Head of Finance Business Partnering ( Interim)

Michael Page; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious educational institution in Cambridge is seeking a Head of Finance Business Partnering to lead a team and drive financial strategy. The ideal candidate will have experience managing large finance teams and possess a relevant professional accountancy qualification. This role offers a highly competitive salary, flexible working options, and is pivotal in ensuring strategic financial management within the organization.

Benefits

Highly competitive salary

USS pension

Flexible working arrangements

Up to 41 days holiday

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing a large finance team (30-60 staff).
• Experience in a complex large organization, preferably in Higher Education.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of Finance Business Partners and FP&A functions.
• Ensure the seamless execution of day-to-day financial processes.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior academic and professional services leaders.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Strategic financial planning

ERP systems proficiency

Education

Degree and professional accountancy qualification (ACA, ACCA, or CIMA)

Tools

SAP

MS Dynamics

Oracle

Job description

The Head of Finance Business Partnering will oversee a team of 7 Finance Business Partners and 20 in financial planning and analysis. You will play a key role in ensuring best-in-class Management Information, budgeting, and forecasting whilst providing strategic leadership.

Client Details

Cambridge is one of the most prestigious and highly ranked universities in the world, with a mission to contribute to society through education, learning, and research at the highest international levels of excellence. Our priority is to ensure the University continues to play an extraordinary role in education and research, contributing to local, national, and global societies long into the future.

Description

Accountable for the strategic leadership and operational delivery of business partnering and FP&A within the Finance Division. This role ensures the provision of a high-quality, insight-driven service that supports the University's financial sustainability and strategic objectives.

Provide clear strategic direction to the business partners and FP&A functions, ensuring the seamless execution of day-to-day financial processes with a strong emphasis on efficiency, accuracy, and operational excellence. Drive the development and implementation of robust financial models, forecasts, and performance metrics.

Lead a team of 8 direct reports and provide strategic oversight to an extended team of approximately 50, fostering a collaborative high-performing culture that supports professional growth and cross-functional integration.

Act as a trusted advisor to senior academic and professional services leaders, providing expert financial insight and challenge. Build strong relationships across the University to ensure financial strategies are well understood and effectively implemented.

Key responsibilities include:

1. Providing enduring business leadership, coordination, and capability development for all aspects of financial business partnering, including financial decision-making support, delivered in a collegial way reflecting the University’s working practices.
2. Supporting the Finance Transformation Programme to ensure the new Oracle Fusion system delivers fit-for-purpose FP&A needs and facilitates new decision-making processes leveraging system tools.
3. Collaborating with individual institutions to understand and optimize how School and Institution Finance Business Partners work with various stakeholders to produce effective Business Plans.
4. Shaping the evolving footprint of critical business-facing SFBP roles in the context of FTP and RPS principles.
5. Overseeing devolved finance functions across Schools and UAS, focusing on service delivery and surplus improvement.
6. Managing the forward assumptions and risks related to the University's Ten-year Model.

Profile

A successful candidate should have:

• A degree and a professional accountancy qualification (ACA, ACCA, or CIMA).
• Proven experience managing a large finance team (30-60 staff).
• Experience in a complex large organization (e.g., T/O > £500m), preferably in Higher Education.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, especially in senior business partner roles.
• Experience as part of a Finance Leadership Team.
• Understanding of best practices in FP&A, MI, budgeting, planning, and forecasting in large organizations.
• Proficiency with ERP systems like SAP, MS Dynamics, or Oracle.
• Right to work in the UK.
• Availability to work 2 days per week in Cambridge office.

Job Offer

• Highly competitive salary + USS pension and up to 41 days holiday (pro-rata).
• Daily rate consideration (inside IR35 only).
• Flexible working: 2 days in the office, 3 days remote.