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- Tasks: Lead financial data strategy and enhance decision-making through innovative reporting and analysis.
- Company: Dynamic university environment focused on digital transformation and data-driven success.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development opportunities, and a chance to shape the future of finance.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by transforming financial data into actionable insights for the university's growth.
- Qualifications: Strong leadership skills and experience in financial analysis and data management.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities to influence key projects and drive change.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
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.
Key Objectives for the Role:- 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.
Head of Financial Planning & Analysis - Durham in High Etherley employer: Durham University
Contact Detail:
Durham University Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Financial Planning & Analysis - Durham in High Etherley
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees at the University or in similar roles on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give us insider info and might even lead to a referral!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by practising your storytelling skills. We need to show how our past experiences translate into the vision and objectives of the role. Use examples that highlight our data expertise and leadership.
✨Tip Number 3
Research the University’s current financial strategies and challenges. This will help us tailor our discussions and demonstrate that we’re not just interested in the role, but also in contributing to their success.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure our application gets noticed and shows we’re serious about joining the team.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Financial Planning & Analysis - Durham in High Etherley
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Data: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for financial data shine through! We want to see how you can shape the way the University uses data to drive success. Share examples of how you've influenced decision-making with data in the past.
Tailor Your Narrative: Make sure to tailor your application to reflect the key objectives of the role. We’re looking for someone who can translate technical analysis into clear business narratives, so highlight your experience in doing just that. Use specific examples to illustrate your skills!
Highlight Leadership Experience: This role involves leading a team and collaborating across departments, so don’t forget to showcase your leadership experience. Talk about how you've successfully managed teams or projects in the past, and how you can bring that expertise to our Finance Digital Strategy.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. Don’t miss out on the chance to join our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Durham University
✨Know Your Data Tools
Familiarise yourself with PowerBI and Microsoft Fabric, as these are key tools for the role. Be ready to discuss how you've used similar platforms in the past to drive financial analysis and performance understanding.
✨Communicate Clearly
Practice translating complex financial data into simple narratives. The interviewers will be looking for your ability to communicate effectively with both technical teams and senior management, so prepare examples of how you've done this before.
✨Showcase Leadership Skills
Be prepared to discuss your experience in leading teams and projects. Highlight specific instances where you’ve successfully managed a reporting team or driven improvements in budgeting and forecasting processes.
✨Emphasise Collaboration
This role requires working closely with various teams. Share examples of how you've collaborated with different departments to achieve common goals, especially in promoting a culture of data fluency and self-service reporting.
