Deputy Head Of Professional Services Finance

Deputy Head Of Professional Services Finance

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced finance professional to join us as Deputy Head of Professional Services Finance. Reporting directly to the Head of Professional Services Finance, you will play a pivotal role in leading the day-to-day operations of our finance team, supporting the management accounting function. You will drive the coordination and consolidation of budgets, forecasts, and financial plans across the Professional Services functions, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and strategic alignment.

In this influential role, you will work closely with the Head of Professional Services Finance to provide insightful analysis, expert advice, and clear recommendations to senior stakeholders, including the Chief Financial Officer, Registrar, and Directors of Finance and People Services — helping to shape decisions that deliver our strategic objectives. Leading and inspiring colleagues within the finance team, you will ensure the provision of an exceptional management accounting service that supports our central Professional Services.

We're looking for someone who combines sharp financial insight with strategic thinking, can lead and inspire a high-performing team in a complex environment, and communicates with clarity and influence to build strong relationships at the highest level. If that sounds like you, then we'd love to hear from you. Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to Jenni Milne.

Key Accountabilities:

• Lead and direct the Professional Services finance team, developing individuals through coaching and performance development reviews
• Oversee the consolidation of the Professional Services financial planning, budgeting, forecasting and reporting, ensuring consistency and best practice is adopted by the Finance Business Partners
• Work closely with the Head of Professional Services Finance in the development of high quality, insightful management information and financial analysis, delivering to tight deadlines
• Through the Finance Business Partners, ensure Directors of Professional Services develop a clear understanding of the services' financial performance and are fully informed of the financial implications of initiatives and decisions
• Provide oversight to the Finance Business Partners in the development of business cases for consideration by the Head of Professional Services Finance
• Ensure that finance operations within the Professional Services run efficiently and effectively in compliance with university financial regulations and with up to date, accurate, technically correct accounting
• As a senior member of the Finance service, play a key role in the delivery of the wider strategic goals for the office and University
• When appropriate, make recommendations and lead upon strategic finance projects
• Review the viability and provide recommendations for advancement of commercial opportunities
• Deputise for the Head of Professional Services Finance when required

The Person:

• Excellent organisational, staff management and leadership skills with the ability to successfully recruit, manage, develop and motivate a team
• Experience in a management role in a large or complex organisation
• Excellent financial analysis and interpretive skills with the ability to grasp the detail whilst retaining "big picture"
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to engage and influence senior colleagues and external contacts, including the Head of Central Professional Services Finance and members of the University Executive Board
• Ability and experience to deploy strategic thinking to identify issues and opportunities to improve the performance of the finance operation to the benefit of the university
• Financial systems reporting and business warehousing skills are essential (SAP desirable) with the ability to maximise the use of IT-based financial and related systems

Attributes and Behaviours:

• Ability to quickly identify what is important and prioritise accordingly whilst maintaining flexibility in work plans to allow for changing circumstances
• Ability to understand, question and analyse complex or conflicting data and the different perspectives of stakeholders
• Develops objectives and KPIs supporting the key aims of the area and University
• Excellent communicator in all forums with the ability to tailor style and content to the audience appropriately
• Takes the initiative to ensure the future success of the University and Finance function by presenting and implementing new ideas and approaches
• Provide clear direction to colleagues in a way that is motivating and empowering, giving feedback and identifying areas for development and recognising good work
• Effective at monitoring and controlling the team's workflow and organising own complex workloads

Qualifications:

• Qualified (CCAB/CIMA) accountant with proven recognised relevant experience
• Up to date continuous professional development e.g. knowledge of current key management accounting techniques and business developments

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution. We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population. At Newcastle University we hold a silver Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme. In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.