Internal Redeployment Only - Head of Finance (College of AHSS)

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Please note that this job is open only to current members of staff of Cardiff University who are eligible for redeployment.

Internal Redeployment Only - Head of Finance / Senior Finance Business Partner in College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

The College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences is seeking a talented individual to lead our finance team as our College Head of Finance. This is an exciting opportunity to work as part of a dynamic finance team shaping the future financial sustainability of the College and University.

We are a vibrant, diverse and inspiring community of 10 academic schools committed to excellence in teaching and research, not just in Wales but in the UK and worldwide. We have over 13,000 students and employ 1100 staff.

Your Role

Reporting to the College Registrar, you will provide strategic leadership on all aspects of the College's financial management and performance, providing high quality information, analysis and advice to the College Pro Vice-Chancellor, College Board, College Registrar, School Managers, and the University's Director of Financial Planning and Performance.

You will develop and implement a framework for financial management and control reflecting the University's budgeting approach and supporting the achievement of University and College targets. With responsibility for the leadership of the College finance function including the provision of a full management accounting support service to decision makers, you will oversee the efficient delivery of operational finance activities and lead the management and career development of staff within the finance team.

As a key member of the College's professional services senior management team, you will attend College and Operations Boards.

Our candidate

To succeed in this role, you will be a fully qualified senior finance professional with significant experience of operating at a similar level in a large and complex organisation. You will have robust technical skills, excellent interpersonal skills and an analytical mindset. It is essential that you have experience of managing complex financial activities and working with large datasets, with a proven track record of providing high level analysis and advice. You will also ensure that that effective financial systems, processes and controls are embedded in day-to-day operations across the College

You will have the ability to lead a successfully lead a team, engaging and developing staff, building relationships with a range of stakeholders across all levels of the organisation. You will be able to prioritise efficiently and effectively in order to operate in our fast-paced environment.

For further information If you're looking for a new challenge and would like to discuss the role in more detail, please contact Matt Williamson, College Registrar via 029 2087 4054 or williamsonm@cardiff.ac.uk, or Richard Lewis, Director of Financial Planning and Performance, lewir2@cardiff.ac.uk, for an informal discussion.

The post is full time (35 hours per week) and open-ended.

Salary: £61,759 - £67,468 per annum (Grade 8)

Cardiff University is an exciting and vibrant place to work. In addition to your salary, we offer excellent benefits, including 37 days annual leave (plus bank holidays), a career average pension scheme, blended working (meaning you will be able to work from home for some of your time if you wish), a cycle to work scheme and other travel initiatives, annual increments. We are a proud Living Wage supporter.

Closing date: Thursday, 4 December 2025

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 who have the ambition to create a University which seeks to fulfil our social, cultural and economic obligation to Cardiff, Wales, and the world. 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.

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

Job Description

JOB PURPOSE

• To provide strategic leadership on all aspects of the College's financial management and performance, providing high quality information, analysis and advice to the College Pro Vice-Chancellor, College Board, College Registrar, School Managers, and the University's Director of Financial Planning and Performance.

• To develop and implement a framework for financial management and control reflecting the University's budgeting approach and supporting the achievement of University and College targets.

• Have responsibility for the development and leadership of the College finance function including the provision of a full management accounting support service to decision makers, feeding into the efficient delivery of operational finance activities, and leading the management and career development of staff within the finance team.

• Lead the annual budget setting for the designated departments and business areas setting out the local processes to align to central delivery expectations as part of the integrated planning process

• Provide a comprehensive business partnering service to budget holders, and other stakeholders, monitoring budgets and delivering reports, analysis and insight to budget holders.

• Develop and maintain financial models for financial forecasts and business plans including business case development where appropriate Produce monthly management accounts, highlighting variances and prepare commentary to key stakeholders within tight reporting timescales

• Ensure strong financial control within the College and its constituent schools, including adherence to the University's financial regulations and policies.

• Where relevant, support the compilation of business cases or provide scrutiny against internally drafted cases prior to wider departmental consultation.

General Duties

• Lead and motivate a team of staff that are responsible for management and financial management accounts, to ensure that the outputs are delivered to expected and agreed standards.

• Come together with the finance senior management team to co-ordinate and report key financial matters to senior managers and the University Executive Board as necessary.

• To play a full part within relevant College or Professional Services fora (College Board, Operations Board or Professional Services boards), contributing fully to the development of the College's strategic planning and delivery of strategic priorities.

• Providing clear communication and in-depth support by building and maintaining excellent relationships with the University colleges and schools and professional services departments to ensuring budget holders and executive teams are fully supported

Other

• Ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties

• Abide by University policies on Health and Safety and Equality and Diversity

• Perform other duties occasionally which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role

Additional Information

Additional Information

It is the University's policy to use the person specification as a tool for shortlisting. Candidates should evidence that they meet all of the essential criteria as well as, where relevant, the desirable. You are required to submit written evidence of how you fulfil each of the Essential

Criteria in the Person Specification (and if met Desirable Criteria), using the same order/numbering in which they appear, in the form of a supporting statement. Please save as 'Name_XXXXXBR_Supporting Statement' when uploading your attachment so it can easily be identified.

Working Arrangements It would be expected that this role will be blended in nature, spending at least 2 days a week on the University Campus

Person Specification

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

Qualifications and Education

1. Qualified Accountant (CCAB or CIMA) with significant experience operating at a similar level (senior finance role) in a large and complex organisation Knowledge, Skills and Experience

2. Able to demonstrate expert professional knowledge within Finance, to be recognised as an authority in the field

3. Able to work with large and complex datasets and have a proven track record of producing high level insightful analysis from a mass of detailed data held within a large ERP system

4. Able to demonstrate attention to detail relating to reporting, analysis and the production and outputs Customer Service, Communication and Team Working

5. Able to influence senior decisions that have a strategic impact

6. Evidence of ability to explore customers' needs, adapt the service, and set customer expectations

7. Proven ability to develop networks in order to contribute to long term developments Planning, Analysis and Problem solving

8. Evidence of ability to research and solve expansive problems using initiative and creativity, identifying and proposing both practical and innovative solutions

9. Evidence of demonstrable knowledge of key advances within Finance

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

1. Experience of working in a Higher Education environment

2. Fluency in Welsh, written and oral.

3. Experience of Oracle financials and associated reporting tools

Cardiff University is a public research university located in Cardiff, Wales providing undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes across a broad subject range.