Head of Financial Management and Reporting

Job Description

The Role
What you’ll do
Who you are – Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge and Skills required
How to apply
Benefits
Employment Visa

The Role

This job description is subject to review and amendment in the light of the changing needs of the University, to provide appropriate development opportunities and/or the addition of any other reasonable duties.

This role supports the Chief Financial Officer to ensure the delivery of the university financial plan which enables delivery of Aberystwyth University’s 2025- 2030 Strategy.

The financial plan sets out the priorities and actions required to enable delivery of the financial resources required by the university. This leadership role, alongside the Head of Financial Operations and Compliance, will create a high-performance team embedded in the universities activities by further developing the business partner culture, ensuring the service remains of high-quality and appropriate as circumstances change.

As the lead for Finance Business Partnering across the University, you and your team will work closely with Faculty Pro-Vice Chancellors, Department Heads, and Professional Services Directors to provide strategic financial advice. Your guidance will help ensure that budgets are effectively managed and that financial plans are both realistic and ambitious.

You will bring significant experience as a financial professional, with high- level expertise in this area of finance. Confident operating in a complex and fast-paced environment, you will exercise a high degree of independent judgment and responsibility, working within broad parameters and institutional policy frameworks.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Team Leadership

• You will lead and manage a high-performing finance team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement to drive the achievement of strategic financial objectives. You will champion innovation and lead step changes in processes and procedures to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
• Lead the Finance Business Partnering teams to set and monitor budgets, delivering timely, accurate, and insightful financial information, support, and advice across the University.
•  Ensure the consistent delivery of a high-quality, responsive, and stakeholder-focused finance service that evolves with institutional needs and supports long-term planning and decision-making.

External Representation and Stakeholder Engagement

• Represent the University with external stakeholders, ensuring excellent relations and timely sharing of information.
• Ensure delivery of an excellent, consistent, and relevant service to stakeholders.
• Develop, manage and maintain productive strategic relationships and networks with senior representatives in a broad range of private and public sector partners to assist the continuing development, reputation and effectiveness of the University.

Strategic Financial Guidance

• Provide advice and guidance on complex and/or strategic financial matters.

• Lead on delivery of efficiency savings ensuring that costs are minimised across all areas of service operations to support the financial sustainability of the university. 
• Plan, co-ordinate and take responsibility for the delivery of strategic projects and play a key role in the continued development of the department.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Communicate and present analysis of financial information, tailoring management reports for the needs and understanding of the recipient(s).
• Proactively provide financial information to support the decision-making process of groups or senior individuals.
• Working with the Head of Financial Operations and Compliance to ensure the general ledger is optimised for all users.
• Ensure the development of effective ongoing relationships with Pro-Vice Chancellors, Directors and Managers to align existing activity with strategic financial plans and to ensure that they have the appropriate financial support.
• Be an active member of project / steering/ working groups and networks, both internal and external to the University, representing the Chief Financial Officer as required.
• Produce and implement a robust monitoring system that measures performance against key targets and identifies material financial variances.

Compliance

• Ensure that the Financial Regulations and procedures are applied in accordance with the requirements of the University Audit Committee and its Regulators.
• Work closely with the Head of Financial Operations and Compliance to ensure all income and expenditure is accounted for in accordance with accounting standards for the preparation of the Annual Financial Statements.
• Work closely with the Chief Financial Officer demonstrating leadership in the financial management and delivery of the long-term financial plan for the University, while maintaining a business partnering culture and compliance to regulation.

Budgets and Accounts

• Oversee and ensure the five-year budgets are prepared for consolidation into the University’s medium term financial plan, working in collaboration with the Finance Leadership team to ensure milestones and key performance indicators are met
• Ensure budgets and forecasts are developed in accordance with the agreed guidelines and timetables, leading the team in building optimal budgets processes.
• Construct, analyse and review business cases and option appraisals, pulling together financial and non-financial elements to recommend appropriate courses of action to senior management.
• Engage with the University’s commitment to deliver value for money activities that optimise the use of resources by maintaining a cost-conscious approach based on the needs of the business, when undertaking all duties and aspects of the role.
• Prepare monthly and quarterly management accounts and project monitoring reports to the University’s Executive and other stakeholders, including a forecast outturn and details of major financial opportunities, threats and risks.

Be flexible and undertake any other finance related duties according to the needs of the University in liaison with the Chief Financial Officer.

Additional Responsibilities

Undertake other duties as assigned by your line manager, commensurate with the role's grade.

