Director of Financial Planning and Analysis

About the role

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), we have an exciting opportunity to join the Finance leadership Team (FLT) as the Director of Financial Planning & Analysis. This is a high-profile leadership role with responsibility for the University’s financial planning, budgeting and forecasting cycle and ensuring that this information is used to shape decision-making across the University. 

The role is highly outward-facing across the University, developing and maintaining extensive networks with peers and senior stakeholders, to ensure a two-way flow of information between the central University functions and the academic divisions and services.  This includes leading the team of Divisional Financial Controllers – five senior finance staff who work alongside the academic divisions and services in business-partnering roles.

A key task for the Director of Financial Planning & Analysis over the coming year will be to ensure that the changes to financial flows and governance arising from the Finance White Paper are properly implemented.  The White Paper is a set of reforms designed to increase transparency and improve decision-making across the University by better aligning financial decision-making and accountability, with the ultimate aim of improving financial sustainability.  The post-holder will be responsible for ensuring that key decisions are well-informed and made in a timely manner enabling the 2023/24 budget and three year funding settlement for central services to be set under this framework for the first time.  In tandem, the Director will need to work closely with the Director of Planning and Council Secretariat and broader planning colleagues to ensure the University’s broader planning processes inform, and are appropriately informed by, financial planning considerations.

As a member of the leadership team of the Central Finance Division, the Director of Financial Planning & Analysis is jointly responsible for the development and wellbeing of all Central Finance Division staff – working with finance leadership team peers and UAS peers to coach and develop staff and continuously improve the level of service and compliance provided by the Central Finance Division.

Along with their peers, the Director of Financial Planning & Analysis is also expected to role model the behaviours of team-working, communication, inclusion, relationship management and coaching underpinning the Finance Division’s stated culture of being ‘a diverse, collaborative environment that fosters a culture of trust, respect, and learning from achievements and mistakes, with recognition for innovation and expertise’.  Key to achieving this will be a visible commitment to the Division’s five values:  professionalism, integrity, excellence, respect and inclusion.

About you

You will have significant experience of budgeting, planning and forecasting and developing multi-year financial forecasts in a large and complex organisation. You should possess excellent communication skills and strong influencing skills with the ability to develop and maintain effective networks with senior stakeholders and teams across the University and beyond.

You will be based in Hythe Bridge Street but you may be able to agree a pattern of regular remote working with your line manager.

The Finance Division employs approximately 200 staff, most of whom are based at Hythe Bridge Street, just a short walk into central Oxford.

Application Process

If you would like to discuss this role please contact [email protected]  

You will be required to upload a supporting statement, setting out how you meet the selection criteria, curriculum vitae and the names and contact details of two referees as part of your online application.

Only applications received before noon on Friday 23 September 2022 can be considered.

Interviews will be held week commencing Monday 10 October 2022

Committed to equality and valuing diversity