Chief Financial Officer in Cheshire, Warrington

Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) is a world-leading specialist university dedicated to improving global health and saving lives through research, education, and partnerships. For over 125 years, it has been at the forefront of tackling infectious diseases and advancing health equity, working with partners across more than 70 countries to deliver impact where it matters most. Today, it is internationally recognised as a mission-led, research-intensive postgraduate institution, with over 650 staff working in Liverpool and across the world. Working across the full translational spectrum, from discovery science through to implementation, LSTM’s staff, students, and partners are undertaking research which is saving and improving lives in the most disadvantaged populations. Operating across the UK and internationally, including through subsidiaries and partner global hubs, LSTM manages a complex and volatile funding environment and diverse portfolio of research, partnerships, and education programmes. At a time of significant external challenge across global health and higher education, LSTM continues to perform strongly, with a clear focus on sustainable growth and impact, delivered through an active research portfolio of £738m.

We are seeking to appoint a Chief Financial Officer to provide strategic financial leadership across the organisation. As a core member of the Executive Team, the postholder will play a vital role in shaping and delivering institutional priorities and the University’s financial strategy. Acting as a key advisor to the Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Chief Operating Officer, and Board of Trustees, they will ensure long-term financial sustainability while enabling continued investment in people, infrastructure, and research.

This is a broad and influential role, spanning financial strategy, planning and performance, governance, and leadership of a large multi-disciplinary finance function. The role includes oversight of LSTM’s UK and international activities, working with senior colleagues to align resources to priorities and support effective decision-making. The Chief Financial Officer will also play a key role in driving the transformation of our finance operations, including strengthening systems and processes, enhancing insight and reporting, embedding new approaches to business planning and business partnering, and ensuring robust control and compliance across our complex international operating model.

The successful candidate will be an established senior finance leader with experience operating at board level in a complex, and ideally regulated environment. They will bring strong financial and commercial judgement, with the ability to navigate complexity, provide clear direction, and drive organisational change; combined with robust operational understanding and credibility. Experience of working in a complex, international environment is desirable but not essential.

An appreciation of, and alignment with, LSTM’s mission to deliver global health impact will be essential, alongside the ability to build strong relationships across the organisation and with external partners, funders, and stakeholders. At a time of notable change and opportunity in the higher education and global health sectors the role of Chief Financial Officer is particularly important at this point in LSTM’s development. If you are motivated by purpose, and have the leadership, insight, and ambition to help shape the future of a globally recognised institution, we would be delighted to hear from you.

For further information on this exciting opportunity and details of how to apply, please visit. The closing date for applications is Friday 24th July.