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Director of Finance

Do you want to make a real difference? Are you able to provide the leadership, direction and outstanding business support to help a world-leading university achieve its strategic aims in a changing and competitive global environment?

The University of Southampton’s mission is to change the world for the better. As a world-leading, research-intensive university, with a strong and high-quality educational offering, it is renowned for its innovation and enterprise. It is a founding member of the Russell Group – an organisation of 24 top UK universities committed to maintaining the highest research and teaching standards.

The University of Southampton is seeking to appoint to the role of Director of Finance – Business Support. You will be responsible for the leadership and delivery of excellent business support to the university’s faculties and professional services directorates – managing a section of over 100 staff across eight teams. Leading the department’s business support and management accounting framework, you will have the responsibility for delivery of the university’s ambitious strategy.

As a professionally qualified accountant, you will have a proven track record in delivering a multifaceted strategy and leading planning in a large and complex environment.  In this role, communication is absolutely imperative, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels and with the confidence to challenge existing work practices through your excellent communication and expert partnership skills.

The higher education sector in the UK is facing unprecedented challenges and uncertainty at this time whilst also leading on efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and we are proud of the role the University of Southampton is continuing to play at the forefront of these efforts. This opportunity plays a key part in contributing to the University’s strategy along with refining the working processes with the Finance, Planning and Analytics Directorate in this new and changing landscape, enabling the University to continue to make a global impact through its research and teaching.

What we can offer you

We offer some fantastic benefits including 44 days leave per year (inclusive of public holidays and University closure days), options for flexible working, excellent family leave arrangements (including maternity, paternity, adoption, parental and carers leave), a wide variety of on and off-campus arts and culture facilities and access to a range of staff discounts and offers at local shops, restaurants and service providers.

The University of Southampton is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity to create an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds who share our ambition to be a university recognised for delivering world-class research and creating a community that values independent thought.

Application procedure

For an informal chat please contact Sarah Pook (Executive Director, Finance & Planning), at S.C.Pook@soton.ac.uk.

You should submit your completed online application form at https://jobs.soton.ac.uk. The application deadline will be midnight on the closing date stated above. If you need any assistance, please call Dan Ward (HR Recruitment Team) on 02380 592750 or email recruitment@soton.ac.uk and Mark Holleran at TalentEdu, who is assisting us in the recruitment of this post at mholleran@talentedu.co.uk or +44 203 290 290 7.

Please quote reference 1246920RR-R on all correspondence.