The Role

Reporting Into: Chief Financial Officer

Line Management: 2 FTE, Head of Transactions, Head of Financial Accounting, with a broader function of 30-40 FTE

Job Purpose:

The Director of Financial Control plays a critical leadership role in ensuring financial integrity, regulatory compliance and operational efficiency of the University’s financial function. In providing accurate, timely and strategic oversight, the role is instrumental in ensuring sustainable financial health – ultimately contributing to an improved staff and student experience and enabling the University to reach its ambitious strategic short and long term goals.

Key Responsibilities:

Reporting directly into the Chief Financial Officer, you will form a key part of the senior finance leadership team and will provide accurate, timely and strategic oversight and will be instrumental in ensuring sustainable financial health, responsible for:

• Statutory Accounting and Audit Management
  Lead the year end close and preparation and filing of statutory financial statements in compliance with UK GAAP and regulatory requirements (e.g. Office for Students, HMRC). Coordinate all internal and external audits, ensuring timely, accurate completion, and effective resolution of audit findings. Monitor and implement updates to accounting standards and enhance internal controls accordingly.
• Monthly Close and Financial Reporting
  Contribute to the month-end close process, including general ledger reconciliations, journal entries, cashflow and liquidity internal reporting. Deliver accurate and timely variance analysis, supporting the CFO in monthly reporting to Executive Board, Finance Committee and Council. Drive process improvements across financial operations for greater efficiency and accuracy.
• Banking and Treasury Management
  Manage institutional banking relationships, overseeing daily cash management, short- and long-term cash forecasting, and risk mitigation strategies. Monitor banking fees, interest and FX rates, and develop robust treasury policies that support institutional liquidity and compliance.
• Financial Control and Operations Oversight
  Develop, implement, and continuously improve financial control frameworks and finance policies. Oversee accounts payable/receivable, billing systems, and balance sheet integrity, ensuring effective working capital management.
• Budgeting, Forecasting and Strategic Planning
  Contribute to the University budgeting process and quarterly rolling forecasts, providing insightful cashflow financial modelling and scenario planning. Partner with the Director of Financial Planning and academic analysis to ensure alignment of the institutions professional services leadership to ensure alignment of financial planning with the institutional priorities and long-term sustainability goals.
• Regulatory and Tax Compliance
  Ensure full compliance with financial regulations including UK GAAP, FEHE SORP, and other relevant higher education-specific statutory requirements. Manage the preparation and submission of tax returns, R&D claims and collaborate with external advisors to optimise tax efficiency. Maintain appropriate legal and compliance support for commercial and employment-related matters.
• Corporate and Intercompany Governance
  Oversee intercompany transactions, transfer pricing compliance, and corporate governance frameworks. Maintain the institutional capitalisation table,, ensure appropriate statutory filings, and coordinate investor or board reporting as needed. Collaborate with legal and tax teams on structuring, financing, and share option schemes.
• Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement
  Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing financial control team. Act as a trusted adviser to the institution’s committees, CFO, Vice-Chancellor, and senior leadership, providing strategic insights and clear communication of financial risks and opportunities.

Elements of the Role: 

Planning and Organising

• Post holder will be responsible for leading major projects and initiatives which have significant resource and strategic impact.
• Some projects will be require planning and organising over the longer term – some multiple years.
• In conjunction with Finance leadership team, the post holder will develop and led the implementation of strategies and plans which support the overall University strategy.

Problem Solving and Decision Making

• Post holder will have defined objectives, however, prioritising, planning and process required to meet those objectives will be determined by the post holder.
• Problem areas are not clearly defined, and policies are formulated within broad functional guidelines.
• Problem solving may be complex, with unclear solutions. Post holder required to us experience, technical knowledge and judgement in order to move forwards.
  General direction provided by Chief Financial Officer.

Continuous Improvement

• Accountable for ensuring the continuous improvement of financial control function.
• Maintain a continuous review of quality and external benchmarks to promote best possible service.

Accountability

• Determine the overall shape and direction of the financial control function in order to support the strategic aims and direction of the University.
• Responsible for developing and determining the strategic plans for the financial control function.
• Accountable for key end results.

Dimensions of the Role

• Ensure financial plans are developed and that the financial control function provides effective services on time and within budget.
• Responsible for providing management and leadership to the financial control function.

Supplementary Information

• High degree of leadership skill and ability to influence at a senior level.
• Ability to work to tight deadlines on often complex project work.
• Apply regulatory, legal, professional and ethical standards in relation to audit and assurance.
• Plan and prepare for audit and assurance processes

Qualifications and Professional Memberships

Professionally qualified with a relevant degree/postgraduate qualification, plus a significant number of years’ relevant leadership experience or substantial experience and proven success in strategically important broad function / specialist area.

Or;

Substantial and extensive vocational experience demonstrating professional development and achievement in a series of progressively more demanding, influential and broad work roles, backed by evidence of deep and broad knowledge of the whole functional work area.

Technical Competencies

• Relevant management and leadership experience with proven success in a strategically important specialist area. Significant experience in financial control. Essential
• Experience of managing and developing a significant team of experienced professionals or complex projects influencing the organisation. Experience of developing innovative solutions and practical implementation for strategic change. Essential
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of the working practices, processes and procedures relevant to the role, which may include broader sector awareness. Well-developed understanding of regulations and procedures and the implications of non-compliance. Essential
• Knowledge of the principals and practice of own field of work. Strong interpersonal skills including motivating, negotiating and influencing. Essential
• Knowledge of the systems/services for own area, across functions and their relationships. Essential
• Experience of the Higher Education Sector Essential