Finance Business Partner - Maternity Cover

Durham University; North East; Hybrid; GBP 47,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

Durham University is seeking a Finance Business Partner on a 12-month maternity cover. The role provides strategic financial support to senior leaders, guiding budgeting, planning and investment appraisal across the university, with hybrid working from Boldon House near Durham.

The post requires a qualified accountant, extensive experience in business partnering, and the ability to translate complex data into actionable insights for strategic decisions.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with experience operating at a strategic level.
• Specialist knowledge to influence service delivery, events and activities.
• Experience providing specialist advice to customers and colleagues, including senior staff.
• Experience in internal or external networks to share practice and influence reputation.
• Experience implementing policies and supporting service improvements.
• Extensive business partnering with senior stakeholders.
• Extensive budgeting and forecasting, turning data into insights.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality strategic financial support, insight and challenge to senior leaders.
• Support financial planning, investment appraisal, business case development and scenario modelling.
• Translate complex financial information into meaningful, evidence-based insights for decision making.
• Collaborate across Strategic Finance and the wider University to integrate financial considerations.
• Travel to other university sites as required to meet stakeholders.
• Lead and contribute to budgeting, forecasting and performance reporting across faculties.

Skills

Communication

MS 365

CPD

Compliance

Strategic planning

Problem solving

Stakeholder influence

Cross-functional

Job description

We welcome applications from candidates with disabilities, neurodiversity and long-term health conditions, and we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process.

We will make adjustments to support the recruitment and interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

If you are unable to complete your application via our recruitment system or would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments to support you in the application process, please get in touch with us on [e-mail]

Job Description - Finance Business Partner - Maternity Cover (26001254)

Job Description

Finance Business Partner - Maternity Cover

Job Number

26001254

Finance

Grade 8 : - £47,389 - £56,535 per annum *Appointment may be made above this range for exceptional candidates with significant relevant experience

Fixed Term - Full Time

Contract Duration : 12 months

Working Arrangements : Mon - Fri 9am to 5pm

Closing Date

05-Oct-2026, 10:59:00 PM

Disclosure and Barring Service Requirement : Not Applicable.

The University

At Durham University we are proud of our people. A globally outstanding centre of educational excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other. We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things professionally and personally. Across the University we have a huge variety of roles and career opportunities, which together make us a large and successful community, which is a key hub of activity within our region and nationally.

We would be thrilled if you would consider joining our thriving University. Further information about the University can be found here.

Find out more about the benefits of working at the University and what it is like to live and work in the Durham area on our Why Join Us? - Information Page.

The Role and the Department

The Finance Business Partner is part of the Strategic Finance team and reports to the Head of Finance. The role provides high-quality strategic financial support, insight and challenge to senior leaders across the University, helping to inform decision-making, support delivery of strategic objectives and optimise the use of University resources.

Working closely with senior budget holders, senior management teams and key stakeholders, the postholder will build strong and trusted relationships to support financial planning, investment appraisal, business case development, scenario modelling and long-term financial sustainability.

The Finance Business Partner acts as a strategic adviser, translating complex financial information into meaningful insight and supporting evidence-based decision making. The role works collaboratively across Strategic Finance and the wider University to ensure financial considerations are effectively integrated into planning and delivery of institutional priorities.

This role is part of Strategic Finance. Management accounting and reporting, financial accounting and transactional finance are largely delivered through other specialist finance teams.

The base location for this role is Boldon House, our exciting new professional services hub. Boldon House is situated on the outskirts of Durham near the Arnison Centre in Pity Me. Boldon House brings a number of professional services teams together in a vibrant office environment which supports collaborative working and is designed to embrace hybrid working. To find out more, visit the project webpage: Boldon House – Durham University.

The postholder is expected to travel to other university sites as required to meet stakeholders.

Please note interviews are expected to be held on Mon 12th October (AM) and Fri 16th October (all day)

Further information about the role and the responsibilities is at the bottom of this job description.

Working at Durham

A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University.

• You’ll receive 30 days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year – a total of 42 days per year. The University closes between Christmas and New Year.
• We offer a generous pension scheme, and as a new member of staff you will be automatically enrolled into the University Superannuation Scheme (USS).
• No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered. We have ample parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies. You can also take advantage of our cost-effective and environmentally friendly Tusker Car Benefit Scheme, allowing you to lease a brand-new electric or hybrid vehicle with savings on tax and National Insurance.
• We have a genuine commitment to developing our colleagues professionally and personally. There is a comprehensive range of development courses, apprenticeships and access to qualifications and routes to develop your career in the University. All staff have dedicated annual time to concentrate on their personal development opportunities.
• We provide wide-ranging health and wellbeing support including discounted membership for our state-of-the-art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme.
• Our on-site nursery is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and you can access holiday camps for children aged 5-16.
• Our family-friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers).
• We offer all staff the opportunity to take part in volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community.
• You can access exclusive discounts via our benefits portal including money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, eating out and days out at various attractions.
• Various salary sacrifice schemes are also available to help you take advantage of tax savings on benefits.
• If you are moving to Durham, you may be eligible for help with removal costs, and we have a dedicated team who can help you with the practicalities such as house hunting and schools. If you need a visa, we cover most visa costs and offer an interest‑free loan scheme to pay for dependant visas.
• Discover more about our total rewards and benefits package here.

