Head of Business Partnering

Exciting and challenging opportunity to provide strategic leadership in development of innovative and leading-edge management education and research programmes. The position also offers significant strategic development opportunities in relation to knowledge exchange, executive education and industry-focused research.

Under the leadership of the Head of the Department for Marketing and Operations, Dr Kathryn Waite, this role is intended to provide teaching and leadership support for the EBS Consultancy Bootcamp and will include large and small group teaching, online delivery, tutorials and assessment activities. In addition, the role-holder will be expected to undertake a 4-year PhD programme, for which a fee waiver will be provided.

The post holder is required to provide a fair, friendly and customer focused service to MACS staff, students and visitors in relation to all financial matters (travel, expenses claims, catering and other purchasing requirements). They will provide support and advice to new and current members of staff and students in all aspects of MACS & HWU Finance, giving information on financial procedures and policy in a clear and concise manner.

Exciting and challenging opportunity for you to join our teaching and learning activities in the Chemical & Process Engineering discipline at our Edinburgh campus and collaborate with colleagues at our overseas campuses in Dubai and Malaysia.

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The Administrative Executive - Accounts Receivable will be the strategic partner in the successful delivery of the University’s Strategy 2025 and the strategic theme of Achieving Efficiency and Effectiveness.

The Food and Beverage team is part of Hospitality Services and has responsibility for all aspects of the planning, preparation and service of retail and events catering both on and off the Edinburgh Campus. The team is looking for a General Assistant to actively contribute to the successful delivery of excellent service to all students, staff and visitors across the university.

If the identification and implementation of energy efficiency /energy management / renewable energy related emission reduction is your passion, then the Net Zero Support Officer role could be ideal for you. The role holder will provide development and implementation support across a range of programmes and projects designed to assist achievement of the University’s Net Zero objectives and improve the environmental sustainability of our operations.

On behalf of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) we are leaders of a strategic consultation, in partnership with the University of Glasgow, on the use of Digital Twinning in decarbonising the UK transport system. This role will support the co-creation of DT capabilities and practices, that align to the strategic objectives of future transport, such as decarbonisation, intelligent logistics etc. Our open consultation will be inclusive to all stakeholders and will encompass all modes of transport (e.g. road, rail, maritime and aviation), throughout the UK as well as the diverse markets/end users of transport services and technology.

We are actively looking for a talented researcher in robotics and machine learning to work on the Prosperity Partnership project between Heriot-Watt and Seebyte Ltd.

An exciting opportunity has arisen to lead and manage the University’s global academic partnership and accreditation processes (internal and external) and key quality processes for all of HWU’s educational provision across all modes and locations.

The Lyell Centre is currently seeking to recruit an Executive Assistant to support the Senior Leadership Team. The job holder will develop and maintain a broad knowledge of activities, will provide high level administrative support and promote a high quality, professional business environment. The post requires high level of initiative and problem-solving skills.

An opportunity for a Senior Contracts Adviser has arisen to draft and negotiate contracts, and provide a pragmatic, business driven service, balancing and assessing risk, to effectively facilitate research delivery and support the growth of the University’s research income.

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We are seeking candidates for the position of assistant or associate professor. The Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering (IB3) is recruiting a research leader to build synergies across biology, health, chemistry, physics and engineering.  This new staff member will complement and enhance existing research strengths both within the Institute and the broader School of Engineering and Physical Sciences.

The Global Registry and Academic Support Directorate are looking for an experienced Administrative Assistant to join their Off-Campus Students division.

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our Research Engagement team as a Contracts Advisor. Contracts Advisor will prepare, negotiate and conclude commercial contracts, including confidentiality, research, collaboration & consultancy agreements. The role will support the University’s Excelling in Research strategy with contractual advice for both research and knowledge exchange. This is a part time opportunity and hybrid working is possible.

