Chief Financial Officer

PERIDOT PARTNERS; Thurso; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

PERIDOT PARTNERS is seeking a Chief Financial Officer to lead strategic financial initiatives at UHI North, West and Hebrides in Thurso. The role involves strong leadership in financial stewardship, ensuring organisational resilience, and supporting regional development.

The ideal candidate will have significant experience in financial governance and risk management. This position offers the chance to live in a unique location with access to world-class outdoor experiences.

Qualifications

• Experienced and qualified financial leader with a track record in complex organisations.
• Expertise in budgeting, forecasting, and long-term sustainability.
• Experience in maintaining control and compliance frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic financial leadership and drive long-term sustainability.
• Ensure organisational resilience and support regional development.
• Build effective relationships with stakeholders and partners.

Skills

Financial leadership

Financial stewardship

Strategic planning

Risk management

Relationship building

Commercial acumen

Job description

Join UHI North, West and Hebrides as Chief Financial Officer at a pivotal point of transformation as we build a more sustainable and impactful future.

About the role

As an anchor institution based in 19 locations across Scotland, UHI North, West and Hebrides aims to transform lives, strengthen communities and support economic and social prosperity. Through accessible, high‑quality education, research and skills development, we create opportunities for people to live, work and study across our unique and diverse communities, empowering students to shape their futures in a rapidly changing world.

Following a period of significant transformation and with an ambitious strategy guiding our journey to 2028, we are focused on delivering sustainable growth, enhancing the student experience, supporting regional development and ensuring long‑term organisational resilience.

We are now seeking an exceptional Chief Financial Officer to join our executive leadership team at this important stage in our development. The CFO will play a pivotal role in shaping the College’s future, providing strategic financial leadership, driving long‑term sustainability and ensuring the organisation is well‑positioned to deliver on its ambitions for students, staff, communities and the partners we serve across multiple regions.

This role also offers a chance to embrace a different pace of life, with world‑class outdoor experiences right at your doorstep.

Responsibilities

Strategic financial leadership, driving long‑term sustainability, ensuring organisational resilience, and positioning the college to deliver on its ambitions across multiple regions.

Qualifications

• Experienced and qualified financial leader with a strong track record in complex organisations.
• Expertise in financial stewardship, strategic planning, budgeting, forecasting and long‑term sustainability.
• Significant experience in financial governance, risk management and maintaining robust control and compliance frameworks.
• Ability to build effective relationships with senior stakeholders and external partners.
• Strong commercial acumen and understanding of public or charity sector finance.
• Collaborative and influential leader, communicating effectively at all levels, resilient under pressure, and taking a strategic, solutions‑focused approach.
• Experience delivering efficiency and cost improvement programmes to support financial recovery.