Financial Planning and Analysis Manager

The Head of Faculty Finance Planning and Analysis is a crucial role within the faculty finance team. You’ll be passionate and knowledgeable about the area you support, acting as a trusted advisor, providing a clear “voice of the customer” input to colleagues across the Business School and central finance. You will work closely with the stakeholders as the reliable, go-to point of contact and will be responsible for providing comprehensive robust data, analysis, financial insights and recommendations to enable data-driven decision-making and strategic planning.

This role involves close collaboration with senior leadership, working together to shape, develop and deliver financially sustainable departmental plans, offering financial expertise to help drive financial performance. This role provides an excellent opportunity to gain an insight into the finances of Imperial and add value to its financial decision-making.

What you would be doing:

• Provide comprehensive financial analysis and insights to support decision making.
• Analyse financial data to identify value drivers, trends, opportunities, and risks and propose strategies to mitigate and/or capitalise on them.
• Partner with department heads and operational managers to develop strategic plans and initiatives, ensuring alignment with longer term Imperial and Business School wide strategic financial planning.
• Oversee budget preparation, and support the input of financial forecasts and non-financial drivers of activity into the budgeting system from departments, preparing summarised information for senior management and seeking synergies upon consolidation.
• Oversee the finalisation of the monthly FMR, including production of high-level variance analysis to central finance and consolidated faculty finance reports for faculty senior management review.
• Challenge the completeness, accuracy and timeliness of monthly reporting, to support the forecasting and budgeting processes.
• Horizon scan financial risks and opportunities and stay abreast of market trends and other factors that may impact Faculty finances in the short, medium and long term and ensure they are factored into the forecasts/budgets.
• Support the Director of Faculty Finance (DoFF) in acting as a senior financial advisor to the senior leadership team on the potential impact of these, suggesting possible solutions/courses of action and proposing any mitigating measures.
• Work closely with Head of Departments, Finance Officers and the DoFF on ensuring completeness and accuracy of budget and forecast submissions, ensuring they conform to Central Finance’s requirements and adhere to Imperial’s governance frameworks.
• Ensure the planning and budgeting processes are documented appropriately and that outcomes are communicated to Departments in a timely manner and that processes are effective and efficient.
• Develop and maintain Faculty programme profitability models to support effective decision making, including evaluating the cost of providing services and sustainable growth across the Faculty to ensure they support the Faculty’s strategic direction.
• Lead the development and implementation of consistent, effective strategic financial modelling and forecasting processes in the medium and long term across the Faculty, ensuring best practices are applied.
• Run financial scenarios for strategic projects to determine the financial implications of these and advise the senior leadership team of the best course of action.
• Work closely with the Director of Faculty Finance to undertake analysis of the Faculty’s financial performance for the Dean and Faculty management that is easily understood to influence decision making.

What we are looking for:

• A Qualified Accountant (ACA, CA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Experience in a similar senior finance role in a large complex organisation.
• Proven record of representing finance to internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience working closely with senior management, providing financial analysis to support strategic decision making.
• Demonstrate strong in-depth knowledge of financial management, practices, and procedures.
• Possess the ability to quickly grasp and communicate complex issues clearly, concisely, sensitively, assertively, and diplomatically.
• Pro-active individual who identifies opportunities and continually looks to improve processes short- and long-term process improvements and service provision.

What we can offer you:

• The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution and be part of our mission to use science for humanity.
• Benefit from a sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 41 days leave, including bank holidays, and generous pension schemes).
• Access to a range of workplace benefits including a flexible working policy from day one, generous family leave packages, on-site leisure facilities and cycle-to-work scheme.
• Interest-free season ticket loan schemes for travel.
• Be part of a diverse, inclusive and collaborative work culture with various staff networks and resources to support your personal and professional wellbeing.

This is a full time, open ended role (35 hours per week) based at South Kensington campus (hybrid).

If you require any further details about the role, please contact: Helen Oakley, Director of Faculty Finance h.oakley@imperial.ac.uk