We are currently recruiting for an enthusiastic Assistant Professor with experience of teaching and research. The successful candidate will be an experienced lecturer and researcher in the field of Human Resource Management. Preference will be given to candidates with professional HRM&D experience, as postholders will be expected to engage with HR professionals to develop, enhance and augment our undergraduate and postgraduate programme offerings. Candidates must be able to show evidence of prior academic experience in areas related to organisational behaviour and talent and resourcing management. Preference will also be given to those candidates with a strong track record of publication in high-quality, scholarly journals.

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An exciting and interesting opportunity has arisen for an Executive Assistant to join the team at The National Robotarium. The main purpose of the role will be to provide advanced administrative and secretarial support to the COO of the National Robotarium and all teams within the area.

We are delighted to present an exciting opportunity to join our Development & Alumni team as an Alumni Content & Social Media Co-ordinator.

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We are currently recruiting for a Student Service Centre Admin Assistant to join our Student Service Centre Team within the Registry and Academic Support Directorate at our Dubai Campus. The team supports our students and staff across the full student life-cycle from enrolment to graduation. The Directorate also supports academic and professional services staff across the University in a number of areas, including: academic, institutional and student related Regulations and Policies, and global, national and institutional quality matters.

About Heriot-Watt University                  

At Heriot Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team. 

Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.

Heriot-Watt University has five campuses: three in the UK (Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Orkney), one in Dubai and one in Malaysia. The University offers a highly distinctive range of degree programmes in the specialist areas of science, engineering, design, business and languages.

With a history dating back to 1821, Heriot-Watt University has established a reputation for world-class teaching and practical, leading-edge research, which has made it one of the top UK universities for business and industry. We connect with industry at every level and develop programmes to match their needs – so employers get work-ready industry-fit graduates.

Heriot-Watt is also Scotland's most international university, boasting the largest international student cohort.

We have an established set of values that help us to nurture innovation and leadership, and show our commitment to continuous improvement and development in all our activities.

For full details on our University please view our Careers at Heriot-Watt http://www.hw.ac.uk/about/careers-at-heriot-watt.htm
 

About our Team                           

The Finance team is one of the Professional Services supporting the University’s mission and its strategic priorities.

On a day-to-day basis, it does this by delivering a range of financial operations:

• routine financial transactional processing in payroll, accounts payable and accounts receivable
• sound management accounting, including ensuring the availability of accurate and timely financial management reporting; and effective budgeting and planning
• effective operation of financial systems
• effective and timely delivery of statutory financial reporting

In addition, the Finance department supports the delivery of the University's strategic plan through effective financial planning, including capital investment planning, project appraisal and identification of sustainable funding streams.

Detailed Description                    

Reporting to the Deputy Director of Finance this role has responsibility for the co-ordination and management of all aspects of management accounting. This includes a team of Finance Business Partners who provide support and challenge to the Schools, Professional Services and overseas campuses, this support is across the breadth of management accounting disciplines, including:

 ·        Budgeting/financial planning and Reforecasting

·         Monitoring and Reporting

·         Financial KPI’s

·         Day to day support and expertise to the institution’s Senior Officers, Directors and Managers.

The role-holder has direct responsibility for the Finance Business Partners and also co-ordinates some financial activities (e.g., reporting) from the overseas campuses.

The role-holder is responsible for setting consistent standards of service across the University, and for ensuring efficient and effective processes are used, in line with external best practice. Service-wide continuous improvement and staff training/development and performance management is an important element of the role.

It is the role-holders responsibility to ensure effective connectivity of the team with each other, other areas of finance (e.g., the financial and operational accountants) and the wider Institution who rely on the Finance Business Partners to help them effectively run their finances in line with the strategic and operational objectives of the University.

Key duties and responsibilities                

1.           FINANCIAL BUDGETING AND PLANNING/ REFORECASTS

The role-holder and his/her teamwork with Heads of School, Directors and others from the University (Schools, Professional Services and overseas campuses) to build budgets and financial plans from the bottom-up, which feed into the overall financial planning process for the University. These plans are reviewed each quarter and the year-end forecast is revised.

The 3-5 year forward financial plans are presented through the University’s Finance Committee to the University Court for approval and lodged with the Scottish Funding Council.

