A digitised framework for research-finance management in higher education institutions: insights from an autoethnographic study in South Africa

University research is increasingly dependent on effective finance management, yet much of the existing literature approaches this issue from institutional or administrative perspectives, with limited attention to the lived experiences of those directly engaged in research-finance processes. This gap restricts understanding of how policies and practices shape everyday research work. To address this, this study employs a collaborative autoethnographic approach drawing on the experiences of a research-finance professional, a research manager, and a researcher at a South African university. Reflections and real-time notes were analysed to identify key themes, including institutional policies, budgeting and disbursement, researcher attitudes, and accountability mechanisms. Findings show that effective communication, transparent disbursement, and digital monitoring tools are central to sustaining research quality and innovation, but challenges persist around compliance, resource allocation, and coordination between finance units and researchers. From these insights, the study proposes a digitised framework for research-finance management, complemented by practical action steps. This contribution highlights insider perspectives often absent from prior work and provide a context-specific yet adaptable model for strengthening research-finance systems in higher education.