Director of Finance and Corporate Services

Already a leading Finance professional? We will give you the opportunity to do more.

A significant role in a sector leading college with a distinctive and highly effective socio-economic role.

We are offering the opportunity to a top tier professional in Finance to be instrumental in shaping how the College Group develops and grows. This post is crucial to the continued success of the organization. We make no assumptions about current or previous background of applicants, other than that the experience gained will be relevant to our challenges and that the individual will add value to the College Group and enhance our culture of achievement.

As well as having a degree and/or appropriate professional qualifications from across the relevant range, the person appointed will be outstanding in the field of Finance, and will be expected to make distinctive and highly effective contributions to the broader corporate development of the organization. Therefore, at the very least, vision and strategic foresight should sit comfortably alongside professional expertise. Our expectation is that the capacity to engage with our planning function will be balanced by being comfortable with accountability around delivery and outcomes.

The Context

Bradford College Group is a highly visible and effective organization (Annual Revenue £60m; 800 fte staff; 17000 students, in FE and 3000 students in HE). Above all, it is committed to changing the profile of education and skills in Bradford. The College Group is regarded as an anchor institution in its locality and region. By continuously improving its performance and impact, the College Group acts as a catalyst and shifts the aspirations and outcomes of students while anticipating and meeting the expectations of employers. We change lives and communities.

The scale of the College Group reflects its distinctive mixed economy of Further Education, Higher Education and Employer Responsiveness. It is one of the largest organisations of this type in the UK and expects to sustain this profile as the policy emphasis shifts further to employer demand, skills and apprenticeships.

The Role

To meet its challenges, the College Group has to be assured of its financial standing. This means being informed and alert, ensuring compliance with funding protocols while being able to allocate resources to meet new challenges, satisfy stakeholder expectations and underwrite competitiveness. We expect commercial acumen.

These activity and revenue streams not only define the College Group’s operating environments but also determine where and how growth will be achieved. Our financial strategy will continue to support growth and strategic aims around expanding FE, extending the range and scope of HE, and responding appropriately to new initiatives around apprenticeships.

The College has been through phases of cost re-alignment and very significant new capital investment and, as a result, its focus is firmly on growth. There is enormous energy around our FE and HE provision and employer engagement. Encouraging levels of student and employer satisfaction are accompanied by positive attitudes across the College.

The Director will be a key member of the Executive, guiding the design, implementation and maintenance of the College Group’s financial systems and process. A similar approach to corporate services is expected. While this is a Senior Postholder, and a Corporation appointment, the routine reporting line is to the Group Chief Executive.

The Director has a pivotal role in ensuring that resources are committed and accounted, from budgeting through to reporting. External accountability to relevant bodies on behalf of the College Group will be a prime responsibility. Relationships to the College Executive and the Corporation are critical: and it will be important that the Director understands and relates to the academic community and its ambitions.

Because resources are fundamental to strategic development, the Director’s role will be central to the development and growth of the College Group. The Director will monitor the growth of revenue and provide informed advice on allocation and investment. Decision-taking at all levels across the College will be informed by the Director and his/her Teams. At the same time, the Director will be a key member of the College Executive, exercising a role that goes well beyond simply the Finance function.

The strength of the College Group will both depend on and influence its range of partnerships, from local and regional through to international. The Director will advise on the development and operation of these partnerships and which bring benefits to the College Group, individuals, employers and communities.

The Person

The Director will be a qualified(ACCA/CIPFA) and accomplished accountant. Possession of the highest levels of professional recognition will sit alongside the ability to understand our policy and operating context, as well as the nature of the College and to plot and steer its financial direction. The College Group is agile and proactive and it is fundamental that the Director can bring anticipation as well as advice.

The Director will lead committed teams; will contribute significantly to Executive decision-taking; and will have the attributes to respond appropriately to academic colleagues.