Deputy Director of Finance (Uni Sector)

www.topfinancialjobs.co.uk - Jobboard; London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading university seeks a Senior Finance Manager to oversee strategic financial planning and reporting. Responsibilities include managing a finance team, ensuring compliance, and supporting decision-making through financial insights. The ideal candidate will have strong technical accounting knowledge and experience in leading complex financial projects.

Qualifications

• Deep understanding of financial reporting standards and regulatory frameworks.
• Experience in managing large-scale, cross-functional projects.
• Proven ability to lead and develop diverse finance teams.

Responsibilities

• Overseeing strategic financial planning and reporting processes.
• Leading a multi-disciplinary finance team across core functions.
• Managing external audits and year-end processes.

Skills

Strategic Thinking

Analytical Skills

Stakeholder Engagement

Leadership

Regulatory Compliance

Project Management

Education

Technical Accounting Knowledge

Tools

Oracle

SAP

Unit4

Job description

Your new company
This senior finance role is responsible for overseeing the university's strategic financial planning and reporting processes. It includes leading on key financial cycles, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, and supporting institutional decision-making through the provision of timely and accurate financial insights.
The position also involves managing a multi-disciplinary finance team across core functions such as financial operations, systems, and reporting. A key aspect of the role includes contributing to major institutional projects, including collaborative initiatives with external partners, and supporting complex financial integration and planning activities.
Your new role

• Strategic Financial Planning: Ability to lead long-term financial planning and budgeting processes in a complex organisation.
• Regulatory Compliance: Strong understanding of sector-specific financial reporting requirements (e.g. OFS, TRAC).
• Financial Reporting & Analysis: Expertise in preparing financial statements, forecasts, and presenting to senior governance bodies.
• Audit & Assurance: Experience managing external audits and year-end processes.
• Leadership & Team Management: Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing finance teams across multiple functions.
• Project Management: Skilled in managing large-scale financial projects, including mergers, due diligence, and systems integration.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Confident communicator with the ability to influence and collaborate across academic and professional services.
• Systems & Process Improvement: Familiarity with financial systems and driving efficiencies through process optimisation.
• Adaptability: Comfortable navigating change and ambiguity, particularly in the context of institutional transformation.

Description: University Sector

Your new company
This senior finance role is responsible for overseeing the university's strategic financial planning and reporting processes. It includes leading on key financial cycles, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, and supporting institutional decision-making through the provision of timely and accurate financial insights.
The position also involves managing a multi-disciplinary finance team across core functions such as financial operations, systems, and reporting. A key aspect of the role includes contributing to major institutional projects, including collaborative initiatives with external partners, and supporting complex financial integration and planning activities.
Your new role

• Strategic Financial Planning: Ability to lead long-term financial planning and budgeting processes in a complex organisation.
• Regulatory Compliance: Strong understanding of sector-specific financial reporting requirements (e.g. OFS, TRAC).
• Financial Reporting & Analysis: Expertise in preparing financial statements, forecasts, and presenting to senior governance bodies.
• Audit & Assurance: Experience managing external audits and year-end processes.
• Leadership & Team Management: Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing finance teams across multiple functions.
• Project Management: Skilled in managing large-scale financial projects, including mergers, due diligence, and systems integration.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Confident communicator with the ability to influence and collaborate across academic and professional services.
• Systems & Process Improvement: Familiarity with financial systems and driving efficiencies through process optimisation.
• Adaptability: Comfortable navigating change and ambiguity, particularly in the context of institutional transformation.

What you'll need to succeed

• Technical Accounting Knowledge: Deep understanding of financial reporting standards, audit processes, and regulatory frameworks (e.g. OFS, TRAC)

Strategic Thinking: Ability to align financial planning with long-term institutional goals.

Analytical Skills: Strong capability in interpreting complex financial data and translating it into actionable insights.

Project Management: Experience managing large-scale, cross-functional projects-especially those involving change or integration (like mergers).

Systems Proficiency: Familiarity with financial systems (e.g. Oracle, SAP, Unit4) and data reconciliation tools.

Team Leadership: Proven ability to lead, motivate, and develop diverse finance teams.

Stakeholder Engagement: Skilled at building relationships across academic, professional, and external partners.

What you need to do now
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV.
If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.
#