Chief Financial Officer

University of Wales, Trinity Saint David; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A bilingual university is seeking a Chief Financial Officer to join its Senior Leadership team in Cardiff. The successful candidate will be responsible for financial management while embracing strategic leadership within the higher education sector in the UK. This role requires a professional financial qualification along with substantial experience in an educational environment. Familiarity with the Welsh language and culture will be an advantage, although not mandatory. The CFO will ensure effective financial strategies that align with the University's mission and ambitions.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in strategic and influential leadership within a UK higher education environment.
• Highly developed skills in financial reporting and resource allocation.
• An appreciation of the Welsh language and culture is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Participate in the strategic and operational leadership of the University.
• Ensure proactive financial services and robust financial management.
• Lead and direct the University’s Finance Directorate.

Skills

Strategic Leadership

Financial Management

Resource Allocation Planning

Welsh Language Proficiency

Education

Professional Qualification in Finance

Job description

Chief Financial Officer

UWTSD is distinctive in the UK higher education landscape. As a multi-campus, bilingual university with a strong presence across Wales, London, Birmingham and a growing international footprint, we embrace innovation while pursuing our mission to widen participation and transform lives. We are committed to opening doors to higher education for learners from all backgrounds and to supporting their success through an inclusive, community-focused approach.

The UWTSD group, which includes Coleg Sir Gâr and Coleg Ceredigion as constituent colleges, occupies a leading position within the tertiary education sector, working closely with schools, colleges, and employers to deliver flexible and responsive pathways that meet the needs of learners and industry, in Wales, the UK and overseas.

Our group is therefore uniquely positioned in Wales to deliver against Medr’s vision for a single, coherent tertiary system that is focused on learners, equity, and seamless pathways across Further and Higher Education.

We are now looking to appoint to the role of Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Reporting to the Vice-Chancellor and as a key member of the University’s Senior Leadership team (SLT), the CFO will participate fully in the strategic and operational leadership of the University. They will ensure an effective and proactive financial service that provides robust financial management and will lead and direct the University’s Finance Directorate.

Ideal candidates will be professionally qualified and also bring significant proven experience of strategic and influential leadership and management within a UK HE environment. They will have highly developed skills in financial management, reporting, and resource allocation planning at a strategic level and the capacity to take the long-term view in envisioning the future of the University in and beyond the context of the strategic plan. Strong candidates will have a demonstrable appreciation of the Welsh language and culture and an understanding of the policy landscape. The ability to communicate and work through the medium of Welsh is desirable for this role.

You will be joining an engaged and collaborative senior leadership team that is passionate about delivering for our students, our staff, and the regions we are proud to work in. We are a close-knit university community where our colleagues work together to create fair and accessible educational opportunities centred on learner needs.

This is an exciting time to become part of our community and to help shape the future of a unique institution with a proud heritage and an ambitious vision.

How to Apply

Please submit a comprehensive CV along with a covering letter setting out your interest in the role and how you match the required criteria to [e-mail](via the ‘Apply’ button above) by Monday 8 September 2025.

Final stage interviews at the University will take place on 25 September 2025.

For an informal discussion, please email [e-mail]

We have a proud tradition as a bilingual institution, committed to the Welsh Language and you are welcome to apply for any job in Welsh or English and all applications submitted will be treated equally. Whilst Welsh has not been deemed an essential criteria for this role, if you work with us, we can also support you to learn and enhance your Welsh Language skills.

Competitive