Durham University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion

Our collective aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and we believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work. As a University equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key part of the University’s Strategy and a central part of everything we do. We also live by our values and our Staff Code of Conduct. At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive.

We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under‑represented in our work force including people with disabilities, women and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. If you have taken time out of your career, and you feel it relevant, let us know about it in your application. If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

What you need to demonstrate when you apply/Person Specification When you apply it is important that you let us know what skills/experience you have from a similar role and/or what skills/experience you have which would make you right for this role. Further information about the role and responsibilities is at the end of this job description. Where a criteria has an asterisk* next to it, it may be given additional weighting when your application is considered.

Qualifications/Experience

1. 1. Qualified accountant with experience working in a senior finance role operating at a strategic level.
2. 2. Professional practitioner with specialist knowledge and expertise to influence service delivery, events and activities within the organisation.
3. 3. Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including more senior colleagues.
4. 4. Experience of participating in internal or external networks to share and discuss good practice, develop strong and productive working relationships and positively influence the University’s reputation.
5. 5. Experience of implementing policies and procedures and supporting service improvements.
6. 6. Extensive experience of business partnering role and influencing senior stakeholders.
7. 7. Extensive experience of budgeting and forecasting, with the ability to turn complex financial data into actionable insights.

Skills/Abilities/Knowledge

1. 8. Excellent spoken and written communication skills including the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally.
2. 9. Strong digital competence across a range of digital devices and apps including Microsoft 365 applications (advanced excel), financial & non‑financial business systems.
3. 10. Committed to continuing professional development to maintain professional recognition.
4. 11. Extensive knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines.
5. 12. Ability to contribute to planning at operational and strategic levels.
6. 13. Ability to solve problems and decide on and plan appropriate solutions.
7. 14. Ability to influence and constructively challenge senior stakeholders through the presentation of complex financial and commercial information.
8. 15. Ability to operate effectively in complex environments, working collaboratively across functions and managing competing stakeholder priorities.

Contact details

For a chat about the role or any further information please contact Vicki Hart Hart at [e-mail].

Typical Role Requirements

• Contribute to equality, diversity and inclusion, and the University’s values.
• Develop and promote an in-depth understanding of university policy and external developments relevant to your role.
• Ensure that policy and regulatory standards are met by ensuring all colleagues adhere to approved financial and procurement activities and processes that are carried out in services you are responsible for.
• Use your professional knowledge and experience as a qualified Finance professional to understand, explain and contribute to improved University performance and provide subject matter expertise and advice.
• Provide specialist advice on the analysis and interpretation of complex data and information relevant to your area.
• Responsible for operational activity across faculties or professional services.
• Look for ways to continually improve services and take a lead role in the development and implementation of assigned policies, processes and standards.
• Instigate and manage business process reviews to improve the service in your area.
• Meet the professional development needs of your stakeholders, providing training when required.
• Ensure data (commercially sensitive and/or personal) is appropriately stored and managed.
• Manage quality and regulatory audits of systems and procedures.
• Support the welfare, wellbeing and employment of your staff by providing professional guidance.

Planning and Organisation

• Contribute to operational leadership teams to influence the type and level of services that are provided by your area.
• Contribute to the development of operational and strategic-level plans relevant to your area.
• Scope, plan and implement large-scale/University-wide initiatives.
• Oversee projects to deliver agreed objectives while solving any problems which are encountered.
• Provide oversight for short term/temporary project teams.
• Analyse data about the service levels provided by your area and make recommendations for improvement in reports to senior managers and committees.
• Allocate and monitor designated budgets, expenditure and resources.
• Use your professional knowledge to identify and recommend priorities for long-term business plans.
• Provide professional guidance and advice when managing Finance services.
• Design creative and innovative communications to promote and increase engagement relating to Finance services.
• Influence University policy and standards by leading operational business meetings, working groups and sub‑committees.
• Design and deliver training to your stakeholders to support their development and information needs.
• Create strong working relationships, including internal and external networks, using your networks to increase your knowledge and skills, swap information with peers and positively influence the University’s reputation.
• Represent Finance and University at promotional events.
• Identify opportunities to develop and increase participation in special interest groups.
• Any other reasonable duties.

Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement Job Applicants/Potential Job Applicants - Privacy Notice which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.

MATERNITY COVER

Appointment to this post is a 12 month fixed term to cover the substantive post holder’s maternity leave and is not anticipated to be extended.

SECONDMENT

The post is full time, fixed term for a 1 year period and may be offered on an internal secondment basis subject to the agreement of the current line manager. If an internal member of staff is appointed to this role on a secondment basis, for pension purposes this will be processed in line with Step‑Up arrangements. For further details please click here.

Durham University is a UKVI sponsor. Applicants who require sponsorship to work in the UK should note that not all roles are eligible. Further information on visa requirements and eligibility can be found on the UKVI website.

Version 07-2026

We welcome applications from candidates with disabilities, neurodiversity and long-term health conditions, and we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process.

We will make adjustments to support the recruitment and interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

If you are unable to complete your application via our recruitment system or would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments to support you in the application process, please get in touch with us on [e-mail]