Head of Financial Planning & Analysis (Job Number: 26000180) in Bath

This key role is new within the University and is responsible for the vision, direction, objectives and timelines to drive the Finance Digital Strategy. The position will provide senior-level leadership and data expertise, supporting the Reporting team and working collaboratively with our skilled wider Business Intelligence and CIS teams. We need a confident communicator who can translate technical analysis into clear business narratives and provide project management and oversight to drive success.

This role is all about shaping the way the University uses financial data to grow. You’ll have the ability to influence and design systems, processes, and insights that directly influence the University’s continued success, while building a culture where data is integral to decision-making. There are a number of imminent key projects which you will be able to direct and shape, as well as oversee the development, maintenance and continuous improvement of the tools and processes once in place. You will work at all levels of the organisation, collaborating with senior management but also selling your vision and objectives to wider colleagues.

An existing reporting team, consisting of 2 FTE, will be reporting into you and work alongside you to achieve your objectives. This is a critical, exciting yet challenging role and one which you will be able to own and shape in order to meet the University’s need for enhanced financial data and decision-making in its changing and complex external environment.

• Leading on the development of reporting structures and software platforms that combine financial and non-financial data and spearheading the use of PowerBI and Microsoft Fabric as key data tools for financial analysis and performance understanding.
• Leading on the improvements to the University’s budgeting and forecasting processes using new platforms as required together with the embedding of existing tools and methodologies.
• Leading the development of data strategy, reporting frameworks, and insight tools that empower teams to make informed, data-led decisions.
• Working closely with technical teams to transform raw data into accessible and meaningful outputs through the creation, maintenance and continuous improvement of a Finance data lakehouse.
• Building dashboards, reports, and data visualisations that translate numbers into stories and opportunities that drive decision making and continuous improvement to processes.
• Partnering with the Head of Business Intelligence to deliver the strategic planning and delivery of data services, analytics and knowledge management, data-driven decision-making cultural change and data policy as affects Finance.
• Acting as the bridge between technical specialists, Finance senior management and budget holders, making sure data and assumptions used are both reliable and relevant.
• Championing a culture of data fluency across the organisation by coaching teams and promoting self-service reporting.
• Provide expert strategic data insight and intelligence leadership and advice into the digital service and wider University, including strategic digital programmes.
• Engage with Finance and wider University teams to actively promote the value of high-quality data and the skills to best utilise information; to improve the timely, accurate recording of data and ownership of information to provide first class insightful valued analysis.

When you apply it is important that you let us know what skills/experience you have from a similar role and/or what skills/experience you have which would make you right for this role. Further information about the role and responsibilities is at the end of this job description. Where a criteria has an asterisk* next to it, it may be given additional weighting when your application is considered.

• Professionally qualified accountant (ACCA/CIMA or equivalent).
• Professional practitioner with specialist technical and financial knowledge and expertise to drive the development and efficient use of reporting tools and data recording solutions.
• Experience of enhancing financial budgeting and forecasting processes through the use and development of data warehouse, Power BI, SQL and implementation of planning and analytics systems.
• Experience of participating in internal or external networks to share and discuss good practice, develop strong and productive working relationships and positively influence the University’s reputation.
• Experience of enhancing the decision-making of the organisation at a senior level through the production of accurate and detailed reporting solutions.
• Track record of cross-functional management and development experience and/or an enhanced management qualification applied across a large service team or teams.

• Excellent spoken and written communication skills including the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally.
• Strong digital competence across a range of digital devices and apps including PowerBI, Oracle Fusion and EPM, Microsoft Office and Fabric.
• Committed to continuing professional development to maintain professional recognition.
• Extensive knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines.
• Ability to contribute to planning at operational and strategic levels.
• Ability to solve problems and decide on and plan appropriate solutions.

For a chat about the role or any further information please contact Will Argyle, Assistant Director (Financial Planning & Reporting):

• Show a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, and the University’s values.
• Oversee and manage professional and regulatory standards and policies relating to accounting standards and financial control processes.
• Use your leadership and management expertise to implement any significant changes in the optimal way, in collaboration with other senior managers and specialists.
• Lead on the development of new areas of work or activities including scoping, planning and implementing any changes to achieve the outcomes expected by senior colleagues.
• Look for innovative ways to continually improve the services provided to your stakeholders.
• Develop and implement new or improved policies, processes and standards.
• Support quality and regulatory audits to ensure that systems and processes are operating in an optimal and compliant way.
• Meet the professional development needs of your stakeholders by ensuring that a programme of training and learning activities is designed and delivered.
• Provide specialist insight that enables data-driven decisions to be made about financial reporting, analysis and service delivery.

• Use your expertise to help develop strategic plans and business plans that cover a wide range of operational activities.
• Define what needs to be achieved so that other colleagues can scope, plan and implement large-scale/University-wide initiatives such as the Data Strategy and new tools to aid decision making and analysis.
• Ensure your services are performing at the optimal level by setting clear standards and introducing measurable performance indicators.
• Use your leadership expertise to help project teams understand what needs to be achieved, solve any problems that are encountered and keep implementation plans on track.
• Allocate and monitor designated budgets, expenditure and resources.

• Set operational and strategic objectives and use your leadership and management skills, to develop the people in your team(s) and ensure high standards of performance.
• Help shape the skills and expertise needed to deliver a professional service by recruiting, inducting and training team members and structuring your team(s) in a way that will best meet operational and strategic priorities.
• Ensure that your team can deliver the required services by delegating responsibilities to appropriate team members and considering succession plans.
• Carry out regular performance reviews with colleagues to provide feedback on objectives and identify any development needs.
• Handle most HR issues and support the welfare and wellbeing of your team, taking advice on more complex issues from specialist services or senior managers.
• Lead internal and external meetings and committees to influence University policy, standards and governance.
• Build and lead an influential network of internal and external contacts to increase your knowledge and skills, swap information with peers and use that information to improve and develop decision-making and financial analysis.
• Identify opportunities to build relationships with external organisations to support the delivery of strategic-level objectives.
• Research new approaches being taken by internal and external stakeholders so that you can take these insights into account.