Appointment of a Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Finance and Financial Management

Appointment of a Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Finance and Financial Management

Finance in Brighton Business School

We are building our research profile in this subject area and to this end we have recently appointed a professor of finance Andros Gregoriou to work with staff to develop and enhance their research expertise and encourage them in their publishing activities. Finance is taught on the general business degrees, e.g. Business Management and MBA as well as on more specialist degrees and professional qualifications (ACCA) in accounting and finance. We have an undergraduate degree in Finance and Investment and an MSc programme leading to the award of MSc Finance and Investment or MSc Economics and Finance. This MSc programme is currently being redesigned and revalidated with the addition of streams in accounting, banking and risk management. The School has strong local connections with OSTC, an active finance and investment student society and a dealing room. Plans for 2014-15 will include the professional accreditation of courses in this subject area. We have a long tradition of research in the area of small business finance and have recently appointed a professor of entrepreneurship, Marc Cowling whose research interests are include small business finance and a professor of finance, Andros Gregoriou to lead work in the more traditional areas of finance and to mentor colleagues starting their research career.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for staff that will be committed to helping us achieve the goals set out above. They will be enthusiastic, committed to, and welcoming of innovation and challenge, be good communicators with a passion for improvement, research and education. We want applicants who are team players and who will buy in to, and contribute to the achievement of our ambition.

What qualities do I need?

Assuming you share our vision as set out above then the specific requirements in terms of knowledge and qualifications for specific posts are set out below.

Senior lecturer finance

We are looking for candidates who can teach finance and financial management on the undergraduate finance and accounting degrees and contribute to the MBA and the ACCA courses. Ideally the candidate will have a research profile and a strong research interest in developing their research.

Job SharingThe University of Brighton welcomes job sharers. Job sharing is a way of working where two people share one full-time job, dividing the work, responsibilities, pay, holidays and other benefits between them proportionate to the hours each works, thereby increasing access to a wide range of jobs on a part-time basis.

Potential job sharers do not have to apply with a partner. However, if a post is to be operated as a job share there must be at least two suitable applicants who wish to share the job.

A job share appointment will only be made if it has been demonstrated that both shortlisted applicants can do the job to the required standards and within a working pattern of hours that is agreeable to all parties. If one applicant is unsuitable, neither can be appointed unless an alternative potential job sharer has been shortlisted.

When applying as a job sharer please indicate this on your application form. Please also indicate on the additional information tab whether you are applying with a job share partner and the name of that person. It would also be useful if you could indicate whether you would be interested in the post on a full-time basis if no suitable partner can be found. If you have indicated that you would be willing to take up the position on a full-time basis then the normal recruitment procedure will be followed.

If you are interested in appointment on a job share basis, please contact Human Resources for a copy of the university's policy, procedure and guidelines for job sharing. Alternatively staff in Human Resources will be happy to answer any queries you may have.

The JobThe range of duties of a university lecturer is extensive and diverse. The following summary indicates the nature of this range. Almost all academic staff will be expected to contribute to both the teaching and the research activity of their subject area. At Senior Lecturer level (AC3), staff are expected to be engaged in the planning, design and leadership of teaching and research activity, and to be making wider contributions to the work of their school and the university.

Teaching and Scholarship

A Lecturer (AC2) is expected to possess, develop and utilise a range of teaching methods and ways of supporting student learning. These may include: lectures, seminars, tutorials, forms of e-learning, workshops, laboratory classes and individual supervision.

The role requires the ability to: identify the learning needs of students and to define appropriate learning objectives; ensure that the teaching content, methods of delivery and learning materials are appropriate; develop own teaching materials, under guidance; select appropriate types of formative assessment; seek ways of improving teaching performance by self-reflection and the gathering and analysis of student feedback, and teach as a member of a team within the framework of an established course. An understanding of equal opportunities issues with regard to academic content and teaching delivery is also expected.

In addition a Senior Lecturer (Ac3) is expected to be able to design teaching materials, identify areas where current provision is in need of revision or improvement, supervise student projects, field trips and placement activity.

Research and Scholarship

A Lecturer is expected to: continually update their disciplinary and/or professional knowledge and understanding; develop personal (and, where appropriate, collaborative) research objectives; write up research work for publication; translate new subject knowledge into teaching content; and reflect on their own practice as a higher education teacher. Engagement in continuous professional development with regard to disciplinary/professional and pedagogic expertise is required.

In addition a Senior Lecturer should: disseminate research findings and outputs at conferences and similar events and identify and seek sources of external funding for their own scholarly activity.

Communication

A Lecturer should be able to: deal with routine communication using a range of media; communicate complex information orally, in writing and electronically and communicate material of a specialist or highly technical nature.

