding and contract changes. You’ll act as a key liaison between departments, ensuring processes run smoothly and in line with institutional policies and funding regulations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support academics across the research funding lifecycle, including application preparation, budget development, and internal submissions using institutional systems.

• Coordinate with research support teams to resolve grant-related queries and track project progress.

• Monitor and manage research and discretionary budgets, providing regular financial updates to staff and ensuring compliance with internal policies and funder requirements.

• Raise and reconcile invoices, process purchase orders, and handle postgraduate tuition or bursary charges in line with finance procedures.

• Track expenditure and reconcile grant accounts, ensuring accurate financial reporting and appropriate use of funds.

• Review expense claims and ensure they align with funding rules and university guidelines.

• Coordinate timesheet processes for staff working on funded projects to ensure compliance.

• Manage HR-related administration, including paperwork for starters and leavers, contract extensions, and recruitment support.

• Provide guidance to staff on institutional HR and finance policies, acting as a first point of contact for administrative queries.

• Identify opportunities for process improvement and contribute to a culture of continuous development.

• Provide general administrative support and assist with resolving complex or sensitive issues in collaboration with senior staff.

Key Skills and Experience:

• Demonstrated experience in both HR and finance administration, ideally within a Higher Education or research-focused setting.

• Understanding of UK research funding and related administrative processes

• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing deadlines and adapt to a fast-paced environment.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, confident engaging with stakeholders at all levels

• A proactive, team-oriented approach with a focus on delivering high-quality administrative support.