Head of Finance Services Transformation

UCL is one of the world's leading universities, consistently ranked among the global top 10. With a diverse community of more than 50,000 students and 16,000 staff from over 150 countries, we are driven by a commitment to excellence in research, education and innovation. Our Finance Services team plays a critical role in supporting the university's operations, managing the financial transactions that enable UCL to deliver on its strategic ambitions.

As UCL continues to modernise and enhance its services, we are investing in the transformation of our finance operations, systems and processes. This is an exciting opportunity to join us at a pivotal point in that journey and help shape the future of Finance Services.

As Head of Finance Services Transformation, you will lead the development and delivery of a strategic transformation agenda across Finance Services. Working closely with Finance leadership, Professional Services teams, Service Excellence and Information Services Division (ISD), you will drive initiatives that simplify, standardise and modernise finance processes while improving efficiency, control and user experience.

This is a highly visible leadership role with responsibility for shaping the Finance Services transformation roadmap and delivering change across systems, processes and data. You will identify opportunities to automate and streamline services, enhance reporting and analytics capabilities, and drive the adoption of digital tools and technologies that support a more effective and customer-focused finance function.

Acting as a bridge between Finance, Technology and Operational teams, you will build strong partnerships across UCL, ensuring transformation initiatives are successfully embedded and deliver measurable benefits. You will also play a key role in strengthening capability within Finance Services, coaching and mentoring colleagues while fostering a culture of continuous improvement, innovation and data-driven decision making.

Alongside leading transformation activity, you will be accountable for overseeing payment fraud exposure and associated processes, ensuring appropriate controls and governance are in place to protect the institution.

You will be an experienced finance transformation leader with a proven track record of delivering large-scale process improvement, systems implementation and operational change within complex organisations. Combining strategic thinking with a pragmatic approach to delivery, you will be comfortable translating vision into action and driving measurable outcomes.

You will bring strong expertise in finance systems, automation and reporting solutions, alongside a deep understanding of how technology can be used to improve efficiency, strengthen controls and enhance decision-making. Your ability to influence and engage senior stakeholders will be matched by excellent communication, project management and problem-solving skills.

Professionally qualified, or educated to degree level in a finance, accounting or business-related discipline, you will have a strong understanding of finance operations and transformation methodologies, ideally including Lean or Six Sigma approaches. Knowledge of fraud prevention and controls, together with experience of working across multiple stakeholder groups in a complex environment, will enable you to navigate challenges and deliver sustainable change.

Most importantly, you will be a collaborative and forward-thinking leader who enjoys building relationships, developing people and driving continuous improvement. You will be motivated by the opportunity to make a lasting impact within one of the world's leading universities and help shape the future of Finance Services at UCL.

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits:

• 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave, 8 bank holidays and 6 closure days)
• Additional 5 days’ annual leave purchase scheme
• Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
• Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
• Relocation scheme for certain posts
• On-site gym
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
• Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
• Discounted medical insurance

Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/rewards-and-benefits to find out more.

As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.