At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead financial strategy and operations in a dynamic education organisation.
- Company: Join a leading education organisation with a focus on growth and transformation.
- Benefits: Competitive day rate, hybrid working, and impactful leadership role.
- Other info: Immediate start available; applications reviewed continuously.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the education sector while shaping financial strategies.
- Qualifications: Qualified accountant with senior finance experience in education.
Location: Bedfordshire / Hybrid (2–3 days in the office)
Contract: Interim
Salary: Competitive day rate
MLC Partners are supporting a leading education organisation in recruiting an Interim Director of Finance and Operations. This is a high-profile executive role with responsibility for financial leadership, commercial performance and operational delivery across a complex faculty and its associated activities. The successful candidate will play a central role in supporting business planning, organisational growth and transformational change.
The Role
Reporting to the senior faculty lead, you will act as a trusted strategic adviser and provide financial, commercial and operational leadership across the organisation. Sitting on several senior leadership and executive teams, you will oversee financial performance, strengthen business planning and help ensure that resources, operations and services support the organisation’s strategic objectives.
Key Responsibilities:
- Act as a strategic business adviser to senior leadership on financial, commercial and operational matters.
- Lead financial planning, budgeting, forecasting and performance monitoring across the faculty and associated operations.
- Provide robust commercial advice on pricing, business modelling, new programmes and investment opportunities.
- Develop and review business cases, assessing financial viability, risk and long-term sustainability.
- Support the development and delivery of organisational, academic and operational strategies.
- Lead relationships with internal professional service teams, ensuring agreed service standards and effective use of resources.
- Identify and manage financial and operational risks while supporting wider transformation and growth initiatives.
About You:
- A qualified accountant with current membership of a recognised CCAB accountancy body.
- Significant senior finance, commercial or operational leadership experience within the education sector.
- Experience within a university or other higher education institution is highly desirable.
- Strong experience of developing robust business cases, financial models and strategic financial plans.
- A credible and influential stakeholder manager, comfortable working with executive leaders, governing bodies and other senior stakeholders.
- An inspirational and inclusive leader with a track record of developing high-performing, multidisciplinary teams.
- Commercially astute, solutions-focused and able to operate autonomously within a large and complex organisation.
Applications are under constant review, with our client seeking the right candidate to start ASAP. Please apply now, or reach out to Briar at MLC Partners.
Interim Director of Finance and Operations employer: MLC Partners
MLC Partners is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work culture that values collaboration and innovation within the public sector. Employees benefit from a competitive salary, flexible working arrangements, and opportunities for professional growth while engaging in meaningful recruitment projects that make a real impact. Join us to be part of a team that prioritises talent acquisition excellence and supports your career development.
