Finance Manager

· Accountable for the preparation and analysis of the monthly management accounts, forecast and 5-year Income and Expenditure and Capital budget/plan for their business areas. They will provide business finance support to budget holders, own the numbers and understand the drivers of the variances, presenting at the Finance internal review meeting.

· Create, review and challenge small / medium scale business cases, options appraisals and external returns including capital expenditure for their business area. Provide support to the Academic and Operations Finance Partners for larger scale, more strategic opportunities.

· Be an active member of the Finance Department and senior management teams for their assigned areas, representing Finance in the development of strategy. Educate non-Finance staff in Finance processes while establishing a strong and effective control environment within their business area, ensuring compliance with University Financial Regulations.

· Assist in designing and implementing all internal financial reports pertaining to their business area, ensuring accuracy and robustness of all information.

· Identify continuous improvement opportunities in processes, reporting and cost saving. Implement as appropriate.

· Cultivate a culture of value for money. Providing Business Finance support and analysis within their respective business area

· Accountable for leading and delivering month end, forecasts and management information for their assigned area within the University agreed timetable ensuring information is accurate and robust.

· Prepare and own annual budget and forecast profiling. Using prior year data to look for trends and agree profile with budget holders.

· The post holder will provide the process framework and delivery support for the 5-year strategic plan submission. They will play a leading role in constructing the financial strategy and capital plan. Influencing strategic decision making both at department and University level.

· The role has multiple fixed deadlines, both statutory (external) and internal, ranging from daily to annual. The post holder will be required to plan their work, including any necessary collaboration with colleagues, to ensure deadlines are achieved.

· Report on month end, forecast and budget outputs at senior management level, offering guidance and developmental support where identified.

· Work with a high degree of independent professional autonomy, organising their time to ensure deadlines are met and sufficient time has been allocated to review / challenge financial information.

· Work in a proactive, flexible and independent manner to effectively manage their workload, and that of the team members for which they have line management responsibility.

· Engage with key stakeholders to produce the business areas budget, capital plan and financial plan which will be submitted to Executive Board (EB). Responsible for analysing variances and providing targeted advice and solutions to achieve agreed financial targets.

· Networking and building strong business relationships with the University's senior managers to influence decision making. Advise and represent their business areas in the wider University. The role is pivotal as it represents Finance to the business area, and vice versa. .

· Analysing, reporting and acting upon key management information. The post holder must have an enquiring mind and will provide and interpret financial information to ensure fact-based decision making to optimise the financial position.

· Identify gaps in information and conduct analysis to solve/resolve problems and issues.

· Provide decision making support and associated due diligence work for new small / medium scale opportunities, including the creation and review of new programmes, business cases and applications for capital expenditure. Support the Academic and Operations Finance Partners with larger scale / more strategic initiatives.