• Job Description

  Req#: 5041

  Position Details

  Finance Office

  Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

  Full time starting salary is normally in the range £45,585 to £54,395 with potential progression once in post to £61,198

  Grade: 8

  Full Time , Permanent

  Closing date: 10th July 2024

  *Please only apply though the link at the bottom of the page*

  Background

  The Finance Team is broad, this role will report to the Head of Transaction Services (HOTS), who in turn reports to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the University.

  Transaction Services (TS) ensures that cash is collected and that suppliers are paid on time. In close alignment with other teams and end users, the delivery of Purchase to Pay and Order to Cash are critical to the functioning of the University and its subsidiaries. The division has been on a journey to utilise Oracle Fusion and its functionality since go-live in 2019 and whilst much has been delivered, there is more to do. The team has driven innovation within Finance, being early adopters of Chatbots; Service Portals; online appointment booking; and auto processing to enhance the service they deliver.

  Role Summary

  This is a leadership role within Transaction Services in which the post holder will work closely with the Head of Transaction Services and the Head of Payments who all play key roles in decision making, policy and strategy within Transaction Services.

  The Head of Income will provide leadership and management to the Billing (Sales Invoicing) Accounts Receivable (credit control) and Cash Management teams.

  The role is to manage, motivate and support the above teams in developing and monitoring the delivery of transaction services to the University and ensuring that each section has the resources; financial, operational and staffing, to maintain and improve the high quality of the delivery. The post holder is required to think strategically, analytically and creatively to improve the University’s financial position and contribute to ensure long term financial sustainability of the university.

  Main Duties

  Leadership:

  • Responsible for the development and management of the Billing, Accounts Receivable and Cash Management Managers who in turn manage a diverse group of about 20 administrative and support staff.
  • Ensure all processes and procedures within Order to Cash (O2C) are fit for purpose, efficient and effective and designed to benefit the end-user and to lead a culture of continuous service improvement and review with the objective of achieving best practice.
  • Take responsibility for the quality of service provided by the team and the development of the team's capability, ensuring inputs, processes and outputs are managed effectively.
  • Perform the substantive quality assurance role and ensure standards are maintained within each team. Through regular contact with the management team, monitor service effectiveness within the team and co-ordinate remedial actions where required.
  • Ensure there is ongoing development of individual managers/ team leaders through coaching and training where required, both formal and informal, against an agreed learning and development plan.
  • In collaboration with the other managers across Transaction Services ensure that relevant team objectives and KPIs are set and achieved within allocated budgets and in line with University strategy.
  • Perform Staff Development Reviews for individual managers and ensure that the reviews are conducted within Transaction Services in accordance with University policies.
  • Lead staff through periods of change, communicating a clear and positive vision and acting as a role model.

  Service Delivery:

  • Evaluate service provision and recommend and implement innovative solutions to improve service quality, efficiency and continuity and introduce long term, sustainable improvements.
  • Ensure O2C systems are fit for purpose, integrate appropriately with corporate requirements, and are aligned to changing internal and external influence.
  • In collaboration with Managers implement transaction process changes as required to ensure efficient operation of the processes by which University Transaction Services are delivered and to achieve best practice service delivery to internal and external customers.
  • Identify trends which could have an impact on the University financial position, recommend approaches to address these and implement solutions.
  • Ensure system changes, e.g. Core Finance, are effectively implemented across O2C.

  Due Diligence

  • Responsible for completing due diligence reports from a finance perspective in respect of substantial donations to the University and for research business funders.
  • Continually review and, where required recommend changes to University strategy/policy on due diligence.

  Information Management and Analysis:

  • Responsible for the timely production of monthly management reports for Transaction Services.
  • Responsible for the timely production of monthly management accounts of Transaction Services for the inclusion into Treasury and University plans.
  • Responsible for the timely production of Annual Accounts for all Transaction Services aspects, reconciled for incorporation into the University’s Financial Accounts.
  • Produce and interpret management information for use in University level initiatives and reviews, e.g. key performance indicators, trends and changing external environments; this will also include data and analysis of the activity and throughput of the teams.
  • Responsible for undertaking complex data analysis, must be able to create dynamic reports, automate tasks and handle large datasets from multiple systems efficiently.

