Chief Financial Officer in Ringway

Department: Finance

Location: Manchester - UK Management College, with responsibilities across UKMC and the wider Unibridge Group

Reporting to: Group Chief Executive Officer

Remit: UKMC, with Group-wide responsibilities and support across the wider Unibridge Group.

Works with: Group shareholders and Board; UKMC Board and senior leadership; leadership teams across Unibridge Group organisations; Finance and Audit & Risk Committees; external auditors; banks; HMRC; insurers; professional advisers; regulators; awarding bodies; funding partners; and other relevant stakeholders.

ABOUT UKMC AND UNIBRIDGE GROUP

UK Management College (UKMC) is a growing higher education provider in the United Kingdom, focused on widening participation andprovidingaccessible higher education opportunities to students from diverse and under-represented backgrounds.

UKMC delivers partner-validated and franchised degree programmes across multiple campuses in Greater Manchester, the East Midlands and the North-East.

UKMC forms part of the wider Unibridge Group, which includes a growing portfolio of education institutions and businesses.

Each institutionoperateswithin its respective governance and regulatory framework, with the wider Group providing strategic direction and support.

The Chief Financial Officer will be based within UK Management College's Manchester offices and will provide senior financial leadership to UKMC while also supporting the wider Unibridge Group and its institutions.

ROLE PURPOSE

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) will be the senior finance executive responsible for providing strategic financial leadership, oversightand stewardship across UKMC, while also supporting the wider Unibridge Group and its colleges and institutions.

The post holder will lead UKMC's finance function and provide Group-wide financialexpertiseand support in relation to financial strategy, sustainability, governance, financial modelling, reporting, cash and capital management, financial controls, incomediversificationand strategic growth.

Beyond financial stewardship, the CFO will play a key strategic role in developing sustainable financial models, buildingandmaintainingsophisticated financial forecasts, designing and stress-testing scenarios for growth, diversification and resilience, and supporting the development of new and diversified sources of income.

The CFO will also provide financial leadership and support for the expansion of academic partnerships and portfolios, providing financial due diligence, businesscasesand investment appraisal to support strategic decision-making.

The CFO will report to the Group Chief Executive Officer and work closely with UKMC and Unibridge Group senior leadership, Boardsand relevant committees.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• A. Financial Strategy and Leadership
• Lead UKMC's financial strategy and provide strategic financial leadership and support across the wider Unibridge Group.
• Ensure financial strategies support the strategic plans of UKMC and relevant Group institutions and promote long-term financial sustainability.
• Act as the principal financial adviser to the Group Chief Executive Officer, providingclear advice on financial performance, forecasts, risks, opportunitiesand strategic options.
• Work closely with shareholders, Boardsand senior leadership teams on significant financial and investment decisions.
• Develop andmaintainappropriate financialpolicies, delegation limits, approvalthresholdsand financial governance arrangements.
• Lead annual financial planning and budget cycles, ensuring budgets are realistic, capacity-led and aligned with organisational plans.
• Advise on theappropriate balancebetween investment, reserves, growthand financial sustainability.
• Ensure financial decisions support educational quality, studentoutcomesand the long-term sustainability of UKMC and the wider Group.
• B. Financial Modelling and Sustainable Financial Models
• Build, ownand continuouslymaintainintegrated financial models for UKMC and supportconsolidatedand institutional financial modelling across the wider Unibridge Group.
• Link student-number forecasts, fee income, staffing, estates, capital plans, cashflowand reserves within financial models.
• Develop rolling short, mediumand long-term financial forecasts.
• Design and undertake scenario and sensitivity analysis covering recruitment performance, partner concentration, changes in fees or policy, cost inflation, new partnerships, newcampusesand new income streams.
• Develop sustainability metrics including surplus margins, reserves, liquidityand partner-concentration thresholds.
• Ensure financial models are reconciled with business plans, regulatory submissions, forecastsand statutory accounts.
• Translate complex financial information into clear, decision-ready analysis for senior leaders and Boards.
• Maintain financial modelling approaches that reflectappropriate UKsector practice and regulatory expectations.
• C. Income Diversification and New Sources of Income
• Lead and support the identification, appraisaland development of new and diversified income sources for UKMC and the wider Unibridge Group.
• Identifyopportunities to reduce dependency on individual partners, programmesor income streams.
• Develop capability around grant and external funding opportunities.
• Support the identification and pursuit ofappropriate research, knowledge-exchange, government, local-authorityand other funding opportunities.
• Appraise opportunities including contract and commercial training, professional development, consultancyand appropriate commercial use of organisational assets.
• Ensure new income initiatives are supported by robust business cases, appropriate costing, sensitivityanalysisand risk assessment.
• Establish andmonitorappropriate income-diversificationmeasures.
• Ensure new income opportunities do not compromise educational quality, regulatorycomplianceor student interests.
• D. Partnerships and Portfolio Expansion
• Provide senior financial leadership and support for the expansion of academic and strategic partnerships.
• Undertake financial due diligence on prospective partners, universities, awarding bodies and other significant commercial relationships.
• Model the income, costs and financial risks associated with proposed partnerships.
• Provide financial appraisal for new programmes, subject areas, campusesand modes of delivery.
• Ensure expansion proposals are appropriately costed and financially sustainable.
• Support fee negotiations and financial contract terms with partner organisations.
• Monitor thefinancial impactof partner dependency and significant contractual commitments.
• Support the financial evaluation of potential acquisitions, mergersor new institutional opportunities.
• Lead or support financial due diligence and integration planning whereappropriate.
• E. Financial Planning, Reporting and Accounts
• Lead management reporting for UKMC and supportappropriate financialreporting across the wider Unibridge Group.
• Ensuretimelyandaccuratemonthly management accounts, variance analysis, forecastsand financial commentary.
• Oversee statutory financial reporting and annual financial statementsin accordance withapplicable accounting standards and legislation.
• Lead relationships with external auditors and ensure audits are appropriately prepared and managed.
• Ensureappropriate taxcompliance, including corporation tax, VAT, PAYEand other relevant obligations.
• Oversee key financial processes including payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, credit control and relevant student-fee processes.
• Ensure financial reporting provides senior leaders and Boards with an accurateunderstanding of organisational financial performance.
• F. Treasury, Cash and Capital
• Lead treasury and cash-flow management for UKMC and provideappropriate strategicsupport across the wider Unibridge Group.
• Maintain robust cash-flow forecasting and liquidity management.
• Develop andmaintainappropriate bankingrelationships.
• Ensureappropriate reservesand liquidity targets areestablishedand monitored.
• Provide early warning where financial forecastsindicatepotential risks.
• Lead or support capital planning and investment appraisal for estates, infrastructure, ITand other significant investment.
• Advisesenior leadership onappropriate fundingstrategies for organisational growth.
• Ensureappropriate insurancearrangements aremaintainedand reviewed.
• G. Regulatory Financial Compliance
• Lead the financial aspects of UKMC's regulatory obligations and support relevant financial compliance requirements across the wider Group.
• Ensure financial returns, audited financial statements, forecasts and other required financial submissions areaccurateand completed within required timescales.
• Maintainappropriate internalcontrols over financial and related data used for regulatory and external reporting.
• Ensure compliance with relevant Companies House and other statutory filing requirements.
• Monitor regulatory and policy developments affecting education finance in the UK.
• Support regulatory submissions and engagements with reconciled andevidence-based financial information.
• Ensure consistency between financial information presented across business plans, regulatory submissions, forecastsand statutory accounts.
• H. Risk, Internal Control and Audit
• Maintain an effective framework of financial internal controls.
• Ensureappropriate segregationof duties, authorisation limits, reconciliations, procurementcontrolsand fraud-prevention arrangements.
• Maintain oversight of significant financial risks and ensure material risks are appropriately escalated.
• Support Audit & Risk Committees and other governance bodies withaccurateand transparent financial information.
• Ensure anti-fraud, anti-bribery and anti-money-laundering arrangements are appropriatelymaintained.
• Ensure financial audit actions aremonitoredand progressed to completion.
• Support financial continuity and resilience planning.
• I. Financial Systems, Data and Transformation
• Provide strategic leadership for finance systems and financial technology.
• Support the development of modern, integrated systems for accounting, planning, payrolland procurement.
• Improve integration between finance systems and other organisational systems.
• Drive digitalisation, automationand continuous improvement of financial processes.
• Improve management information and self-service financial reporting for budget holders and senior leaders.
• Ensure financial data is appropriately governed, secure and GDPR-compliant.
• Identifyopportunities to improve efficiency, accuracyand financial control through technology.
• J. Leadership and People
• Build, leadand develop a high-performing UKMC Finance function.
• Provideappropriate leadership, professionalsupport and strategic direction to finance colleagues across the wider Unibridge Group.
• Establish clearobjectives, performanceexpectationsand development plans.
• Support succession planning and professional development within Finance.
• Develop financial literacy and budget-holder capability across the organisation.
• Promote a collaborative and service-oriented Finance function that supports effective organisational decision-making.
• Promote consistency and best practice across Finance functions.
• Undertake anyadditionalduties assigned by the Group Chief Executive Officercommensuratewith the seniority and scope of the role.
• PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AND EXPERIENCE

