Director of Finance

Job Summary

Robert Gordon University (RGU) is an innovative, inclusive and professional university, focused on delivering courses that provide our graduates with the best outcomes for their future.

We are seeking to appoint a new Director of Finance, a key role in ensuring that the University is in a strong position to deliver on its ambitions. Reporting direct to the Principal and following the retirement of the current Director after 20 years, the new Director will lead an established Financial Services team and be a key member of University Management Group.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the strategic management of all finance related functions in an integrated approach to corporate management of the University. Tasked with delivering the long-term financial sustainability of the University, you will be responsible for the delivery and implementation of future-focused strategies ensuring sound financial management investment and good governance. You will work closely with academic colleagues to foster a culture of financial responsibility and commercial thinking to help the University thrive in an increasingly competitive sector and global economy.

The role holder will be a clear strategic thinker, a graduate and qualified accountant with senior experience in financial management and control in a large, complex organisation. You will have the opportunity to apply your expertise in providing high-quality, customer-focused services, providing cross departmental leadership to a team of c. 23 finance professionals.

With an annual income of £120 million, in surplus and with significant financial reserves, the University is in a strong position and you will be joining at a time of real momentum and positive change. This is a key appointment for us, and it will be for you – so we will invest time with candidates to get to know you and give you a chance to know us in the application process.

We have appointed Gatenby Sanderson, Executive Search Consultants to manage recruitment of this post. For further information please read the candidate information pack we have put together for this role by clicking Director of Finance Application .

If you need further clarifications or for an informal conversation about the role, please contact Chane’ Parsons, Principal Researcher at GatenbySanderson via  chane.parsons@gatenbysanderson.com

Applications should be made via the website by 9am, Monday 23rd October 2023

Job Description

Responsible To: Principal and Vice Chancellor

Responsible For: Finance Department

Purpose of post:

• To provide financial advice and guidance to the Principal and senior leadership team with a focus on driving continuous improvement while ensuring the financial sustainability of the University

• To oversee the highest standards of financial stewardship, integrity, and governance

• To establish operational and strategic financial structures that are responsive to change and enable the profitable long-term growth of the University

• To make a wider contribution to the purpose, mission and culture of the University as a senior leader and member of the University management group

• To provide inspirational leadership to the finance department ensuring staff are effectively deployed to enable the achievement of their clients goals and those of the wider university

Key deliverables

1. Provision of advice and direction on finance matters, both operational and strategic, to the University’s Principal, Board, Finance Committees, Executive Group and University Senior Management in support of strategic change, business improvement, long term planning, risk management, capital investment and prudent financial management.

2. Manage all the corporate finance functions and processes of the University, including budget planning, audit, working capital, treasury, procurement, capital expenditure, debt, payroll, pension and taxation affairs.

3. Provide cross department leadership and management, ensuring team leaders and their staff are empowered to deliver on the department’s key strategic objectives and provide a comprehensive service to their clients

4. Guarantee the highest standards of financial practice, discipline, integrity and governance, ensuring that all financial reporting, financial management and financial accounting systems are fit for purpose and compliant with all financial, legislative and audit requirements

5. Ensure the University fully complies with the statutory, contractual, and financial monitoring requirements of the Scottish Funding Council, other funding bodies and commercial, public service partners and all legal entities.

6. Ensure all financial systems and processes are streamlined, rigorous and aligned to the needs of the wider business and those of individual clients.

7. Understand the needs of all clients, thereby enabling the provision of high-quality financial information and support to budget holders to help drive continuous improvement and business critical decisions.

8. Raise the profile of the Finance team and the University by building key relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Degree Level education

• Qualified member of an accountancy body or holder of an equivalent qualification

Experience

• financial management and control as a senior leader in a large, complex organisation

• delivering significant cross organisational change, while balancing the need for financial prudency with the desire for continuous improvement and growth

• developing and holding to account a skilled, motivated, and multi-disciplinary team of Finance department professionals, with a focus on embedding the principles of Finance and enabling the wider business to achieve its strategic goals

• working in partnership with senior colleagues and leaders to make the best use of their budget and capitalise on opportunities for growth and change

Skills

• Build credibility and works effectively with senior leaders and other key stakeholders to deliver on the strategic aims of individual business units and the wider university (teamwork)

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills including the ability to unpack complex financial matters for a range of audiences & influence strategic decisions (communication)

• Demonstrates initiative and sound judgment while seeking innovative and pragmatic solutions to complex organisational problems; (problem solving)

• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and give attention to detail without losing sight of the big picture

• High level analytical skills that support the delivery of strategic planning and ensures senior leadership are well placed to make business critical decisions.

• Decisive and exercises excellent judgement when faced with complex and challenging strategic and operational matters