Head of Finance Business Partnering Interim

The Head of Finance Business Partnering will oversee a team of 7 Finance Business Partners and 20 in financial planning and analysis. You will play a key role in ensure best in class Management Information, budgeting and forecasting whilst providing strategic leadership.

Client Details

Cambridge is one of the most prestigious and highly ranked universities in the world with a mission to contribute to society through the pursuit of education, learning and research, at the highest international levels of excellence. Our priority is to ensure the University can continue to play an extraordinary role in education and research, while contributing to local, national and global societies long into the future.

Description

Accountable for the strategic leadership and operational delivery of business partnering and FP&A within the Finance Division.. This role ensures the provision of a high-quality, insight-driven service that supports the University's financial sustainability and strategic objectives.

Provide clear strategic direction to the business partners and FP&A functions, ensuring the seamless execution of day-to-day financial processes with a strong emphasis on efficiency, accuracy and operational excellence. Drive the development and implementation of robust financial models, forecasts and performance metrics.

Lead a team of 8 direct reports and provide strategic oversight to an extended team of approximately 50, fostering a collaborative high-performing culture that supports professional growth and cross-functional integration.

Act as a trusted advisor to senior academic and professional services leaders, providing expert financial insight and challenge. Build strong relationships across the University to ensure financial strategies are well understood and effectively implemented

1. To provide enduring business leadership, coordination and continued capability development for all aspects of financial business partnering including financial decision-making support This should be delivered in a collegial way reflecting the working practices of the University.

2. Work with the extended finance and academic community, to actively support the Finance Transformation Programme to ensure the new Oracle Fusion system delivers fit for purpose FP&A needs and outside system development, deliver new ways of decision making that leverage the system tools.

3. Work with individual institutions to understand, map and agree how School and Institution Finance Business Partners (FBPs) currently work collaboratively with School Secretaries, Heads of Schools, Heads of Institutions, Registrary, Heads of Departments, Heads if NSIs and others, in producing fit for purpose institutional Business Plans:

4. Work with School management to shape the evolving footprint of our critical business-facing SFBP roles in the context of FTP and Re-Imagining Professional Services (RPS) programme principles.

5. Leading the devolved finance functions throughout the Schools and United Administrative Services (UAS), overseeing collective delivery of services and priority objectives, including heightened focus on surplus improvement

Take primary responsibility for the forward management of the key assumptions and risks associated with the University's Ten-year Model.

Profile

A successful Head of Finance Business Partnering should have:

• Degree Educated with a professional accountancy qualification (ACA, ACCA, or CIMA.)
• Proven experience managing a large Finance Function ( 30-60 staff)
• Experience gained in complex large organisation ( eg: T/O > £500m approx), Higher Education preferred but not essential.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management experience gained in senior business partner positions.
• Experience of being part of the Finance Leadership Team
• Understanding of "what good looks like" in FP&A, MI, budgeting, planning and forecasting in large and complex organisation
• Proficiency with large ERP's like SAP, MS Dynamics etc ( Oracle preferred)
• UK Right to work
• 2 days per week in the office ( Cambridge)

Job Offer

• Highly competitive salary + USS pension and up to 41 days holiday including Bank ( pro rata)
• Daily Rate may be considered ( INSIDE IR35 only)
• Flexible working, 2 days office, 3 days home