Deputy School Finance Business Partner, School of the Biological Sciences

University of Cambridge; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Deputy School Finance Business Partner to support the School of the Biological Sciences. This role involves providing strategic financial leadership and management, ensuring accurate financial advice and oversight. You will play a key role in developing business plans and supporting finance transformation projects. The position offers a chance to engage with a diverse team and contribute to the academic vision of the institution. Enjoy an excellent benefits package, including generous annual leave and flexible working options, while being part of a vibrant academic community.

Benefits

41 days annual leave

Defined benefits pension schemes

Flexible working options

Family-friendly initiatives

Qualifications

• Significant experience in complex matrix organisations.
• Strong influencing skills and ability to engage effectively.

Responsibilities

• Provide high quality partnering and business planning support.
• Take primary responsibility for management reporting and analysis.
• Lead on financial aspects of major projects and initiatives.

Skills

Qualified accountant

Analytical skills

Problem-solving abilities

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Education

Accountancy qualification

Job description

Deputy School Finance Business Partner, School of the Biological Sciences

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible

The University of Cambridge is one of the world's leading Universities, with an outstanding reputation for academic achievement. The School of the Biological Sciences (SBS) is one of the six Schools in the University. The School comprises nine academic Departments, plus five major research Institutes and an animal hospital. The School has a population of around 2000 staff and around 1000 postgraduate students, with a total spend in excess of £180m.

Working with the School Finance Business Partner (SFBP) the Deputy SFBP will contribute to the delivery of the School's academic vision through providing accurate and timely financial advice and management. The role holder will deputise for the School Finance Business Partner across the portfolio of school finance matters, allowing the Business Partner to undertake project work arising from the various transformation programmes. This includes providing strategic and operational financial leadership for the School and its departments, covering business partnering and business planning, management reporting and analysis, financial performance delivery and investment decision support, and the oversight of effective financial stewardship and governance.

The successful candidate will also have the opportunity to be involved with finance transformation projects including Financial Systems Replacement (FSR) and Enhanced Financial Transparency (EFT).

Be part of our journey, through our transformation programme, to redefine excellence in customer service.

The Role

• Functional leadership for the provision of high quality partnering and business planning support for all Departments and Faculties in the School and the development of associated finance resources
• Play a key role in the development of future plans including taking a leading role on the production of a multi-year business plan to underpin the delivery of the School's long-term Academic Vision.
• Take primary responsibility for management reporting and analysis, financial performance delivery and investment decision support
• Develops and appraise investment options, leading on the development of the financial aspects of business cases for all major projects and initiatives such as new building projects

Your Skills

• Qualified accountant with significant experience in complex matrix organisations
• Experience in effectively engaging with the culture and objectives of a complex institution
• Strong influencing and analytical skills, creative problem-solving abilities
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships and collaborate effectively across all levels of the organisation

Benefits

The University offers an excellent benefit package including:

• 41 days annual leave, inclusive of Bank Holidays
• Defined benefits pension schemes
• Flexible working options
• Family-friendly initiatives

Location

The University is supportive of hybrid working, where some work is undertaken on University premises and some in a remote working environment. The aim of our approach is to enable as many staff as possible to work in a hybrid way if they wish and where their role allows. This arrangement is subject to change and will not form a part of the contractual terms of the role.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available until 31 August 2027 in the first instance.

Once an offer of employment has been accepted, the successful candidate will be required to undergo a basic disclosure (criminal records check) check, a health assessment and a security check.

Applications are welcome from internal candidates who would like to apply for the role on the basis of a secondment from their current role in the University.

We are partnering with Pure Resourcing Solutions to recruit to this role as part of our backfill campaign, as well as a flexible workforce of around 30 people to 'backfill' the finance function and create the capacity for permanent staff secondments. To apply for this role or any of the other backfill roles please apply through the link to Pure's website Pure Resourcing Solutions (prs.uk.com).

If you have any questions the application process, please contact a Recruitment Administrator at [e-mail] .

Please quote reference AG45744 in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.