The role-holder has a key role in ensuring those individual plans are consistently and efficiently prepared.

2.           CONSOLIDATED MONTHLY MANAGEMENT REPORTING

The role-holder ensures that appropriate processes are in place for timely financial reporting, through the co-ordinated collation and production of comprehensive monthly University-wide management accounts

This reporting comprises Income & Expenditure reporting, Balance Sheet and Cash-flow reporting. It is consolidated from schools, professional services, projects, subsidiary companies and overseas campuses. The role-holder has a vital role to play in ensuring consistency of approach and quality, and in adding value-add commentary detailing the key financial risks and opportunities.

The reporting is primarily aimed at the Deputy Director of Finance, Global Chief Financial Officer (GCFO), University Executive, Heads of Schools, the Finance Committee, the University Court and external agencies. The insightful reporting is of high quality and is tailored, as required, for external stakeholders including the Scottish Funding Council, the University’s auditors and the University’s bankers / bondholders. That reporting also plays a role in the development of the Financial Review within the University’s annual Financial statements.

3.           FINANCIAL ANALYSIS AND DATA/ KPI’S

The role-holder is responsible for the production and interpretation of a wide variety of regular and ad-hoc financial data and analysis, including financial KPIs. This data / analysis is utilised for a number of internal and external purposes including KPI’s  for the University Court and external financial reporting.

4.           LEADERSHIP

The role-holder provides leadership for staff and their teams. He/she ensures that all aspects of people management, development and review are in place across the team. He/she also keeps the teams’ structure and skill set under review, to ensure that these are appropriate and deliver efficient, effective and consistent working practices and output. The role-holder will play a key part in defining and shaping services of the Finance Function during and post the implementation of ERP and in ensuring the aim to achieve consistency in processes in all of our global locations is achieved.

5.           FINANCE MANAGEMENT TEAM

The role-holder is a senior member of the Finance Team and is required to act as a professional role-model. He/she will deputise for the Deputy Director of Finance when necessary and therefore may represent the University and its finance team with external parties as required.

6.           RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT

The role-holder influences and challenges the decision-making of senior colleagues by providing professional persuasive financial expertise. They resolve issues and facilitate solutions where disagreement exists across a range of stakeholders.

He/she is required to liaise with a broad range of external parties, including internal and external audit functions, funders, taxation and legal advisors and other current and potential partners/supplier, as required.

The role holder will have frequent interaction with staff at all levels, including:

·         University Senior Leadership Team

·         GCFO, Deputy Director of Finance

·         Heads of Finance on overseas campuses

·         Finance Business Partners

•    Head of Planning

·         Key Finance Office staff (Financial Accountants, Systems Accountants,)

7.           CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

The role-holder leads delivery improvements to the efficiency and effectiveness of the management accounting processes and controls, but also to the end-to-end processes that these support.  This includes effective KPI reporting, process mapping and responsibility definition and reinforcement.

The role-holder will also be expected to deliver changes to and embed processes that support the new ERP system.

8.           SYSTEM AND REPORTING IMPROVEMENTS

The role-holder will identify and design/define system improvements as required. They will also be jointly responsible for effective implementation of any new systems.

The role-holder provides in-house reporting expertise to specify Oracle (new ERP) financial reports and develop new reports to meet future requirements.

They will also provide in-house expertise in the use of reporting tools to meet regular and ad-hoc planning reporting requirements of the University.

9.           MANAGEMENT OF CENTRALLY HELD BUDGETS

The role-holder has primary responsibility for the management of centrally held budgets (e.g., Bi-centennial research leaders, James Watt Scholarships, Contingencies, Infrastructure).

Education, Qualifications & Experience:

Essential

Nationally recognised accountancy qualification e.g. CA, ACA, CPFA, CIMA, ACCA;

Qualified to degree standard.

At least ten years of post-qualification financial and management accounting experience within a large, complex organisation.

Has managed teams with responsibility for budgeting and strategic planning within a complex environment; as well as having participated in such activities personally.