Engage in university-level projects and initiatives as directed, and undertake any additional duties commensurate with the role, as assigned by the line manager.

 Demonstrate flexibility by supporting colleagues during periods of high demand, including attendance at key university events such as open days and graduation ceremonies which may include weekend work.

Promote equality of opportunity, and to support and uphold the University's commitment to diversity and inclusion in all aspects of your work.
 
To support the university strategy and underlining plans, engage in continuous personal and professional development in line with the demands of the role, including undertaking relevant training and development activities to develop yourself and support the development of others.

Fulfil health and safety responsibilities appropriate to the role, while actively promoting the personal health, safety, and wellbeing of staff and students as a member of the Aberystwyth community. Additionally, support the University’s commitment to environmental sustainability through responsible practices and engagement. 

The above does not represent an exhaustive list of duties associated with this role.

Who you are – Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge and Skills required

Essential

1. Professional qualification in Accountancy (CIMA, ACCA, ACA or equivalent).

• Proven significant experience of:

-       leading & managing teams

-       developing strategic plans and providing direction

-       managing strategic projects and change working with stakeholders

-       reviewing business risks and policy making recommendations for change

-       preparing, monitoring and managing significant budgets.

1. Proven influencing and negotiation skills with the ability to work sensitively with a broad range of individuals and groups.
2. Good presentation and report writing skills.
3. Ability to prioritise tasks, and co-ordinate the efforts of others, to meet deadlines and objectives.
4. Ability to research, gather and process data and information; analyse and interpret results; and determine appropriate action.
5. Advanced knowledge of good practice in management accounting and the development of budgets and financial decision support.
6. Knowledge of developing key performance indicators and associated reporting and monitoring regimes.
7. Ability to develop a vision aligned to business policy priorities.
8. Ability to act as a positive ambassador and role model for the University in external situations.
9. Ability to collaborate with senior colleagues to achieve organisational success 
10. Understanding of how to quickly engender trust and credibility amongst key stakeholders and staff at all levels.
11. Applying discretion to deal with highly confidential issues in a sensitive and discreet manner.
12. Ability to promote a responsive and “can do” culture.
13. Ability to lead, motivate, set work, coach, train and monitor performance of staff.
14. Organised methodical and self-motivated to manage own work and that of others to meet required targets.
15. Articulate, confident, persuasive, tactful, diplomatic.
16. Ability to see activities of the post in a wider University and professional context
17. Flexible approach to undertake work as per business need.
18. Oral (spoken) and Written Welsh Level B1.* or evidence to demonstrate an on-going commitment to learn Welsh to this level.

Desirable

1. Management qualification.
2. Previous experience in a senior role in a large, complex organisation.
3. Project management skills.
4. Oral (spoken) and Written Welsh Level B1.*

*More information on Welsh Language Levels can be found at:

https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/hr/policy-and-procedure/welsh-standards/

How to apply

To promote a flexible workforce, the University will consider applications from individuals seeking full time, part time, job share, or term time only working arrangements.

Applications for this role must be made through jobs.aber.ac.uk. You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally.

Benefits

• Flexible working policy
• 36.5 – hour week for full-time roles
• Generous leave entitlements – 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays and university closed days
• Commitment to Professional Development
• Enhanced contribution to our workplace pension schemes
• Staff recognition and reward schemes
• Opportunity to learn the Welsh language for free
• Staff relocation bursary
• Maternity, Paternity, Parental and Adoption Leave
• Staff discount for gym facilities, hospitality, and retail on campus. 

Please keep reading

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities and, those that are currently underrepresented in our workforce. This includes but is not limited to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, candidates with disabilities, and female candidates.

We are a Bilingual Institution which complies with the Welsh Language Standards and is committed to Equal Opportunities. You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally.

Employment Visa

We welcome international applicants who are eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker Route.

Under the points-based system, this role meets the criteria to be sponsored by AU for an SWR application. Please be advised that AU will only support the Certificate of Sponsorship for any employment visas and will not support the payment of the employment visa for the offered candidate and/or dependants.

Any prospective candidates coming to work for AU under the SWR will require a minimum of 70 points, made up of the following:

 *Appropriate knowledge is classed as the following:

• A national of a majority English speaking country
• Having an academic degree taught in English (if an overseas degree, must be verified by NARIC)
• Completing and passing an English language test at Level B1 or above.

For more information, please visit:  https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa