Job vacancy

Director of Finance

Reporting directly to the Vice-Chancellor as part of a recently reconfigured Vice-Chancellor’s Executive, the newly established Director of Finance role will be joining at a time of real momentum and positive change and will be responsible for the strategic management of all finance related functions in an integrated approach to corporate management of the University.

Job details

Department

Executive

Reports to

Vice Chancellor (VC)

Location

Kedleston Road

Salary

Competitive + benefits

Closing date

Friday 06 December 2019

Post type

Full-time

Reference

0654-19

About the role

Tasked with delivering the long-term financial sustainability of the University, you will be responsible for the delivery and implementation of future-focused strategies ensuring sound financial management investment and governance during a period of significant growth and transformation. As a key member of the Vice-Chancellor’s Executive team you will also be both a lead advisor and contributor to University-wide initiatives delivering corporate ambitions. An acknowledged financial expert with a national profile you will also act as a high-level external ambassador for the University forming effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.

The successful candidate will be a clear strategic thinker, a graduate and a CCAB qualified accountant with extensive successful management experience of equivalent services in large and complex organisations. Understanding the issues faced by higher education would be advantageous but more important will be your experience of delivering excellent financial management and governance in complex high-quality customer facing environments. A technical expert you will also possess excellent interpersonal skills and have the ability to work collegiately with all internal and external partners.

Principal accountabilities

  1. Provide strategic leadership for the finance directorate and lead on embedding a ‘centre of excellence’ model across the department. Engage with key stakeholders, lead the development and delivery of the University’s short / medium / long term financial operating strategy to support the University’s broader strategic aims and ensure its financial sustainability.
  2. From a position of deep understanding of the economics and business drivers associated with the University’s position in the FE and HE sectors, contribute to the identification of creative ways to enhance the University’s financial performance and maximise the value generated from its resources.
  3. Provide insight and actionable recommendations to the Vice-Chancellor to ensure that the University’s annual spending is appropriately managed and that robust controls are operated effectively to support the successful delivery of the University’s priorities.
  4. Be responsible for ensuring that the University meets its statutory and regulatory financial requirements and compliance for both Further Education and Higher Education; ensuring that the highest standards of financial stewardship and governance are met, supported by robust and well communicated finance procedures and regulations.
  5. Work pro-actively and collaboratively with other teams across the University, ensuring that a financial perspective is embedded in business cases and throughout the business planning and modelling process.
  6. Ensure that effective, high quality financial reporting, management information systems and KPIs are developed and enhanced to support key stakeholders in fulfilling their responsibilities; further to support the effective data collection and analysis required for external statutory and funding agencies.
  7. Oversee the production of high-quality, accurate and timely Financial and Management Accounts for the Vice-Chancellor’s Office. Identify, manage and mitigate high-level financial risks, ensuring that these are highlighted to VCE and addressed within the risk register.
  8. Provide strategic planning and guidance in line with regulatory frameworks to ensure clear investment strategies and option analysis as part of the University’s annual planning and budgeting process.
  9. Be responsible for relevant internal and external audit liaison with the relevant University committee (i.e. Strategy, Finance and Planning Committee and Audit and Risk Committee) and ensure implementation of relevant recommendations and actions.
  10. Oversight of statutory financial reporting; Annual Financial Statements and Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) returns.
  11. Play an influential role in the finance agenda within the HE sector; including contributing to positive relationships with national HE bodies (Office for Students, Higher Education Statistics Agency, enterprise bodies, British Universities Finance Directors Group etc.)
  12. Provide the financial lead on major capital projects and strategic projects aimed at commercial growth, supporting senior colleagues in developing costing, pricing and capital investment strategies.
  13. Work to deepen the level of financial acumen of leaders and managers across the University and embed a finance business partnering approach, fostering a culture of entrepreneurship whilst still ensuring that appropriate financial controls are observed.
  14. In having overall responsibility for all key finance functions, including procurement and payroll, work with other key VCE members and stakeholders to ensure the provision of high quality, effective and efficient finance services to staff, students and other stakeholders.
  15. Develop and maintain investment, borrowing and tax planning strategies, including in respect of activities undertaken outside the UK, maintaining key associated external relationships.
  16. Building, leading and motivating a successful and engaged team of professionals; driving improvements in capability, diversity and resilience of the team; ensuring that local strategic and operational plans are aligned to the University’s strategic framework and corporate objectives.
  17. Work collaboratively with key senior stakeholders, including the Chief Performance Officer, Deputy VC Academic, thematic Pro Vice-Chancellors and Executive Leads to ensure collective success and achievement of financial systems, procedures and internal controls
  18. Lead on the implementation of standard financial processes across the function and the creation of a continuous process improvement culture that seeks to drive the greatest efficiency; identifying and adopting new technologies as they emerge.
  19. Ensure that diversity and inclusion are integral to the culture and activities in areas of responsibility and across the University.
  20. Contribute flexibility in undertaking any other responsibilities commensurate with the role and as assigned by the VC from time to time.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

Qualifications

Experience

Business requirements

Desirable Criteria

Qualifications

Experience

Skills, knowledge and abilities

Business Requirements

Benefits

List of Employee Benefits* for Leadership roles

* Details on terms and conditions for each benefit can be provided on request

Benefits of working at the University

As well as competitive pay scales, we offer generous holiday entitlement. We also offer opportunities for further salary progression based on performance, and the opportunity to join a contributory pension scheme.

Find out more about the Benefits Find out more about the Benefits

How to apply

To find out more about this exceptional opportunity with one of the country’s leading modern and innovative universities please contact our recruitment consultant Alan Walter, Dixon Walter Ltd on 0191 202 1000, email [email protected] or visit dixonwalter.co.uk

Closing date for applications is Friday 6th December with final interviews scheduled for Friday 17th January.

Further details

Download Job description Download candidate pack

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