The successful candidate will be expected to be a fully qualified accountant (ACA / ACCA / CIMA / CIPFA or equivalent) with substantial post-qualification experience at senior finance leadership level.

The successful candidate shoulddemonstrate

• Significant senior-level financial leadership experience.
• Experienceoperatingat CFO, Finance Directoror equivalent senior level.
• Strong experience of financial strategy, planningand modelling.
• Experience of managing complex budgets and financial reporting.
• Strong knowledge of financial governance, internal controls, auditand risk.
• Experience developing sophisticated financial forecasts and scenario models.
• Experience of supporting organisational growth and strategic investment decisions.
• Strong commercial and financial judgement.
• Experience leading and developing Finance teams.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills.
• Ability to present complex financial information clearly to senior executives and Boards.
• Experience within higher education, education or another regulated sector would be highly desirable.
• Experience within a multi-site or multi-entity organisation would beadvantageous.
• VALUES AND CONDUCT
• Act with integrity, prudence, accuracyand transparency.
• Provide clear and candid financial advice, including where financial risks or challenges need to be addressed.
• Protect the long-term financial sustainability of UKMC and support the sustainability of the wider Unibridge Group.
• Ensure financialobjectivesdo not take precedence over educational quality or student welfare.
• Promote equality, diversityand inclusion.
• Maintainappropriate confidentiality.
• Exercise sound professional judgement.
• Work collaboratively across UKMC and the wider Unibridge Group.
• Comply withapplicable governance, regulatory and professional requirements.
• Maintainappropriate professionaldevelopment and standing with their professional body.
• ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Chief Financial Officer will be based at and willbe requiredto work collaboratively across UKMC and the wider Unibridge Group.

The role may require travel between UKMC campuses, Unibridge Group locations and other locations asrequired.

The duties and responsibilities outlined in this Job Description are not exhaustive.

The post holder maybe requiredto undertake other dutiesappropriate tothe seniority and scope of the role.

The Chief Financial Officer will be expected tocomply withall relevant UKMC policies, procedures, governancerequirementsand regulatory obligations, together with applicable requirements when supporting other organisations within the wider Unibridge Group

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