The Post In this exciting new role, you will shape our university’s financial ambition while maintaining a firm focus on service quality. If you are a dynamic leader with a knack for getting things done and a commitment to exceptional service, we invite you to join our team and be a driving force behind our journey to financial success. Reporting directly to the Executive Director of Finance, you will lead a dedicated team working to achieve our university’s financial ambitions. Guided by our new Strategic Plan, you will play a pivotal role in driving income growth to help us reach our income milestone of £250 million by 2030. Description of Duties As the Director of Financial Planning and Strategy, you will have a range of strategic responsibilities aimed at propelling us to financial success: Effective Leadership: Provide highly specialised professional leadership and direction to a dedicated team. Financial Strategy: Develop a robust financial plan that steers us toward our income growth goals. Your insights will shape income assumptions and drive cost efficiencies. Business Partnering: Work closely with Deans, Executive Directors, and cross-functional teams to ensure our financial efforts align with our Strategic Plan and Financial Strategy. Financial Oversight: Analyse performance metrics, manage risks, and ensure our strategic developments are financially sustainable. Continuous Improvement: Collaborate with the Head of Policy and Planning to refine our university’s planning approach. Provide financial insights to enhance various aspects of our operations. Industry Insights: Stay informed about financial trends and shifts, providing valuable input for our strategic financial planning. Business Support Innovation: Guide the development of professional finance support that bolster our business initiatives, fostering growth and performance. Maximise financial return: Assess the financial viability of new initiatives and projects, offering recommendations to optimize returns. Essential Criteria Educated to degree level or equivalent with a relevant professional accountancy qualification. Strategic financial leadership experience in a large and complex organisation. Demonstrable record of accomplishment of developing and implementing vision and strategy that enables growth in activity and reputation. Proven ability to influence the direction of organisational development, and to translate strategic goals into action. Experience of leading an effective finance function with evidence of successful management of human and financial resources. Evidence of leading and implementing sustainable change that impacts across an organisation. Desirable Criteria Demonstrable experience of leading financial operating arrangements, including managing international arrangements, mitigating risk, and diversifying global mobility. Evidence of a well-developed understanding of Higher Education, in the UK and internationally, including funding structures, regulatory frameworks and risk factors. Personal Attributes: Outstanding professional profile with an excellent record of accomplishment in strategic financial leadership. Leadership skills that engender a positive collaborative and collegiate culture, sustaining high performing and effective teams that engage with colleagues across the University. Analytical problem-solving skills with well-developed emotional intelligence, sound judgement and political awareness. Highly effective interpersonal and communication skills, and ability to influence and negotiate effectively. Personal integrity, self-awareness and a commitment to personal development and self-reflection. Post Details Full time. Open ended. The closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 15 December 2024. There is an expectation that work will be undertaken in the UK. For the purposes of sponsorship, this is a role under SOC code 1131. The University of Stirling recognises that a diverse workforce benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers and welcome applications from those who would contribute to further diversification of our staff and ensure that equality, diversity and inclusion is woven into the substance of the role. Behaviours and Competencies The role holder will be required to evidence that they can meet the qualities associated with the following behavioural competencies, as detailed within the AUA Competency Framework. Managing self and personal skills: Being aware of your own behaviour and mindful of how it impacts on others, enhancing personal skills to adapt professional practice accordingly. Delivering excellent service: Providing the best quality service to external and internal clients. Building genuine and open long-term relationships in order to drive up service standards. Finding solutions: Taking a holistic view and working enthusiastically to analyse problems and to develop workable solutions. Identifying opportunities for innovation. Embracing change: Being open to and engaging with new ideas and ways of working. Adjusting to unfamiliar situations, shifting demands and changing roles. Using resources effectively: Identifying and making the most productive use of resources including people, time, information, networks and budgets. Engaging with the wider context: Enhancing your contribution to the organisation through an understanding of the bigger picture and showing commitment to organisational values. Developing self and others: Showing commitment to own ongoing professional development. Supporting and encouraging others to develop their professional knowledge, skills and behaviours to enable them to reach their full potential. Working together: Working collaboratively with others in order to achieve objectives. Recognising and valuing the different contributions people bring to this process. Achieving Results: Consistently meeting agreed objectives and success criteria. Taking personal responsibility for getting things done. The University The University of Stirling is committed to providing education with a purpose and carrying out research which has a positive impact on communities across the globe – addressing real issues, providing solutions, and helping to shape society. www.stir.ac.uk Job Reference: SERV01949 #J-18808-Ljbffr
