Deputy Director - Finance

THE HERIOT-WATT STORY

Our Heritage and Scottish Roots

Founded in 1821 as the Edinburgh School of Arts Heriot-Watt was the worlds first Mechanics Institute born out of the Scottish Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution with a mission to educate working people for technical and scientific jobs. Our founding mission and character of the University across the years has been to make education accessible and deliver tangible benefit to industry and society. Over the years we have grown from a technical college to a global university with a reputation for excellence in science engineering business and design.

Heriot-Watt University today

Heriot-Watt University is a charity registered in Scotland with a distinctive multinational operation through its campuses in the UK UAE and Malaysia as well as through collaborative activity with partners around the world and its Virtual Campus. Heriot-Watt University Malaysia is a Private Higher Education Institution and subsidiary company of the Heriot-Watt Group; Heriot-Watt University Dubai is a branch entity; and Oriam Scotlands National Performance Centre for Sport is also a subsidiary company along with Heriot-Watt Trading.

A Distinctive University; A Sustainable Future

Growing from these Scottish roots in the 19th century the University remains renowned for employability for access and inclusion; and for its applied research impact and global reach. The University has an exceptional track record in transnational education with a globally connected delivery model enabling students to Go Global and learn through global teaching teams across campuses and cultures.

The Universitys staff and students are the bedrock of its reputation and it is their achievements in teaching learning and research underpinned by our values as a community that makes the University what it is today. These values to Inspire; Belong; Celebrate and Collaborate help us stay true with respect for one another; understanding and valuing diversity.

We have an exceptional partnership with our students and as a university community we care most about the transformational value of education which is accessible and research which impacts on real world challenges and benefits society.

We are thought leaders in sustainability and see that future prosperity depends on us curating a future with institutional environmental economic and human factors in mind.

As we look forwards in Strategy 2035 we are sharpening our focus and building on these strengths and characteristics.

About our Team

We place our people the staff and students of the University at the heart of everything we do and it is the people and our values that make the University a great place to work and study. The Finance team is one of the Professional Services supporting the Universitys mission and delivery of its strategic priorities. On a day-to-day basis it does this by delivering a range of financial operations:

• Finance Business Partnering across Campuses Schools and Directorates.
• Financial transactional processing in payroll accounts payable and accounts receivable
• Financial planning budgeting sound management accounting and reporting including ensuring the availability of accurate and timely financial management information
• Treasury Management
• Capital investment planning
• Cash Management and long term financial management
• Procurement
• Effective operation and development of financial systems and financial controls
• Effective and timely delivery of statutory financial reporting
• Supporting the financial aspects of fundraising and management of endowments.

ROLE DESCRIPTION

Grade and Salary: Grade 10 (75K to 100K)

Location: Edinburgh Campus

Purpose of Role

This role reports to the Global Chief Financial Officer (GCFO) and is responsible for providing leadership and driving performance of the finance function in support of delivery of the Universitys strategic priorities and operational effectiveness and efficiency. The role is responsible for deputising for the GCFO as required presenting financial management information and analysis to Boards and Committees and leading and developing the finance business partnering function across the University providing financial services and advice to our delivery units.

Summary of Key Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership and Management

• Reporting to the GCFO responsible for managing the day-to-day operation of the Finance Directorate developing and building the team with a culture underpinned by values and driven by commitment to provide excellent support and practical and effective finance business partnership to stakeholders across the University.
• Specific accountability for ensuring that the team structure and skills in the Finance Directorate meet the Universitys requirements providing excellent leadership to the team and using regular review mentoring and coaching to actively develop the service across the University.

Deputising for the GCFO

• Deputise for the Global Chief Financial Officer as required including attending and reporting to key committee groups; University Executive; Global Operations Executive and University Court and Court Committee Meetings such as Finance Committee and Audit and Risk Committee.

Control Environment and Long-Term Financial Sustainability

• Working with the GCFO to assure the overall integrity and long-term sustainability of the Universitys financial position.
• Ensure an effective finance control environment is in place across the global finance function and that issues are escalated in a well-judged and timely way to senior management or governance teams.
• Ensure accounting standards relevant legislation and statutory returns are complied with.
• Ensure all external reporting including statutory accounts are produced in line with agreed timelines.
• Monitor and report on compliance with covenants and other requirements.

Service and Business Partnering

• Ensure a clear and effective finance service is provided across the University.
• To build the Finance Business Partnering approach establishing service standards and consistent delivery.
• Managing communications and engagement processes.

Finance Systems and Processes

• Drive continuous improvement in finance systems and processes seeking out ways to improve effectiveness and efficiency optimise approaches and improve customer satisfaction.
• Drive continuous improvement in financial management information designed to inform effective decision making and provide information to monitor and report on performance.
• Deliver complex financial analysis communicating effectively to both financial and non-financial managers.
• Provide clear insights and expert financial advice to internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide effective explanations of complex technical accounting regulations in line with current UK and International Financial Reporting Standards.
• Influence and provide effective challenge when participating in decision making processes.
• Write reports and papers to meet governance and reporting requirements.

Integrated Planning and Budgeting

• Performing a key role in the development and implementation of a new Integrated Planning and Budgeting Process working closely with the Vice Principal of the University and the Director of Strategic Planning Projects and Performance. Delivering significant improvements in the budget planning and management process to ensure effective and efficient use of the Universitys resources.
• Ensure strategies are in place for managing a complex series of priorities with multiple internal and external stakeholders.
• Ensure budgeting and forecasts are delivered in a timely manner.
• Support the development and delivery of business cases in a standardised format facilitating effective performance monitoring benefits realisation capitalisation and return on investment

Critical relationships

• Members of the University Executive and Global Operations Executive (Executive Deans and Directors of Professional Services)
• GCFO as line manager and others in the Finance Leadership team.
• The Vice Principal of the University
• The University Secretary and Vice Principal (Governance and Operations)

Frequent interaction with colleagues at all levels including

• Provosts and COOs at the Campuses in Dubai and Malaysia and their Heads of Finance
• The Director of Strategic Planning Projects and Performance.
• Finance Senior Leadership Team and Finance team across the Group.
• Head of Assurance
• Head of Communications
• External auditors
• Bankers and other funders

Regular interaction with

• Principal and Vice Chancellor (who is the designated officer in respect of Scottish Funding Council funds);
• Chair of Court and Chairs of Finance Committee and Audit and Risk Committee
• The Scottish Funding Council OSCR other external stakeholder

Education Qualifications & Experience

Essential
to degree standard.
recognised accountancy qualification e.g. CA ACA CPFA CIMA ACCA.
experience post qualifying within a large complex organisation.
to work at Heriot-Watt University
of developing and implementing strategy
experience of managing a team that includes multiple layers of management
record of delivery and of change.
experience of managing resources workloads and changing priorities for self and others
experience of managing and communicating change in a collaborative manner.
to operate in a complex global environment
ability to work within a fast-changing environment
track record of developing and maintaining positive working relationships with internal and external customers peers stakeholders and others

Desirable
Member of relevant Professional Body
of working within the HE Sector
of leading complex change
Management skills
of operating in a complex global environment

Please send a Covering Letter outlining why you feel you are suitable for this opportunity addressing the criteria if not already covered in your CV submission (maximum 2 pages for Covering Letter and up to date CV). Closing Date 31st July for Applications.

Full candidate brochure available at Heriot Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team.

Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.

Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected trained promoted appraised and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.

Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our University community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information please see our website and also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers .

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