In addition a Senior Lecturer will be capable of: routinely communicating complex and conceptual ideas to those with limited knowledge and understanding, as well as to peers, and preparing proposals and applications to external bodies, e.g. for funding and accreditation purposes.

Liaison and Networking

A Lecturer is expected to : liaise effectively with colleagues and students; build internal contacts and participate in internal information exchange networks, and join external networks to share ideas.

In addition a Senior Lecturer will be able to develop external networks in such areas as: identifying sources of funding; student recruitment; student placements; outreach and marketing activity, and obtaining consultancy projects.

Managing People

A Lecturer will be able to agree and largely self-manage teaching, research and administrative activities.

In addition a Senior Lecturer will be expected to: advise and support less experienced colleagues; in certain circumstances supervise the work of others in research teams or as a research supervisor, and coordinate the work of colleagues, for example when acting as a module leader.

Teamwork

A Lecturer is expected to: collaborate with academic colleagues on course development, curriculum changes and the development of research; attend and contribute to subject group and similar meetings, and collaborate with colleagues across the university to identify and respond to students’ needs.

In addition a Senior Lecturer may be required to act as a team leader in a small scale project.

Pastoral Care

A Lecturer/Senior Lecturer will be expected to: act as a personal tutor; use listening, interpersonal and pastoral care skills to deal with sensitive issues concerning students, appreciate the needs of individual students and their circumstances, and to refer students as appropriate to the specialist services which can provide further help.

Initiative, Problem-solving and Decision Making

A Lecturer will be able to: develop and apply initiative, creativity and judgement in the conduct of teaching and research; respond effectively to pedagogical and practical challenges, and contribute to decision making on, and share responsibility for, the academic content, delivery and assessment of modules.

In addition a Senior Lecturer will be expected to: take responsibility for the design and delivery of individual modules and their assessment; identify, and make proposals regarding, the need for change in individual modules; disseminate and apply the results of research and scholarship; develop ideas on income generation; provide advice on student recruitment and marketing approaches and contribute to the successful implementation of quality assurance requirements, internal and external.

Planning and Managing Resources

A Lecturer will be able to plan and manage their own teaching and the use of teaching and research resources, including laboratories and workshops, as agreed with relevant senior colleagues. An awareness of risks in the work environment and their potential impact will be expected.

In addition a Senior Lecturer will be able to act as a module leader, coordinating administrative and academic staff as necessary, and to undertake academic related roles related to areas such as admissions, examinations and student support. Depending on the area of work the conducting of risk assessment may be expected.

Knowledge and Qualifications

Appointment to either the Lecturer/AC2 or Senior Lecturer/AC3 grade will be dependent upon the role to be undertaken and the skills, knowledge and experience of the successful applicant.

It is expected that the criteria below regarding knowledge and qualifications will be met by the successful at Lecturer level

• A Masters’ degree or professional qualification and experience in finance.
• Ideally a PhD or an equivalent level of professional experience.
• A strong commitment to obtaining a relevant higher degree or undertaking and publishing research.
• Up-to-date knowledge of the subject including current developments and the range of skills required.
• An understanding of the needs of students on different awards and at different levels in their education.
• Excellent IT skills and a clear commitment to embrace change and the effective use of IT for teaching, learning and assessment.

Senior Lecturer additional criteria:

• Normally a PhD or a record of professional/commercial experience at a senior level.
• A clear research record with publications in journals graded at national level of excellence
• The ability to supervise students at masters’ level and above.
• The ability to develop a new module around their specialist area of expertise/research
• Ideally the ability to write proposals and attract small research grants
• The ability to take on a course leadership role

Normally a candidate appointed at this level will have substantial experience of lecturing in a higher education environment but relevant commercial and professional experience will be taken into account.

Hours of workThis post is full-time.The nature of teaching posts is such that staff are expected to work such hours as are reasonably necessary in order to fulfil their duties and responsibilities. It would therefore be inappropriate to define the total hours to be worked in any week. A reasonable norm for full-time staff, however, having regard to the contractual position of other senior staff in the institution, would be thirty-seven, although this should not be regarded as a minimum or maximum.

Direct teaching responsibility for full-time staff should not exceed eighteen hours in any week or a total of five hundred and fifty hours in the teaching year. This provision will not, however, apply in subject areas where the nature of the curriculum and teaching style make it inappropriate. In such cases, separate arrangements apply. The university has currently identified the following academic areas where teaching methods or modes of delivery make the 18 hour per week limit inappropriate at certain times of the year:

•art and design

•business/management

•health - clinically related subjects

•construction management

The 550 hour annual maximum will not, however, be exceeded except by mutually agreed overtime.

