This role reports to the Global Financial Director and is responsible for providing strategic leadership to all aspects of the Edinburgh Finance Directorate. The role-holder will have direct management responsibility for 5 direct reports and overall responsibility for circa 20 employees. The role-holder will have significant influence on and provide thought leadership on the University’s financial control framework and processing activity. The role-holder will also provide financial leadership across the University and to the University Executive.

Key Duties:

• Providing leading-edge financial reporting and controlling processes to ensure University reporting meets all internal and external deadlines
• Ownership of overall control framework within the University and financial policies across the University, instil a rigorous balance sheet review process across the group to minimise risk and ensure credibility of the numbers within the financial ledgers
• Provide leadership on cash management, cash forecasting and across the general treasury function, in particular management of existing and new covenant lending arrangements
• Provide leadership for Treasury, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable and Financial reporting teams, developing team members
• Provide leadership on overall fraud management, ensuring fraud controls are appropriate for University – both now and in the future
• Lead, manage and develop the teams responsible for the above processes, ensuring colleagues are trained and supported in their day-to-day work and longer-term career development. Lead by example, demonstrating the university values and promoting a culture of customer service and efficiency
• Drive forward a continuous improvement culture in respect of the control environment, and spread best practice and across the Finance Team and University
• Completion and submission of Corporation tax, VAT and other relevant taxation forms
• Lead finance representation on key projects where appropriate
• Lead relationship with external auditors
• Deputise for Global Finance Director where appropriate and, as a member of the Finance Leadership team, contribute to the wider strategic development of the function and its services in support of University Strategy
• Financial & Statutory Accounting

The role-holder will provide strategic finance leadership and tactical direction in relation to all of the core operational and transaction processing activities within Finance, leading the following teams:

• Accounts Receivable
• Accounts Payable
• Treasury
• Risk & Control

As a senior manager within Finance, the successful candidate will be expected to contribute significantly to the development and delivery of departmental and University strategy, policy and operational plans, the continuous improvement of the service and the embedding of the new ERP system. As a global University, they will work closely with the finance leads in Dubai and Malaysia to ensure our processes and controls are standardised wherever possible and financial accounting takes different jurisdictional and business requirements into consideration.

Competencies, Tasks and Responsibilities:

The tasks and responsibilities listed under the following Competency Headings form part of all leadership roles in the University at this level and it is expected that the role-holder will perform them to at least an effective standard at all times.

Strategic Outlook

• Contribute to the development and delivery of the University strategy, drawing upon and sharing knowledge gained through engagement and close relationships with colleagues to inform and influence decisions
• Develop and deliver the Directorate strategy ensuring its continued relevance to and links with the overall University strategy
• Identify, interpret and translate University Strategies into operational planning and outcomes, keeping in mind the bigger picture and the external environment and ensuring operational planning is robust enough to support the strategy but nimble enough to adapt to changing needs

Leadership

• Provide leadership to the team, providing line management direction, support, mentoring and coaching
• Through strong leadership and example, lead and develop staff to achieve their potential, ensuring a clear understanding of their role within the team, Directorate and University
• Provide Subject Matter expert advice within the team and across the University
• Deputise for University Executive where required

Management Responsibilities 

• Lead by example
• Create a working environment for colleagues which enables personal growth and development
• Provide guidance, coaching and support to their team through change

Teamwork

• Ensure management team are effectively managing staff performance
• Proactively encourage the Directorate and offer personal development opportunities available to all staff members
• Build visible, effective and influential professional relationships across the University and external stakeholders
• Work with the relevant boards and University Executive to achieve University goals

Championing Change 

• Assess and lead on change management, influencing and managing stakeholder expectations
• Manage the implications of change on the team, maintaining team morale and service levels
• Be nimble and agile to respond to the pace and direction of change

Decision Making

• Take responsibility for all decisions and action within the Directorate
• Provide high quality, value-added analysis and commentary on reports and metrics
• Represent the Directorate and University on committees, boards and to external stakeholders

Planning and Organising

• Ensure directorate has capacity to deliver to University needs
• Manage and monitor budget to deliver value for money and fit for purpose resources and facilities
• Forecast and review staffing and resource needs, priorities and workload allocation

Initiative and Problem Solving

• Oversee governance and risk management within the Directorate
• Work with other University leaders to resolve University wide challenges

Service Excellence

• Lead change effectively
• Provide clear leadership to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of a high-quality service, developing high professional standards and excellent customer service
• Ensure timely, accurate and informative provision of statutory and other reports and metrics
• Comply with University Policies when managing or processing personal and other confidential information at all times

Clear and Consistent Communications

• Maintain confidentiality at all times by following university policies and guidance in managing confidential information and personal data
• Create and communicates clear vision and strategy for directorate
• Create reviews and submit proposals for change

Citizenship 

• Demonstrate the University Values at all times through leadership, performance and behaviour
• Participate in ad hoc duties to support the team / University and for personal development
• Support newer or inexperienced colleagues within and outside the University by offering support, help and advice
• Provide mentoring support (informally and formally)
• Positively promote the University internally and externally through positive behaviour and supporting University-wide activities
• Build partnerships to advance the University’s strategy, including at an international level
• Engage with community audiences through public activities
• Work with public bodies, charities, government agencies and other external stakeholders and influencers to provide input and support in areas such as policy formation, legislative consultation, committee membership or other activities that will support the University strategy and demonstrate its co-operation with and support for the local community
• Support University-wide activities and actively encourage team members to do the same

Education, Qualifications and Experience:

Essential

• Holds industry recognised accountancy qualifications or equivalent practical experience in the workplace
• Experience of developing and implementing strategy
• Demonstrable experience of leading a team that includes multiple layers of management
• Demonstrable experience of managing resources, workloads and changing priorities for self and others
• Demonstrable experience of managing change
• Demonstrable ability to work within a fast-changing environment
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Excellent influencing skills
• Good track record of developing and maintaining positive working relationships with internal and external customers, peers, stakeholders and others
• Technical expert in a relevant discipline / in at least one of the services provided by the Finance Directorate
• Flexible and resilient
• Collaborative and proactive

Desirable

• Nationally recognised accountancy qualification e.g., CA, ACA, CPFA, CIMA, ACCA
• Experience of leading complex change
• Project management skills
• Experience of operating in a complex global environment

To ensure you are considered for this role, please apply ASAP with your CV and contact details. Our experienced consultant will ring you for a confidential discussion.