HEFCE Job Description

Job title:Head of Operational Finance

Time Requirement:Full time

Pay band:10

Responsible to:Head of Finance

Responsible for:Management responsibility for the Operational Finance team including payroll.

Purpose of the job: The role is focused on the leadership of the HEFCE operational finance team, ensuring that all financial and payroll processes operate in an effective, compliant and accurate manner and that a strong control framework exists and operates throughout the process. The promotion of economic, efficient and effective use of HEFCE’s resource in pursuit of delivering the business objectives will be key for the post holder and in doing so they will ensure that the Executive and Board receive accurate and timely information to assess progress against their desired outcomes.

The postholder will also play a key role inthe selection and implementation of a new finance system. This will include ensuring that any change programme to accompany the new system is developed and well managed.

Key responsibilities are as follows:

Leadership and Team Management

  • Lead and manage the Finance team, focusing on improving services and performance through business support and partnering. Ensure effective management and development of staff
  • Ensure Finance staff have the necessary skills to deliver agreed objectives and implement plans

Financial Controls, systems and processes

  • Ensure that all financial controls, systems and processes operate effectively throughout the organisation.
  • Oversight of the systems used to produce financial analysis and reporting today and prepare for the potential introduction of new internal systems and data transfer to our sponsor government department.
  • Oversee the successful operation of the annual budgeting and forecasting process and continue to enhance multi-year financial and academic year reporting.
  • Oversight of the year-end process and the production of HEFCE’s annual report and accounts

Stakeholder management

  • Engage appropriately with Directors, senior managers, budget holders and other colleagues across the council on financial and budgetary issues.
  • Produce relevant Executive and Board papers and associated financial information which is accessible and appropriate for the audience.
  • Develop a positive and constructive relationship with appropriate senior colleagues at the Department for Education(DfE), managing day-to-day working relationships with colleagues in HE Finance and Sponsorship teams.
  • Lead on the operational financial relationship with Internal Audit and the National Audit Office.

General

  • A good understanding of the Council’s strategic objectives and associated initiatives
  • Be a role model for staff within the Finance team and support the organisation in achieving its financial objectives
  • Commitment to learning and continued professional development
  • Contribute to broader cross-Council projects where a financial or management input would be beneficial.

Main Duties and responsibilities:

Responsibility / Outcome
Leadership and team management /
  • Working with the head of finance, provide leadership and manage the team. This will involve shaping any development programmes of work including deliverables and outcomes; ensuring support and training is provided for staff to deliver any change; motivate the team to take charge of the change agenda and deliver the outcomes; ensure staff are continuing to challenge the status quo and look for alternative ways to deliver a better outcome.

Financial Controls, systems and processes /
  • Lead the team and manage the deliverables of Financial Accounts (Accounts Receivable; Accounts Payable; General Ledger; cost accounting; grant funding), Management Accounts (project accounting) and Payroll teams ensuring all are robust and fit for purpose, and that accurate and reliable accounts are prepared and report variances produced on a monthly basis for all stakeholders.
  • Lead the in-house payroll team to ensure that staff, pension providers and HRMC are paid accurately and on time and that HEFCE is compliant with the latest pension and taxation rules. Manage the relationship with the payroll system provider and lead regular feedback meetings.
  • Lead the financial grant management process liaising with the Head of Funding and the Funding Round team to ensure that programme budgets clearly understood and the payment profile to institutions is clear and the process well defined and managed.
  • Lead the production of robust annual administration and programme budgets for consideration by the HEFCE Executive. Provide useful feedback and insight from the business to inform the multi-year budgeting models.
  • Lead the preparation of the financial statements for inclusion in the annual report and accounts and by doing so provide assurance around the robust accounting policies and quality control in place including responding to feedback from any internal audit findings and ensuring technical accounting compliance.

Stakeholder management /
  • Lead the development of financial training for non-finance staff and support the increase in financial understanding in the business at all levels.
  • Produce clear papers and presentations on a range of financial issues presenting clear evidence, support and advice tailored to the needs of the audience.
  • Develop a position of financial expertise and trust in the organisation. Advise and challenge staff at all levels on financial matters and be seen as the authoritative and respected source of financial advice.
  • Represent HEFCE on all financial matters with internal and external stakeholders and develop constructive relationships with senior colleagues namely in DfE, and our internal and external auditors .

General /
  • To support the Director of Finance, Head of finance and other senior staff in discharging strategic objectives as delegated

Requirements

  • 5+ years of overall combined accounting and finance experience preferably as a financial controller
  • Preferably ACCA qualified but other qualifications accepted
  • Thorough and proven knowledge of accounting principles and procedures – preferably but not essentially in the public sector
  • Several years proven experience of creating financial statements and managing year-end audit processes
  • Proven experience of General Ledger, month end and year end close
  • Several years’ proven leadership including leading teams through change.