Head of School Finance (Senior Finance Business Partner)

Bluetownonline; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 46,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Head of School Finance to lead financial operations and provide strategic support within a dynamic environment. This role involves managing budgeting, forecasting, and reporting processes while collaborating closely with senior management. The successful candidate will possess a recognised accountancy qualification and demonstrate strong leadership and analytical skills. This position not only offers the chance to influence financial strategy but also to foster a culture of inclusion and diversity. Join a forward-thinking team that values your contributions and supports your professional growth.

Benefits

Market leading Pension scheme

Employee health and wellbeing services

Exceptional annual leave entitlement

Paid closure over Christmas

Local and national discounts

Qualifications

• Recognised CCAB accountancy qualification required.
• Experience in finance within large organisations essential.

Responsibilities

• Manage financial planning, budgeting, and reporting processes.
• Provide operational and strategic support on financial matters.

Skills

CCAB professional accountancy qualification

Team leadership and management

Business partnering experience

Analytical skills

Strong IT skills

Excellent communication skills

Education

Recognised accountancy qualification

Tools

Accounting systems

Excel

Job description

Job Title: Head of School Finance (Senior Finance Business Partner)

Location: Oxford Road, Manchester

Salary: £46,485 - £56,921 per annum, dependent on relevant experience

Job type: Full Time, Permanent - 1.0 FTE

Closing date: 17/03/2025

Overall Purpose of the Job:

The Head of School/Directorate Finance is a member of the Directorate of Finance working under the guidance of the Head of Faculty Financial Reporting and Analysis. You will work alongside Heads of School/Directors/Senior Managers as a business partner to provide operational and strategic support on all financial matters.

You will be responsible for managing the financial planning, budgeting, forecasting and reporting processes for your area of responsibility. This will include analysis of performance and highlighting remedial action where required. You will develop and continuously improve management information to assist School/Directorate budget holders.

You will be customer focused, flexible in your approach, and work in conjunction with other finance colleagues, covering for and relating with them in order to develop and enhance your role and the service delivered by the Directorate of Finance.

Essential skills:

• Possess a recognised CCAB professional accountancy qualification or equivalent
• Experience of working within finance in a large, complex organisation demonstrating ability to work collaboratively and proactively across organisational boundaries
• Experienced in leading, managing and developing teams across various locations, with the ability to think in strategic terms and exercise leadership
• Experience of working in a business partnering role and delivering an exceptional customer service to stakeholders
• Significant experience of working in an accounts preparation role with strong analytical skills to enable production of meaningful financial reporting
• Motivation to streamline processes and identify and implement continuous improvement
• Strong IT skills, particularly accounting systems and high level excel skills, including data manipulation and interrogation
• Ability to convert data into management information easily understood by non-accountants and colleagues alike
• Excellent communication (both verbal and written) and interpersonal skills to engage colleagues at all levels, including those without financial expertise

What can you expect in return:

The University will actively foster a culture of inclusion and diversity and will seek to achieve true equality of opportunity for all members of its community.

What you will get in return:

• Fantastic market leading Pension scheme
• Excellent employee health and wellbeing services including an Employee Assistance Programme
• Exceptional starting annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays
• Additional paid closure over the Christmas period
• Local and national discounts at a range of major retailers

As an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of age, sex, gender (or gender identity), ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments are made on merit.

Our University is positive about flexible working. Hybrid working arrangements may be considered.

Please click APPLY to be redirected to our website to complete an application form.