Director of Finance

Birmingham City University

Director of Finance        

Birmingham      

£90,000 - £110,000

IPB Group are partnering with Birmingham City University to identify and recruit a Director of Finance.  This is an exceptional opportunity to join a growing and successful University at a time of positive and instrumental change.  Whilst leading and developing the finance function, the Director of Finance will support all areas of opportunity, growth and transformation within the University over the coming years, and is key in supporting the long-term success of the organisation.

Birmingham City University has an enviable reputation for providing quality, student-focused education in a professional and friendly environment. Their superb courses, state-of-the-art facilities, first-rate staff, and focus on practical skills and professional relevance is producing some of the country's most employable graduates.

Reporting to the Deputy Vice Chancellor Resources, this is a critical appointment for the University as it embarks on its transformational journey.  The role requires an individual with both strong financial acumen and a commercial mind-set, someone able to lead a large finance function within a complex, evolving organisation.  

As a key member of the Corporate Management Team, you will be responsible for all areas of finance including strategy, planning, budgeting, forecasting, systems, procurement, and financial control.  You will lead a team of 90 supporting the Executive Team, Faculties, and the Professional Service Departments, across the University’s portfolio of Teaching, Research, Commercial Activity and International operations.

As well as managing the day to day finance operations, you will also focus on modernising finance including finance systems and business partnering capabilities, and improving controls and decision making. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide overall leadership and management of the finance department.
• To ensure the finance capability can meet and exceed the expectations of stakeholders.
• Support strategic planning, risk management, financial management, budgeting and deployment of resources.
• Oversee the management and development of the University’s financial systems, processes, and policies.
• Lead on external stakeholder management including Auditors and Banks.
• Attendance and presentation of papers to Finance Committee and Audit Committee.
• Lead the provision of financial planning and analysis to support the annual budget and reforecasts, strategic initiatives, and University operations.
• Develop and implement Treasury strategy.
• Prepare the Group’s Financial statements.
• Develop and implement the University’s value for money strategy.
• Manage the University’s Procurement function.
• Ensure the University complies with all tax regulations.

The Individual:

• A qualified accountant.
• Experience of leading and managing a finance department, preferably in a large complex organisation.
• Substantial experience of working with and influencing senior management including Board level.
• Experience of developing innovative solutions and strategic financial planning.
• Strong people management and change management skills.
• Impressive interpersonal skills including motivational, negotiating, influencing and relationship building.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience of managing and controlling budgets, resources and funding

The Organisation:

With over 25,000 students from 80 countries, Birmingham City University is a large and diverse place to study. We put students at the heart of everything we do, giving them the best opportunities for future success.

The University has an enviable reputation for providing quality, student-focused education in a professional and friendly environment.

Our superb courses, state-of-the-art facilities, first-rate staff, and focus on practical skills and professional relevance is producing some of the country’s most employable graduates.

We put £270 million into the regional economy and support thousands of jobs in the area. We’ve invested hundreds of millions in our city centre campus in recent years and our £75m innovation centre “SteamHouse” is due for completion shortly. Further significant investment is in the pipeline including redeveloping our campus to support agile ways of working, providing students and staff with an enviable range of facilities.

Our staff and student community is defined by our core values, which outline who we are as a University and how we will work with each other. Our core values are Excellence, People focused, Partnership working and Fairness and Integrity.

Application:

All applications will be forwarded to IPB Group.  Please apply by emailing a copy of your CV and a covering letter to Oliver Gillinson at [email protected] .   If you would like a confidential discussion about this opportunity before applying, please contact Oliver directly on 0115 6481880.

The closing date for applications is Thursday 18th November and interviews will take place on the 26th of November. Final selection panel will be on 3rd /6th December.