The salaryThe salary will be in accordance with the Lecturer (AC2)/Senior Lecturer (AC3) grade, which ranges from £33,242 to £39,685per annum (at Lecturer/AC2 level) and £40,847 to £47,328 per annum (at Senior Lecturer/AC3 level).

Salaries are paid monthly in arrears through the BACS System directly into the bank or building society account of each member of staff. The university must pay salaries through the BACS system. They cannot be paid by cheque. It will therefore be important to supply account details in order to ensure prompt payment.

Professional development

In line with the University strategic plan, all staff in the Business School will be expected to obtain higher education teaching related qualifications through courses or the APEL equivalent currently being developed within the University.

Lecturing staff will be expected to be research active and new staff will undertake a research development interview with the Dean or his nominee to establish their development needs in this area and devise an appropriate development plan tailored to the needs of the individual.

Part-time courses are run within the university for staff new to the teaching role. The one that is relevant to staff in the Business School is:

The Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (run by the Centre for Learning and Teaching, and designed for staff in all schools and faculties)

All new lecturers with little or no previous experience of teaching in higher education, who have not undertaken an equivalent course of study and training, are expected take one of these courses in their first or second year in post.The courses provide opportunities to explore a range of practical approaches to supporting students’ learning, and to reflect upon the process of developing as a teacher.By negotiation with the relevant Head of School, teaching timetables are adjusted to enable the new lecturer to participate effectively in the course.The course is accredited by the Higher Education Academy, the national professional body for teachers in Higher Education, and successful completion normally leads to professional recognition as a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

The successful applicant will be provided with further information about these Postgraduate Certificate courses at the time of appointment.

In addition to these courses for staff new to the teaching role, the Centre for Learning and Teaching offers a wide range of courses, events and consultancy to experienced lecturers and to course teams and academic schools across the university. Further information is available from the CLT’s website:

HolidaysThe annual leave entitlement is 35 working days, pro rata for proportional full-time staff. This is in addition to the statutory holidays applicable in England, local discretionary holidays and days when the university is closed in the interests of efficiency.

Terms & conditionsIn determining terms and conditions of employment, the university has regard to recommendations made through the appropriate national negotiating framework. These terms and conditions of service can be varied by local agreements reached through the university’s local negotiating framework which comprises a Joint Negotiating Committee supported by two Common Interest Groups. These groups bring together representatives of the university and its recognised trade unions, which are:

•UCU – University and College Union

•UNISON

Strategic planDetails of our Strategic Plan can be found at:

The Business School Dean: Professor Aidan Berry

The Brighton Business School is based at Mithras House on the outskirts of Brighton city centre. It is responsible for in excess of 2200 students with some 80 full-time equivalent teaching staff, 20 research staff and 30 administrative and technical staff.

The mission statement and key ambitions for the combined Business School are set out below.

The Business School is committed to being a ‘Professional Business School’ with clear ambitions and aspirations. Over the next five years we intend to achieve the following:

• Engagement with Business: To be at the centre of the regional business and professional community, providing advice, educational and training support and working in partnership to advance knowledge and provide regional employers with top class graduates
• Research and scholarship: Every member of staff will be engaged in research and/or scholarship. We aim to increase the percentage of staff potentially eligible for the REF and at the same time improve quality. We believe that all staff have a role to play in the development, appraisal and dissemination of new knowledge through peer reviewed journal articles, text books, review articles, contribution to professional journals and delivery of CPD activities.
• Engaging student experience: All students will have a first class experience. We will work to improve the students’ experience through clear communication and enthusiasm about our disciplines, backed by knowledge of the current debates within our subject areas and innovative and interesting delivery and assessment mechanisms.
• Digital Enhancement: Digital technology will be utilised to enhance the student experience and provide staff with new ways to support students, deliver and reinforce knowledge acquisition and to assess learning.
• Employability: All students leaving the Business School will have been exposed to speakers from the commercial and professional world; will have had the opportunity to develop a CV enhanced with work experience or volunteering through a wide range of opportunities including short and long term placements, internships and projects.

Resear

The Business School’s research impact is world leading and was ranked in fifth place in the UK. This is particularly pleasing as it is a formal recognition of our mission to produce research that informs business and has a real impact. Overall we moved up ten places in the table for Business research thus continuing the continuous improvement which has been made in every research assessment exercise. Research within the School is organised through three thematic centres ranging from the generic Centre for Interdisciplinary Management and Education Research (CIMER) which covers most disciplinary research found within a Business School to more subject related themes e.g. the Centre for Research on Management and Employment (CROME) which focuses on topics related to managing change at work and in employment and through to the specialist Centre for Research in Innovation Management (CENTRIM). A theme of all our research is a view that research into business requires us to work with Business and apply our findings back onto business through appropriate dissemination channels as well as through traditional research publications.