Director of Financial Planning and Analysis (UK876617:LI)

The Director of Financial Planning & Analysis provides strategic financial leadership across the University, ensuring that financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and analysis directly supports the University’s 2030 Strategy, academic ambitions, and financial sustainability goals. The role is central to delivering high quality insight, evidence-based decision support, and rigorous financial stewardship across a complex, multi-college research-intensive institution; it drives the strategic, forward looking analytical function for the University. The postholder will lead the transformation of how the University plans, allocates, and measures the performance of its £1.4bn+ organisation, driving improved transparency, accountability, and value for money. This role is distinct from the Business Partnering as it does not provide operational support to within budget area decision makers.

Main responsibilities

• Strategic Financial Planning
  • Lead the development of the multi-year rolling financial plan.
  • Shape the financial modelling that underpins strategic initiatives, academic plans, workforce strategies, research growth and capital investment.
  • Provide evidence-based advice to the CFO, the Senior Leadership Team, University Executive, and the University Court.
• Budgeting & Resource Allocation
  • Lead the development and approach for the University’s annual budget cycle, ensuring clarity of assumptions, drivers, risks, and dependencies, building towards a fully integrated planning model.
  • Ensure budgets are aligned to the University’s strategy, risk appetite, and required savings trajectory.
  • Develop, introduce and maintain a transparent and evidence-based budget area contribution model.
• Management Reporting
  • Defines the University standard for management reporting across the University, producing timely, accurate, and insightful monthly and quarterly reporting packs.
  • Prepare & present analysis and insights to the University Executive, Policy & Resources Committee and University Court where required.
  • Lead communication of key financial plans and strategy to external audiences such as Union engagement and the front of the annual report.
  • Lead continuous improvement of financial performance dashboards, reporting templates, KPIs, and business intelligence tools.
• Financial Analysis & Insight
  • Provide high-quality analysis on income, cost drivers, inflationary pressures, student mix, research margins, performance, and organisational efficiency against sector baselines to define University standards.
  • Deliver scenario modelling and stress-testing to support strategic decision making.
  • Provide high quality cash flow forecasting to ensure that the Treasury department maintains sufficient liquidity for the institution, whilst maximising investment opportunity.
  • Identify emerging trends and risks across the sector, Scottish Public Finances and wider UK and Scottish economies.
• Strategic Financial Assurance in the delivery of business cases & change projects
  • Lead the financial monitoring and assurance of the University’s strategic change portfolio.
  • Lead the development of investment business cases, ensuring that they are completed to the expected standard.
  • Provide performance tracking, benefits tracking approaches and risk oversight framework including strategic risk.
  • From the development of business cases within the strategic change portfolio; Provide savings targets with rationale to each budget area with methodology to allow these to be included into budgets.
  • Ensure submitted budgets include appropriate baselines and reflect agreed timelines for delivery.
  • Establish clear ownership and accountability of delivery.
  • Ensure transparency and consistency between savings plans, budgets and reported outcomes.
  • Lead the development, monitoring, and assurance of the University’s £140m cost reduction and financial sustainability programme.
• Stakeholder Leadership
  • Build trusted relationships with senior academic and professional service leaders across University Senior Leadership.
  • Ensure FP&A is a proactive, solutions-focussed partner providing clarity, challenge, and meaningful advice.
• Team Leadership & Development of Planning & Analysis Team
  • Lead, develop, and inspire a high-performing FP&A team.
  • Foster a culture of analytical excellence, accountability, continuous improvement, and collaboration.
  • Champion the adoption of modern planning tools, data automation, and advanced analytical techniques.
• Planning & Organising
  • Plans and directs complex FP&A activities using deep experience in financial planning, budgeting, forecasting and reporting.
  • Structures and prioritises work through exceptional analytical and strategic thinking skills, ensuring clarity and alignment with organisational needs.
  • Organises transformation and cost reduction programmes drawing on senior leadership experience in large scale change.
  • Plans FP&A team capability and continuous improvement using a collaborative, forward thinking, improvement focused mindset.
• Problem Solving
  • Uses exceptional analytical and modelling skills to interpret complex financial issues and develop evidence-based solutions.
  • Applies deep experience in financial planning, forecasting, cost management and reporting to resolve multi factor organisational challenges.
  • Identifies and addresses risks or inefficiencies drawing on experience leading large scale cost reduction or transformation programmes.
  • Approaches challenges proactively and resiliently, offering clear, actionable insights to senior stakeholders.
• Decision Making
  • Makes strategic decisions informed by senior-level FP&A leadership experience in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
  • Evaluates options using exceptional analytical, modelling and strategic thinking skills to provide clear, actionable recommendations.
  • Exercises judgement on major financial change initiatives grounded in experience leading large scale cost reduction programmes.
  • Confidently challenges and advises senior leaders while balancing technical rigour with pragmatic, commercially sound judgement.

Education, Qualifications & Training

• Fully Qualified CCAB accountant with experience commensurate with the seniority of the role.
• Evidence of continuing professional development in financial reporting, audit or financial controls.

Knowledge & Experience

• Proven senior level FP&A leadership experience in a complex, multi-stakeholder organisation.
• Deep experience in financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and cost management.
• Strong track record of producing high quality financial insight for executive and board-level audiences.
• Experience of leading large scale cost reduction or transformation programmes.

Additional Information

• The role holder must be eligible for appointment as a director for a University subsidiary company i.e., not precluded under UK Company law.
• Director’s Duties training will be provided.