Head of Finance - Transformation Projects

Cardiff University; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 51,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

A renowned educational institution in the UK is seeking a Head of Finance - Transformation Projects to provide strategic leadership for various transformation activities. This role demands significant experience in a senior finance position and involves working closely with multiple stakeholders. The ideal candidate should be a qualified accountant with a proven track record in financial analysis and management. Competitive salary range of £51,753 - £56,535 per annum with a commitment to equality and diversity.

Benefits

Promoting equality and diversity

Consideration for flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Significant experience in a senior finance role in a large organization.
• Proven track record of producing high-level insights from large datasets.
• Ability to influence and collaborate with senior management.

Responsibilities

• Set out financial planning processes for Transformation programme.
• Map desired financial outcomes across transformation projects.
• Support business case development for all transformational projects.
• Develop and maintain reporting financial models.

Skills

Qualified Accountant (CCAB or CIMA)

Data analysis

Influencing senior management

Problem-solving

Financial management

Leadership

Communication

Education

Qualified Accountant (CCAB or CIMA)

Tools

Oracle EBS

Job description

Head of Finance - Transformation Projects

Cardiff University is recruiting a Head of Finance - Transformation, reporting to the Director of Financial Planning and Performance and will provide strategic leadership and professional expertise for a portfolio of Transformation activities across the University, supporting and working closely with the Chief Transformation Officer and Director of Transformation in delivery of the University's financial elements of our Transformation plans.

Being the strategic Finance lead and providing leadership, support and direction across all the University’s Transformational Roadmap activities, including attending the relevant Transformation and Project Boards as appropriate.

A critical role in the financial planning, monitoring, reporting and delivery of business cases spanning across the institution. Working closely with senior stakeholders across the organisation you will play a pivotal role in ensuring that all Transformation activities are embedded within the Universities overarching financial plans and track the associated financial benefits whilst highlighting risks and opportunities as they arise.

The post is full time (35 hours per week) and fixed term until 31 July 2027.

Salary: £51,753 - £56,535 per annum (Grade 7)

Date advert posted: Wednesday, 10 December 2025
Closing date: Wednesday, 21 January 2026

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds who have the ambition to create a University which seeks to fulfil our social, cultural and economic obligation to Cardiff, Wales, and the world. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements. Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

Job Description

Main Responsibilities

• Set out the financial planning process required to create financial plans as part of the Transformation programme to deliver the new University strategy. Aligning these to the overall Cardiff University Financial plans.
• Working with colleagues, map the desired financial outcomes across the portfolio of transformation projects and ensure a clear and consistent approach with all university financial activities.
• Ensure that all financial variables have an owner who is responsible for providing the authoritative source of information for the financial calculations and ensure that the data clearly defined and accurate.
• Clearly communicate the financial plans and expected progress against these with all stakeholders. Including timetable a reporting structure that includes meeting with project leads and other stakeholders on a regular basis to understand progress and provide support where necessary and ensure accountability for delivery is understood.
• Deliver a regular detailed collated plan to the Director of Financial Planning and Performance, Chief Transformation Officer and Director of Transformation with analysis and insight of the risks and opportunities presented by the overarching transformation plans.
• Support the Business Case development process for all Transformational Projects, including being the lead for collating, testing and challenging all financial aspects of the Business Case.
• Work with other Senior Finance Colleagues, to ensure that all Transformation activities are embedded within the Universities overarching financial plans and are being tracked and reported as appropriate.
• Support the Chief Transformation Officer to manage the Transformation programme budgets, which includes variance analysis and reviewing risks and opportunities as they arise.
• Working with Finance, Strategic Governance and Project Management colleagues develop, support and maintain reporting financial models and complete scenario analysis to capture the impact of financial risks and opportunities posed to the university in relation to Transformation Projects.

Personal impact and contribution

• Develop strong working relationships at all levels with internal and external stakeholders which will enable you to facilitate the desired outputs and outcomes.
• Lead colleagues to deliver common strategic objectives across the business
• Provide high quality concise and clear communication to all stakeholders and support them in the delivery of their objectives.

General Duties

• Ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties.
• Abide by University policies on Health and Safety and Equality and Diversity.
• Perform other duties occasionally which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

• Qualified Accountant (CCAB or CIMA) with significant experience operating at a similar level (senior finance role) in a large and complex organisation.
• Able to work with large datasets and have a proven track record of producing high level insightful analysis from a mass of detailed data.
• Able to influence senior management and collaborate in decisions that have a strategic impact whilst assessing risks and opportunities which can be modelled on past performance and/or future plans.
• Evidence of ability to research and solve expansive problems using initiative and creativity, identifying and proposing both practical and innovative solutions.
• Change minded and constantly looking at ways to improve processes and procedures to deliver value added.
• Evidence of Financial management of a portfolio of projects, providing support and financial leadership to a wide range of key stakeholders.
• A strong leader who is able to bring cross functional teams together to deliver strategic outputs and outcomes to the required standard and quality for the university.
• An excellent communicator with the ability to build rapport with a range of finance and nonfinance persons across the organisation.

Desirable Criteria

• A proactive and flexible approach to work.
• Experience of Oracle EBS.
• Fluency in Welsh, written and oral