Assistant Management Accountant

£28,000 - £34,000 per annum plus benefits

Reports to: Finance Manager

Directorate: Finance, Governance & Assurance

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full time 35 hours per week

Location: Location Office-based with high flexibility (1-2 days per week in the office)

Closing date: 23 October 2026 23:55 – Please note that applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and interviews may take place before the closing date. We may close this vacancy early if sufficient applications are received, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Visa sponsorship: You must be eligible to work in the UK to apply for this vacancy. Cancer Research UK is not able to offer visa sponsorship.
Recruitment process: 2 stage competency-based interview  
Interview date: From 23 October 2026 onwards.

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer.

Join Cancer Research UK and play a key role in supporting financial decision-making across the world's leading cancer charity. As an Assistant Management Accountant, you'll work closely with Management Accountants and budget holders to deliver accurate financial reporting, support budgeting and forecasting activities, and provide valuable financial insight to a range of stakeholders.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to develop a career in finance while studying towards a professional qualification (CIMA or ACCA). You'll gain exposure to management accounting, financial planning, month-end processes, systems improvement projects, and business partnering, helping teams across the organisation make informed decisions that ultimately support our vision to bring about a world where everybody can lead longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.

Key responsibilities include:

Financial Reporting

·        Support the Management Accounting team to deliver timely, high quality and accurate management accounts

·        Report on headcount and support budget holders to understand variances to plan

·        Support budget holders to interpret information (including self-service accounts/transaction lists)

·        Be a key finance point of contact for specified areas, supporting with management accounts or budget queries. Act as a key Unit 4 Business World (Agresso) system contact for business users

Accounting and Year End

·        Work closely with the Management Accountants to ensure monthly transactions (such as accruals and prepayments) are processed accurately and on time to deliver complete and correct accounts 

·        Take ownership for a range of income and accounting adjustments as required (including payroll or fixed assets)

·        Look for improvements and efficiencies in processes

·        Support the year end audit and production of the annual report and accounts, by processing transactions and supporting audit queries as required

·        Support the Research & Innovation Ximbio and Commercial Partnerships teams with processing royalty and revenue share reports and invoices

·        Assist with any accounting system projects involving the team

Financial Planning and Analysis

·        Support the financial planning process, for example by populating templates or checking and inputting data

·        Facilitate and support budget holders to complete headcount budgets and forecasts, including building templates/models and training users where needed

·        Support the Infor system implementation by testing data and verifying processes

Key Technical Skills, Knowledge, Experience and Behaviours:

Relationship Management

·        Demonstrate the ability to communicate well and build strong and collaborative relationships

·        Become a key point of contact for your specified Directorate areas providing support and developing levels of financial management awareness

·        Be confident discussing financial data with a range of stakeholders

·        Ability to thrive in a matrix reporting structure

Financial Reporting and Control

·        Highly numerate with an analytical approach to problem solving

·        Strong excel skills and confidence with data manipulation

·        Ability to clearly present and explain information and extract key issues

What You'll Bring

• A proactive and organised approach to managing work and delivering results.
• Strong attention to detail and a commitment to producing accurate, high-quality outputs.
• Curiosity and a desire to learn, develop and continuously improve.
• Confidence building relationships and working with stakeholders at different levels.
• A collaborative mindset and willingness to support colleagues across the wider team.
• Commitment to inclusion, respect and Cancer Research UK's values.

·        Ensure equality and diversity is celebrated and considered as part of all decisions taken 

Experience of / Qualifications in:

·        Studying or looking to study for an accounting qualification (CIMA/ACCA)

·        An accounting qualification (A Level, Degree or AAT) would be advantageous but not essential

·        Can demonstrate an understanding of budgetary/forecasting processes and financial controls

We recognise that no candidate will meet every requirement. If you're excited by this opportunity and believe you have the skills and potential to succeed, we'd love to hear from you.

Our organisation values are designed to guide all that we do.

Bold: Act with ambition, courage and determination  

Credible: Act with rigour and professionalism   

Human: Act to have a positive impact on people  

Together: Act inclusively and collaboratively

We’re looking for people who can believe in and embody these organisation values and can use them to drive forward progress against our mission to beat cancer.

If you’re interested in applying and excited about working with us but are unsure if you have the right skills and experience we’d still love to hear from you.

What will I gain?

We create a working environment that supports your wellbeing and provide a generous benefits package, a wide range of career and personal development opportunities and high-quality tools. Our policies and processes enable you to improve your work-life balance, take positive steps in your career and achieve your personal wellbeing goals.

You can explore our benefits by visiting our careers web page.

How do I apply?

We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. CVs are required for all applications; but we won’t be able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, we ask you to complete the work history section of the online application form for us to be able to assess you fairly and objectively.

Please note that applications can’t be edited once submitted.

Owing to the nature of this position, any offer of employment for this role will be subject to a satisfactory basic DBS check.

For more information on this career opportunity please visit our website or contact us at recruitment@cancer.org.uk.  

For more updates on our work and careers, follow us on: Linked In, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

Our vision is to create a charity where everyone feels like they belong, benefits from and participates in, the work we do. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented.

We want to see every candidate performing at their best throughout the job application process, interview process and whilst at work. We therefore ask you to inform us of any concerns you have or any adjustments you might need to enable this to happen. Please contact recruitment@cancer.org.uk or 020 3469 8400 as soon as possible. 

Unfortunately, we are unable to recruit anyone below the age of 18, so that we can protect young people from health & safety and safeguarding risks.