Director of Finance

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

• Good honours degree or equivalent
• CCAB or equivalent financial qualification
• Evidence of continuous professional development

Experience

• Excellent strategic leadership skills with experience of leading, motivating and developing a diverse team to deliver an effective and efficient service; with a strong track record of building capability and developing people
• Experience of leading a range of financial or commercial activities, as well as successfully leading financial planning and forecasting for an organisation
• Experience of operating as a senior analytical finance professional, with credibility across all aspects of the finance agenda – particularly in relation to financial management
• Experience of providing oversight for annual audit / review and managing relationships with external auditors
• Experience of identifying and managing direct and indirect tax exposures, both in the UK and internationally
• Proven experience of identifying, assessing and appropriately managing financial business risk
• Track record of successfully facilitating progressive financial system and process development in a financially complex organisation
• Commercially astute, technically accomplished and able to demonstrate high level financial analysis and management skills. Credible with a high level of integrity and a strong negotiator
• Creative thinking and the ability to use financial and wider performance analysis to promote
• transparency and challenge the status quo
• Knowledge of due diligence techniques and practices to support strategic investments / divestments
• Excellent strategic ability focused on the delivery of outcomes and adopting an optimistic and pragmatic approach to solve problems; with the ability to make decisions that are in the best interest of the University in a complex environment, often with competing objectives and priorities
• Highly effective, proven change management skills
• Proven effective project management skills and experience in project costing
• Excellent communication, networking and influencing skills, with the credibility to engage with and influence senior academic staff and other diverse range of internal and external stakeholders
• Agility and resilience necessary to deal with demanding workloads and deadlines

Business requirements

• Empathy for a not-for-profit provider of Further Education and Higher Education
• Highly flexible and able to travel on business when required

Desirable Criteria

Qualifications

• Leadership or management qualification or evidence of leadership ability through high quality internal / external development.

Experience

• UK Higher Education sector experience

Skills, knowledge and abilities

• Knowledge of UK HE sector trends and innovations, as well as its funding and financial landscape

Business Requirements

• Understanding of the governance arrangements for charities in general and UK universities in particular

Benefits

List of Employee Benefits* for Leadership roles

• Local Government Pension Scheme - Defined Benefit Pension (accrual rate 1/49th) – which also includes 3 times life cover, ill health protection and flexible retirement options
• Annual Leave – 30 days plus bank holidays and 4 concessionary days and the opportunity to participate in the holiday trading scheme
• Comprehensive single PMI cover with AXA PPP – with Family cover options
• Leadership Group additional 3 times life cover
• Flexible benefits at discounted rates
• Dental
• Health Assessment
• Health cash plan
• Cycle to work
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – confidential help on personal issues – family, financial, tax, medical, childcare support and many more
• Employee discounts at local and national businesses
• On-site gym – low cost membership
• Discounted and sponsored accredited programmes of study for self and partner/children

* 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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