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Director of Finance Transformation

Cardiff University exists to create and share knowledge and to educate for the benefit of all. Our vision is to be a world-leading, research excellent, educationally outstanding university, which fulfils its social, cultural and economic obligations to Cardiff, Wales, the UK and the world. The role that Finance plays in supporting this vision is fundamental in ensuring that our external and internal customers are at the heart of what we do, by delivering efficient and effective customer service at all times.

The Finance function is now embarking on a significant programme of transformation to achieve the vision, service and support needed by the business. At the heart of this is a new service delivery model leveraging greater use of technology, simpler ways of working and better data. The Director of Finance Transformation has a pivotal role to play as finance automates processes, focuses on efficiency and standardisation and transforms the customer experience.

This position is full time and fixed term until 30 September 2028.

The salary will be on the Senior Salary pay scale and will be commensurate with the experience and achievements of the successful applicant

Date advert posted: Wednesday, 27 August 2025

Closing Date: Wednesday, 17 September 2025

This post has previously been advertised to employees of Cardiff University only. We now invite external applications.

Please be aware that Cardiff University reserves the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.

Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

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. We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. 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.

Job Description

The purpose of this role is to lead the Finance Transformation Programme (FTP) and team, covering multiple cross-finance transformation projects, to deliver a high-performing, cost-effective finance service.

The Director of Finance Transformation will be a member of the Finance Senior Management Team, with responsibility for ensuring the objectives of the Finance Transformation Programme (FTP) are delivered in line with the business case. They will work closely with the CFO, Finance and Procurement Directors and Heads of Finance, providing support and challenge to ensure the programme is appropriately resourced and improvements are embedded into business-as-usual processes.

• Direct the Finance Transformation Programme ensuring the quality, ambition and successful implementation of our plans enable us to achieve our vision of Finance, including future phases of the Finance Transformation Programme.
• Support the Finance Senior Management Team to build the capacity and capability for change and process improvement across the finance department and to support change from other professional services functions.
• Lead the preparation of business cases, determine and manage staffing and resource requirements, oversee the creation and management of project plans, monitor and manage inter-dependencies, programme risks and issues, and ensure the overall successful delivery of programme outcomes and the realisation of programme benefits.
• Build and manage a high-performing transformation team, resilient through change, and with a strong sense of community that enables new members of staff to be integrated successfully.
• Oversee the selection and implementation of finance systems and tools, and the design and implementation of standardised finance processes and procedures to drive efficiency and consistency across the University.
• Provide regular updates and reports to senior management on the progress and impact of the finance transformation programme, including being responsible for the design and accountable for the delivery of KPIs to senior finance management and the wider stakeholder community.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders to ensure smooth adoption of the new service delivery model, improved processes, and new systems that enable the finance department to operate efficiently and provide value for money.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to optimise finance transactions and enhance service delivery.
• Collaborate with central functions (such as the Continuous Improvement Hub) to both contribute and ensure alignment.
• Carry out relevant horizon scanning and external benchmarking for best practice in delivering an efficient and effective finance department.
  
  

Person Specification

Essential Criteria Qualifications and Education

• Qualified Accountant (ACCA, CIMA, ACA) with extensive post qualification experience
• Experience of leading through a period of transformation in a large organisation
• Ability to build and lead an effective, high-performing team in a hybrid environment
• Experience of leading systems implementation and process redesign
• Ability to understand customer needs and adapt ways of working to ensure a quality service is delivered
• Proven experience in change management to maximise the adoption and embedding of new ways of working
• Strong leadership skills, an ability to influence and drive action
• Ability to communicate detailed and complex information effectively with a wide range of people
• Experience of driving and evidencing performance improvement through the use of data
  
  

Desirable Criteria, Qualifications & Education

• Certification in Lean, Six Sigma, or similar process improvement methodologies
• Experience of setting up Service Level Agreements
• Experience in project management
• Certification or training in change management methodologies
• Fluency in Welsh, written and oral
  
  

Salary Range Min.

75136

Salary Range Max.

89794

Job Category

Accountancy & Finance, Business / Strategic Management, Management & Executive

Grade

Professorial