Please note that this vacancy is only open to current University of Glasgow employees.

Job Purpose

This senior role will drive strategic financial planning, analysis and reporting within the Finance team as requested by the Director of Finance, the Deputy Director of Finance / Director of FP&A and the Head of FP&A.

Reporting to the Head of FP&A and working closely with the Executive Director/ Deputy Director of Finance they will lead on developing key finance analytics, including further development and implementation of planning analytics alongside the existing systems improvement project team. The role holder will provide first class insight and analysis both in terms of identified themes and projects as well as helping shape and deliver future initiatives and areas of insight for the institution.

The role will also lead on providing high quality technical and analytical support through the development of the Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) function for the Finance Directorate, producing insightful analysis and issue resolution and continuously improving processes and procedures to support efficient and effective operations within a strong internal control environment.

They will contribute as a senior manager to ensure the provision of a strategic, professional, effective and solution focused FP&A services which align to the achievement of the University’s Finance Strategy.

The role holder will have responsibility for a number of FP&A analysts and will require to build strong working relationships with business partners and senior leaders across the University.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1.  Financial Planning & Analysis

Lead and support with the development of the University’s Financial Planning & Analysis function, providing strategic oversight and direct support to the Executive Director & Deputy Director of Finance / Director of FP&A for ad hoc requests and expert analysis to support decision making and development of strategy.

Provide leadership in the creation and oversight of the FP&A portfolio framework designed to test and challenge: KPIs; strategic, tactical and operational objectives; financial risk; and financial governance.  This will include sourcing, analysing and evaluating financial information from across the University, using insight and expertise to draw conclusions and make recommendations.

Present findings and recommendations to inform and support strategic decision making at Senior Management Group, Finance Committee, Investment Committee, Court and to external stakeholders.

Develop and manage the institution’s cashflow forecasting to ensure ongoing compliance with the University’s Financial Framework. Manage regular updates to the cashflow forecast to incorporate changed assumptions and macroeconomic impacts, developing different scenarios to help leadership identify risks, opportunities and mitigations needed to achieve the institution’s strategic goals.

Lead an on-going programme of financial analysis and review of all departmental financial management information, tools, templates and reporting processes, ensuring recommendations for continuous improvement are reported, considered, implemented and measured.  This will include managing cross functional resources including central finance, college finance, systems and external providers to specify, develop and implement an integrated budget and forecasting solution.

Develop and manage robust financial data and leverage this to provide sound business and financial management information to senior leadership including identifying strategic action plans to ensure our return on investment.

2.  Budget Process

Lead the finance input contributing to the delivery of an effective budgeting and planning process across the University.

The role holder will work with the Vice Principal (Strategy & Resources) and the Head of Planning to agree the annual timetable and underlying assumptions to be used in preparation of the University’s three-year budgets.

The role holder will coordinate activities necessary to prepare the consolidated budget for the University, including defining budget templates and analysis required from the College Finance teams. The role holder will ensure that key milestones are delivered and will consolidate the budget inputs for review with the Finance Office Directorate ahead of meetings with key members of the Senior Management Group.

The role holder will also take the lead in producing the financial budget papers for meetings with the Vice Principal Strategy and Resources, the Director of Finance, the Principal and Finance Committee.

3.  People Management

Support the Head of FP&A in leading, motivating and developing the FP&A team, ensuring behaviours and attitudes reflect University values. In doing so promote a continuous improvement approach, ensuring that the team applies appropriate professional standards and demonstrates a culture of ownership and accountability to ensure the delivery of excellent services and financial awareness and governance.

Build organisational capability in FP&A, developing analytical, reporting and systems skills within the team.

4.  Process Efficiency and Effectiveness

The role holder will be expected to play a lead role in optimising the service that the team provide and remove duplication and wasted effort. They will have a clear understanding of the needs of the customer base and will work to provide an effective service level delivery. In doing so they will be expected to work closely with College Finance staff and Financial Accounting staff to ensure the underlying data integrity and processing is delivered in a controlled, effective and efficient manner utilising a standard corporate process.  The role holder will also be expected to continually review and identify opportunities for enhancing the information provision whilst improving the efficiency and automation of the report preparation.

5.  Other Duties

Participate fully in the work and activities of the University-wide finance community to make sure policies and procedures are being consistently applied and all financial controls met.

Attend meetings as required and deputise for the Head of FP&A where required. Provide information as required under Freedom of Information Requests.

Provide high quality and specialist advice & guidance on financial information and university policy.

Promote financial awareness and a culture of financial accountability across the department to ensure financial sustainability is central to all business activities.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential:

A1 Ability to demonstrate the necessary strategic competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the necessary professional knowledge and leadership experience in a similar or number of different specialist roles, including being professionally qualified in relevant discipline, with a broad range of professional leadership experience in strategically important specialist areas.

A2 Membership of a recognised accounting professional body.

A3 Strong evidence of continuing professional development relevant to the role.

A4 Comprehensive knowledge of strategic planning, budgets and forecasts.

A5 Comprehensive knowledge of FP&A activities.

Desirable:

B1 Post-graduate qualification in a relevant discipline.

B2 Knowledge of financial governance and regulation in the HE sector.

Skills

Essential:

C1 Excellent leadership and management skills.

C2 High level influencing and interpersonal skills, able to quickly build credibility and deliver impact at all levels.

C3 Ability to create an environment of accountability for results and actions.

C4 Strategic thinker, ability to develop strategy and policy and implement effectively.

C5 Ability to drive forward and deliver change in line with strategic and operational objectives and priorities.

C6 Ability to constructively challenge the status quo, influence change and present arguments based on sound professional judgement and expertise.

C7 Proven strong commercial awareness with a clear understanding of key business drivers and the ability to quickly understand the strategic corporate agenda in order to work effectively in partnership with senior managers.

C8 Well-developed report writing and presentation skills with the ability to present and translate comprehensive and often complex information and financial concepts for non-financial and senior colleagues.

C9 Outstanding and proven analytical and problem solving skills with the ability to make well-considered decisions, resolve conflicts and demonstrate sound, professional judgement.

C10 A self-motivated individual with the ability to work effectively under pressure and to tight timescales with an aptitude for prioritising and managing competing demands.

C11 Advanced skills in the use of industry standard and specialist financial and accounting software packages including Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint.

Desirable:

D1 Ability to proactively create new pipeline of strategic FP&A related projects.

Experience

Essential:

E1 Extensive post-qualification project accounting experience preferably within Higher Education sector.

E2 Demonstrable experience of working with and influencing across all levels of an organisation including senior management operating in a political or highly complex environment – providing direction, delivering results, building on relationships and capability and demonstrating personal resilience.

E3 Extensive experience of building robust business cases with non-financial professionals and presenting these at board level.

E4 Proven experience of working as a key member of a multidisciplinary team, providing financial leadership, support and challenge.

E5 Proven experience of successfully contributing to continuous financial process improvement and change with demonstrable operational and financial efficiencies delivered.

E6 Experience of developing innovative solutions and practical implementations for strategic change.

E7 Proven project management experience, providing leadership, innovative thinking and delivery against set objectives and timelines.

Desirable:

F1 Experience in setting up new Finance function.

F2 Experience of implementing FP&A dashboard reporting.

F3 Experience of PowerBI/IBM Planning Analytics.

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 9, £59,966 - £67,468 per annum.

This post is full time (35 hours per week) and open ended (permanent).

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.

2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension - pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.

3 A flexible approach to working.

4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University  https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.

Closing Date:  7 April 2026 at 23:45