Has developed, reviewed and quality assured business cases with colleagues and with non-finance professionals; and presented these at senior level.

Has managed a team including both qualified and non-qualified finance professionals.

Proven experience of working as part of a multidisciplinary team, which could be characterised in the university as including both professional services and academic colleagues.

Has extensive experience of working with and influencing senior management across the breadth of an institution/organization.

Extensive experience of financial planning and budgeting, constructing consolidated budgets across an entire organisation.

Outstanding and proven analytical and problem solving skills with the ability to make well- considered decisions, resolve conflicts and demonstrate sound, professional judgement

Demonstrable experience of managing resources, workloads and changing priorities for self and others

Demonstrable experience of managing change

Demonstrable  ability to work within a fast-changing environment

Proven experience of dealing with and leading in uncertainty and ambiguity

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Excellent Influencing Skills

Good track record of developing and maintaining positive working relationships with internal and external customers, peers, stakeholders and others

Flexible and resilient

Collaborative and proactive

Competencies, Tasks and Responsibilities

The tasks and responsibilities listed under the following Competency Headings form part of all leadership roles in the University at this level and it is expected that the role-holder will perform them to at least an effective standard at all times.

Strategic Outlook

Contribute to the delivery of the University strategy, drawing upon and sharing knowledge gained through engagement and close relationships with colleagues to inform and influence decisions

Identify, interpret and translate University Strategies into operational planning and outcomes, keeping in mind the bigger picture and the external environment

Leadership

Provide leadership to the team, providing line management direction, support, mentoring and coaching

Through strong leadership and example, lead and develop staff to achieve their potential, ensuring a clear understanding of their role within the team, Directorate and University

Provide Subject Matter Expert advice within the team and across the University

Deputise for Senior Management where required

Management Responsibilities

Manage the team individually and collectively, including setting objectives, managing performance, attendance, capability and development

Manage and monitor the team budget to deliver value for money and fit for purpose resources and facilities

Team Work

Proactively develop the team and ensure successful collaboration across the Directorate and University

Build visible and effective professional relationships across the University and external stakeholders

Contribute to and actively participate in team, Directorate and University projects

Championing Change

Assess and lead on change management, influencing and managing stakeholder expectations.

Manage the implications of change on the team, maintaining team morale and service levels

Decision Making

Provide high quality, value-added analysis and commentary on reports and metrics

Represent the Directorate and University on internal and external committees as appropriate

Planning and Organising

Review and revise team structure and workload allocation/priorities as required

Initiative and Problem Solving

Contribute to governance and risk management within the Directorate

Collaborate with peers to resolve university-wide challenges

Service Excellence

Provide clear leadership to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of a high-quality service, developing high professional standards and excellent customer service

Ensure delivery of the service within agreed service levels

Comply with University Policies when managing or processing personal and other confidential information at all times

Develop and review service levels, metrics and feedback, ensuring consistency and continuous improvement of service

Ensure timely, accurate and informative provision of statutory and other reports and metrics

Clear and Consistent Communications

Maintain confidentiality at all times by following university policies and guidance in managing confidential information and personal data

Use appropriate communication methods to ensure key messages and information are disseminated to customers

Citizenship

Demonstrate the University Values at all times through leadership, performance and behaviour

Participate in ad-hoc duties to support the team/University and for personal development

Support newer or inexperienced colleagues within and outside the University by offering support, help and advice  

Provide mentoring support (informally and formally)

Positively promote the University internally and externally through positive behaviour and  supporting University-wide activities

Build partnerships to advance the University’s strategy

This job description is intended as a flexible framework which outlines the key general areas of activity in your position. Other activities may be required which are not outlined above but which are appropriate to the position and grade. Your personal objectives (Forward Job Plan) will also set out specific tasks and objectives for you to achieve, including objectives to help your career development.

 

How to apply

Applications can be submitted up to midnight (UK time) on 30 June 2023

Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities.  Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.

Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our University community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/services/equality-diversity.htm and also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers https://disc.hw.ac.uk/.

We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g. part-time working and job share options.
Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.

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