Director of Finance

Leeds Beckett University is seeking an exceptional individual to fill the role of Director of Finance. With influence at the highest levels of the university including the Board of Governors and direct access to the Vice Chancellor, the post holder will play a critical role in the delivery of the University’s strategic objectives. A key member of the Executive Team, reporting to the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Resources) the Director of Finance is responsible for driving financial and operating performance of a £240m turnover business and delivering a resilient financial base from which we can achieve our academic objectives.

Leeds Beckett is a modern, professional university with ambition. We are a community of 23,000 students from over 140 countries and 2,800 staff. We are an increasingly globally-engaged university which continues to contribute positively to a thriving northern economy through our role as an anchor institution for Leeds and the wider region. We make a positive and decisive difference to people, communities and organisations through excellent education, research and service.

We have a strong sense of momentum, and we have shown tremendous cultural and financial resilience in the face of huge challenges during the pandemic. The lessons we learned over that period stand us in good stead as we navigate the challenges ahead.

The successful candidate will possess an outstanding track record of financial leadership in organisations of comparable scale and complexity, and experience of leading a large, complex finance function. They will be a qualified accountant, with a strong technical background and familiarity with accounting and control, reporting, financial analysis and planning, budgeting and forecasting, risk management, treasury, tax and audit.

Our Director of Finance will have outstanding advisory and influencing skills and the intellectual agility to take advantage of emerging opportunities in support of the University’s ambitious plans for growth and development. Comfortable with ambiguity and complexity, they will have outstanding diplomacy, communication and relationship building skills to deal with multiple internal and external stakeholders.

Leeds Beckett University is committed to ensuring that its Executive Team is representative of its diverse student body. It, therefore, welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability.

The closing date for expressions of interest is 5pm on Friday 19th May 2023.

For further information about this exciting opportunity, including details of how to apply, please visit: www.odgers.com/88860