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Role Description

 

The purpose of the role of Director of Finance, Professional Services & Projects is to provide business partnering support to all of Professional Services and VP Offices, and to support the Director of Finance and Business Affairs (FBA) in the delivery of major institutional projects.  The role will line manage the Professional Services (PS) finance team and the projects resource of approximately 12 staff in total.  The role combines a requirement for strategic oversight and planning, with responsibility for critical business-partnering. 

 

This role is one of the senior roles that provide leadership to the finance function and support to the organisation that has a turnover in excess of £1.3bn.  The post-holder is a member of the Senior Team in Finance and Business Affairs and is therefore required to lead, support and participate in wider strategic initiatives.   The post-holder will deputise for the Director of Finance and Business Affairs as required.

 

Specific Responsibilities

 

Professional Services

 

  • Lead the finance function that supports all the PS Divisions and Vice Provost (VP) offices, supported by a team of management accountants and a dedicated Estates Finance team. 

  • Work in partnership with the PS Directors and VPs to convert service development ambitions into credible 3-5 year financial plans that are consistent with the financial strategy and to enable achievement of the UCL strategy.  This involves working with the Directors/VPs and their leadership teams to develop and evaluate scenarios and set a financial framework that provides resource and information to support PS/VP plans.

  • Provide the Directors/VPs, their leadership team and other senior colleagues within PS/VPs offices with effective support on both strategic and operational financial issues.

  • Deliver a comprehensive, timely and fit-for-purpose financial and management reporting service including actuals, budgets and forecasts, including income, expenditure and critical balance sheet items such as reserves (where applicable).

  • Deliver focussed support for the UCL estates capital programme, including assistance with business case development, programme reviews, cash flow monitoring, project accounting and attendance at the Project Review Group.

  • Provide effective support for all current and planned projects, capital proposals and partnerships within the PS divisions, liaising with relevant teams in UCL.  Ensure business cases, investment appraisals and risk analyses are conducted effectively.

  • Ensure that trading and commercial activity within PS is properly managed and monitored to achieve target levels of surplus and to implement remedial plans where necessary.

 

Major institutional projects

 

  • Direct the provision of resource and support for the planning and delivery of major institutional projects.  This would apply to projects that are sufficiently large and/or complex, and which are multi-faculty or institutional in nature.

  • Support will include financial appraisal and business case development, financial management and monitoring, identifying funding sources, benefit realisation.

 

Other Duties

 

  • This job description reflects the present requirements of the post, and as duties and responsibilities change/develop, the job description will be reviewed and be subject to amendment in consultation with the post holder.

  • The post holder will carry out any other duties as are within the scope, spirit and purpose of the job as requested by the line manager.

  • The post holder will actively follow UCL policies including Equal Opportunities policies and be expected to give consideration within their role as to how they can actively advance equality of opportunity and good relations between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and people who do not share it.

  • The post holder will maintain an awareness and observation of Fire and Health & Safety Regulations and may be required to undertake Fire Marshal duties, after appropriate training. 

 

Person Specification – Essential

 

  • Fully qualified accountant with substantial post qualification experience

  • Capable and credible finance professional, comfortable with operating and influencing at senior management level;

  • Track record of financial leadership, managing change and building effective teams in higher education or other sectors with translatable experience;

  • Ability to generate innovative ideas and find solutions to improve policies and processes;

  • Successful experience of short and longer term business and financial planning in a complex environment;

  • Experience of building positive relationships with senior non-finance staff, and being able to communicate financial information and concepts in a clear and accessible manner, both in writing and verbally;

  • Excellent communication and presentation skills;

  • Excellent analytical skills and sound judgement;

  • A collaborative working style with the ability to establish personal credibility quickly and effectively and to transfer skills and knowledge to colleagues;

  • Experienced and capable in managing staff performance and difficult personnel matters

  • Commitment to UCL’s policy of equal opportunity

 

Person Specification – Desirable

 

  • Previous experience in a senior finance role within a research-intensive higher education environment

  • Current knowledge of the funding environment for research and teaching

  • Experience of successfully leading organisational change on a significant scale and in a complex environment

  • Familiarity with Oracle Financials and current reporting tools

  • Previous direct experience with major capital investment planning and delivery

Director of Finance, Professional Services & Projects
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