Finance Business Partner - RGU07428

RGU; Aberdeen City; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

RGU is seeking a Finance Business Partner to lead financial strategies and support the institution's overall goals. This key role involves guiding budgeting processes, providing financial insights, and fostering a high-performing finance team, while promoting a culture of accountability and continuous improvement across the University.

Benefits

46 days annual leave

Pension scheme

Onsite nursery

Sports centre

Voluntary health and travel benefits

Qualifications

• Experience in financial management or business partnering.
• Significant experience in budgeting, forecasting, analysis, and reporting.
• Ability to work with non-finance staff to drive performance.

Responsibilities

• Support budget holders with strategic financial guidance.
• Lead the annual budgeting process and develop financial forecasts.
• Manage and mentor finance professionals ensuring high performance.

Skills

Analytical skills

Interpersonal skills

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration

Professional qualifications (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CPA)

Tools

Financial management software

Excel

Job description

Job Summary

A senior member of the finance team, the Finance Business Partner works closely with the rest of Finance's senior leadership team to align financial planning and decision-making with RGU's overall goals and objectives. This role plays a key role in supporting the University's mission by ensuring the responsible management and allocation of financial resources, and by enabling effective, data-informed decision-making at all levels of the institution.

Working in partnership with Deans, Department heads and senior administrators, this role leads the development and oversight of the annual budgeting process, multi-year financial forecasts and long-term capital and resource planning. This role is critical in providing financial insights to support the University's priorities, including academic growth, research funding, operational improvements and capital investments.

Responsible for leading and developing a high-performing finance team, the Finance Business Partner will require a collaborative and empowering leadership style that ensures staff are engaged, aligned with institutional goals and equipped to deliver high quality financial services to the University community.

Finally, this senior role will play an active role in driving cultural change within the finance function and the broader University community. This includes fostering a more transparent, accountable and collaborative approach to financial management and encouraging the adoption of best practices and technologies to support continuous improvement. The role will become a trusted partner and change agent who can build financial literacy, promote innovation and support a culture of shared responsibility and informed financial decision-making.

In keeping with RGU's commitment to work/life balance you will have the opportunity to work from home for a portion of the working week and also benefit from a generous pension scheme, 46 days annual leave (including statutory days) an onsite nursery and sports centre, as well as a range of voluntary health and travel benefits.

We are committed to attracting and engaging a diverse range of staff and fostering a culture where everyone feels welcome, comfortable to express their ideas, and can reach their full potential. For more information, please visit Our Diverse Workforce pages.

As per the UKVI immigration rules, this role may be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route. Sponsorship under this route is dependent on factors specific to the applicant and if tradeable points can be used under the rules.

To apply, please submit your CV along with a cover letter detailing your suitability for the role against the requirements set out in the person specification.

Job Description

RESPONSIBLE TO: Deputy Director of Finance

RESPONSIBLE FOR: Management Accountant(s), Senior Finance Assistants/Finance Assistants

PURPOSE OF POST: To support School budget holders and senior management teams by providing strategic financial guidance and business partnering services. To advocate and support consistent application of finance policy and procedures across the University.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES:

Strategic Financial Partnering

• Collaborate with academic/department leaders and senior administrators to develop and implement financial strategies aligned with the institution's goals.
• Analyse financial trends and prepare reports and recommendations for senior leadership and committees.
• Act as a trusted advisor, providing financial insight and recommendations to senior leadership for informed decision-making.
• Support the development and execution of strategic initiatives, ensuring financial implications are understood and managed effectively.

Budgeting & Financial Planning

• Lead the annual budgeting process, working with Schools/Departments to develop detailed budgets that reflect institutional priorities and constraints.
• Work with other senior finance team members to develop and implement multi-year financial forecasts and models to support long-term planning, ensuring financial sustainability and alignment with the University's objectives.
• Monitor budget performance and provide regular updates to senior finance leadership and the Executive on budget variances, financial risks, and opportunities.

Staff Leadership & Development

• Manage, mentor and develop a team of finance professionals, fostering a culture of collaboration, learning and high performance.
• Set team goals and expectations, conduct regular performance evaluations and support staff in their career development.
• Encourage knowledge sharing, cross-training and continuous growth within the finance team.

Cultural & Organisational Change

• Promote a culture of financial stewardship, accountability and partnership across the University.
• Support the adoption of new technologies, data systems and best practices to modernise the finance function.
• Act as a change agent, helping the University shift towards more agile, responsive and transparent financial decision-making.

Financial Analysis & Reporting

• Prepare detailed financial reports and analysis, highlighting key trends, performance metrics, and opportunities for cost efficiencies.
• Interpret complex financial data and present findings in a clear and actionable manner to non-financial stakeholders.
• Provide insights into financial performance, helping stakeholders make data-driven decisions to improve outcomes.

Cost Management & Efficiency

• Support departments in identifying opportunities for cost reduction and efficiency improvements without compromising quality.
• Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to track financial performance and operational efficiency.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Build strong relationships with academic and administrative leaders, fostering a culture of financial accountability and transparency.
• Provide regular financial training and support to non-financial staff to enhance understanding and ownership of financial management within departments.
• Participate in senior leadership meetings, presenting financial updates, challenges, and recommendations.

Financial Governance & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with financial regulations, institutional policies, and reporting standards.
• Provide oversight and advice on financial risk management and governance frameworks to ensure that the institution's financial integrity is maintained.
• Assist in internal and external audits, ensuring financial records are accurate, complete, and aligned with institutional objectives.

Ad-hoc Financial Projects & Special Initiatives

• Lead or contribute to special financial projects as needed, including financial systems implementation, process improvements, or ad-hoc analyses.
• Respond to urgent financial inquiries from senior leadership and offer timely solutions and recommendations.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications and Professional Memberships

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field.

Professional qualifications (e.g., ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CPA) or significant equivalent experience demonstrating professional development through involvement in a series of progressively more demanding and influential roles.

Knowledge

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to translate complex data into actionable insights.

Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong relationships across various levels of the institution.

Advanced proficiency in financial management software and Excel.

Strong leadership and influencing skills, with the ability to drive change and align teams with financial objectives.

Experience

Significant experience in financial management or business partnering,

Experience working with non-finance staff to drive financial performance and decision-making.

Proven experience in budgeting, financial forecasting, analysis, and reporting.

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS

Knowledge

High attention to detail and accuracy.

Proactive, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.

Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Experience

Experience of process improvement.

Extensive experience of different finance systems.

Behaviours

Behaviour 1: Communication - Ability to receive, understand and convey information requiring careful explanation and information of a complex or conceptual nature, in a clear and accurate manner

Behaviour 2: Team Development - Experience of providing advice or guidance to new starts, delivering training or instruction to others on specific tasks or activities and identifying the training and development needs of the team and carrying out performance appraisals

Behaviour 3: Service Delivery - Experience of exploring and adapting a service to meet customers' expectations and also identifying ways of improving standards

Behaviour 4: Decision Making - Experience of using own judgement to make decisions, making collaborative decisions with others to reach conclusions and providing advice or information that will influence the decisions of others

Behaviour 5: Planning and Organising Resources - Experience of being responsible for the operational planning and organisation of large projects or the coordination of a number of teams or projects, including setting performance standards and monitoring procedures

Behaviour 6: Initiative and Problem Solving - Experience of resolving new problems where there is a mass of information or diverse, partial and conflicting data with a range of potential suitable options