Egham
Permanent
£57,299 - £63,833
Royal Holloway Students’ Union (RHSU)
Head of Finance & Resources
Salary: £57,299 - £63,833 per annum
Location: Egham, Surrey – with hybrid/flexible working arrangements
Contract: Permanent – full-time.
Are you a values-driven finance & resources professional looking to play a crucial role in the smooth running and continued development of a busy Students’ Union? We are looking for a driven and experienced finance professional with strategic leadership experience committed to working for a student-led organisation, as we launch a new strategic plan for 2024-2027: Building Community, Leading Change.
About RHSU
We are a thriving student-led organisation, representing 11,500 students at Royal Holloway across our Egham and central London campuses. A registered charity, independent from the University, we are democratic in the way we are governed and all students at the University are automatically members of the SU. Students can access an impressive array of services and facilities including over 160 sports clubs & societies, a student advice service, bars & cafes, a nightclub and our very own pub!
We are committed to building a stronger student voice and advocating for students - leading on research and insight that can positively influence students’ academic and co-curricular student experience, through effective representation locally, regionally and nationally.
With a turnover of around £7 million annually, approximately 50 staff and c300 student staff, RHSU is a busy, fun and interesting place to be!
About the Role
Reporting to the Chief Executive and managing a small team of Finance and HR personnel, the Head of Finance & Resources position is broad in scope. The post holder will be responsible for the development and implementation of RHSU strategy relating to finance, people and culture, governance and digital infrastructure. The post holder will ensure the delivery and resourcing of operating plans, policy and operating procedures to ensure that the Union delivers its strategic objectives across its support services. The position sits on the Senior Leadership team and will be expected to play a key role in the delivery of our 3 new strategic enabling themes: People & Culture, Well Governed & Sustainable and Physical & Digital Infrastructure.
Key responsibilities are centred around, but not limited to:
Strategic Management and Leadership – including supporting the delivery of the Union’s strategic plan, leading on financial planning, overseeing compliance and forming part of a strong Leadership Team with other senior colleagues and Sabbatical Officers.
People Management – including leading on the People & Culture plan, leading on recruitment and embedding a learning & development culture at RHSU.
Financial Management – including creating a culture of strong financial literacy, leading on all budgeting & forecasting, financial controls, the annual external audit and having overall responsibility for the accuracy of financial records, including but not limited to the organisation’s VAT returns, payroll & pensions, fixed asset portfolio and funds.
Service Development & Delivery – including ownership of contract management, cooperation with the University over block grant funding & IT service provision, leading on change projects around digital infrastructure and both internal & external compliance & reporting.
The successful candidate will play an important role in shaping a key department at RHSU, at an exciting time of change.
RHSU offers an excellent benefits package, including a hybrid working policy, 22 days leave (rising to 27) plus up to 7 discretionary days over the festive period, significant professional development opportunities and an impressive selection of financial support tools, rewards and discounts!
Who we’re looking for
We’re looking for an experienced finance professional who is ideally at least part-qualified ACCA, CIMA or ACA. An excellent understanding of charity finance, regulation and governance is required, along with experience of senior level management and leadership in a similar sized organisation.
Skills and experience with developing strategic plans, project/change management and leading on digital infrastructure projects would also be very useful experience to succeed in the role. Strong commercial acumen would be beneficial too -against a backdrop of constantly changing commercial considerations and wider Higher Education sector pressures.
Whilst core finance skills are essential, both at a strategic and operational level – experience in a broader resources role covering HR, IT, governance or compliance would suit this post well. A demonstrable interest and commitment to a values-driven and student-led organisation is also required.
How to apply
Key Dates:
Closing Date: 12pm on Monday 14th October
First Stage Interviews (Remote): Week commencing 21st October
Final Interviews (In-person): Week commencing 4th November
Please click 'Apply’. We will then send the Recruitment Pack, Job Description, and full details of how to apply for the role officially.
For an informal conversation about the role and application process, please contact our recruitment partners, Marble Mayne Recruitment: jamie@marblemayne.co.uk
RHSU has a genuine commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive workforce, and people with a diverse range of skills, backgrounds and experiences are encouraged to apply.