  General Management:

  • Build and maintain excellent collaborative relationships with all stakeholders, both within the University and externally.
  • Network with fellow professionals in the wider community to enhance professional and sector knowledge.
  • Represent the University both inside and outside the University as required.
  • Deliver presentations to external bodies, as appropriate, e.g. e-commerce conferences.
  • Actively manages equality, diversity and inclusion through monitoring and evaluation and actively challenging unacceptable behaviour.
  • Supports the University’s sustainability agenda through resource efficient working.
  • Any other duties commensurate with the grade.

  Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

  • Educated to Degree level (or equivalent qualifications) plus significant relevant practical experience – where no equivalent qualification is held substantial practical relevant experience and expertise in a series of progressively more demanding roles will be required.
  • Relevant professional accountancy qualification or equivalent experience.
  • Strong knowledge of financial and process management in a higher education/large public or private sector organisation, with a detailed understanding of transaction services.
  • Proven record of achievement working in a finance management role.
  • Experience in the management of large teams.
  • Highly skilled use of IT systems and in particular Excel, up to and including data manipulation and Power Query.
  • Able to think strategically, envisioning the future of the University in and beyond the context of the University plan. Is able to understand the University culture and academic drivers, and how this impacts on delivering successful strategies.
  • Demonstrates an inspirational leadership style, adapting it according to diverse situations and people.
  • Experience of gaining and retaining the confidence of colleagues and having the standing to represent the team and the University externally.
  • Ability to create a motivating environment where people are challenged, developed, encouraged and supported to deliver outstanding results.
  • Understands the complexity and diversity of the University, its context and options for its development.
  • Communicates with a wide range of styles appropriate to different individuals, groups and situations.
  • Ensures the highest quality service results through the active management of personal, people and financial resources.
  • The ability to lead change effectively in the context of the University and Finance plans with a resilient and positive approach.
  • Adaptable and flexible when dealing with complex situations and the unexpected.
  • Evidence of literacy and numeracy, with the ability to write clearly for a variety of audiences, and to produce and analyse source material, information and data.
  • Authoritative knowledge of the work practices, processes and procedures relevant to the role, including broader sector/commercial awareness.
  • Experience of championing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in own work area.
  • Ability to monitor and evaluate the extent to which equality and diversity legislation, policies, procedures are applied.
  • Ability to identify issues with the potential to impact on protected groups and take appropriate action.

  Role context

  Roles at this level provide authoritative professional advice across a range of activities and/or will lead and manage diverse team(s) and resources. You will use your professional skills to resolve problems where the solution is not immediately apparent. Significant evaluation and independent thought is therefore required to resolve ambiguity. You will have wide discretion to decide on direction whilst ensuring activities are broadly consistent with operational policies. You will be able to influence policy through advising on the impact of policy change and implementation in your area of work. You will need to assess the impact of your activities across your area, with related areas and to ensure they fit with the broader objectives of the University.

  Core competencies/transferable skills

  Working at this level you will be able to develop and successfully use the following core competencies/transferable skills in each of the areas shown below. You will be expected to take ownership for getting things done, including calling on or joining others to assist. You will be expected to be flexible as required in supporting your department and wider University.

  Planning and organising

  • provide professional expertise, and manage resources and/or a diverse team;
  • integrate and co-ordinate work across different parts of the department/university;
  • lead and manage staff who are likely to be carrying out diverse duties, and ensure collaborative working to deliver a successful service;
  • project manage activities to facilitate major changes;
  • develop policy within functional guidelines, and contribute to strategic development within own area;
  • be accountable for the quality and professionalism of service delivery, with an appreciation of longer term issues.

  Problem solving and decision making

  • anticipate, interpret and assess customer needs, identifying trends, generating original ideas and testing innovative solutions;
  • deal with significant people management issues such as change programmes;
  • resolve issues which may not have arisen before through use of experience and judgement.

  Organisational understanding

  • has an excellent understanding of their own working area and a broad understanding of the contribution other areas make to the success of the University;
  • has an excellent understanding of how the University operates, together with an understanding of how academia operates in the UK;
  • demonstrates empathy with the academic endeavour and seeks to encourage others to do so.

  Relationships and communication

  • use coaching skills to motivate and develop staff;
  • proactively and sensitively manage the performance of their team and create a motivating environment;
  • influence others (including across the University) to follow a particular course of action;
  • represent the department at internal and external meetings/events/network with colleagues in other institutions to share best practice.

  Please apply here for this role : Head of Income | University of Birmingham | LinkedIn

  View our staff values and behaviours here

  We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website .

• About the company

  The University of Birmingham is a public research university located in Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

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