Funding Assurance Officer

About the Role

This is the Internal Only Recruitment Site for UK Research and Innovation Staff for roles within Innovate UK (UKRI). Please apply for jobs via this site only if you are employed by UK Research and Innovation (employees with access to Innovate UK's Workday system may apply via the "Careers" application within the system). If you are not a current UKRI employee you can view vacancies at the externally advertised stage at the links given in the "About Us" information on the right. If you wish to apply for the position below, please ensure that you comply with the requirements of the recruitment process by submitting both a full CV and application letter. Ideally, you should also advise your manager of your application.

Application Deadline

Applications must be submitted by 12-08-2026.

Job Purpose

At Innovate UK, project assurance has two important purposes: to ensure appropriate management of public money; and to track and hold project partners to account for maximizing the successes, outcomes and impacts of projects we support. The focus of this role is primarily to ensure that the funding assurance framework is adhered to, and project claims are reviewed as per the risk-based approach and that any internal investigations and site audits are conducted as requested by project finance and the wider business.

We particularly welcome female applicants as women are under-represented within Innovate UK in this type of role.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

• Provide funding assurance to a portfolio of Innovate UK’s projects.
• Support and provide expert advice to internal and external stakeholders across a portfolio of projects within a series of Programmes and act as a key contact representing funding assurance.
• Support in resolving often complex, sensitive, and high-profile cases.
• Attend meetings at each of the project phases to represent Innovate UK’s interests regarding funding assurance.
• Use gathered insights to identify project activity risk by conducting analysis of claim trends and behaviours together with continuous review of spend profiles/forecasts to identify, understand and manage funding risks.
• Document key summary of issues and possible mitigations for review/approval where needed including change to participant or project risk ratings.
• Support on site applicant audits, where necessary, to investigate unresolved issues identified through financial review by making pertinent enquiries and obtaining the evidence required to ensure a thorough investigation.
• Review and approve Project Change Requests to ensure project costs and claims remain in line with compliance and eligibility requirements.
• Complete a detailed review of project partner financial claims including but not limited to:
  • Validation of supporting evidence to ensure compliance with Innovate UK and State Aid requirements using the risk-based approach.
  • Ensuring claims adhere to the approved eligible costs.
  • Diligent scrutiny of all supporting information records (e.g., timesheets, invoices, goods-in notes, asset register), using appropriate investigative techniques with particular attention to identification of fraud.
  • Effective liaison with claimants to resolve issues identified through financial review by making pertinent enquiries and obtaining the evidence required.
• Support other ad-hoc business requirements as necessary, including contributing to and supporting the delivery process improvements as part of ensuring an efficient, effective funding assurance framework.