Deputy Director of Finance - Financial Planning and Analysis

Founded in 1837, the Royal College of Art is the world's largest community of postgraduate art and design students. It is also the oldest art and design university in continuous operation and has been ranked as the world's number 1 art & design university for a remarkable nine consecutive years, according to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023 - the largest worldwide survey of academic and industry opinion.

The RCA is research-led, and recognised in the UK-wide REF (Research Excellence Framework) as the UK's most research-intensive institution - with an increased proportion of the College's outputs classed as 'internationally excellent' and 'world-leading' in the most recent REF assessment of 2022.

Over 2,700 students are spread across four schools, studying at Graduate Diploma, MA, MPhil, MRes and PhD levels, with plans for this to rise to 3,300 by 2027. The College's mix of professionalism and creative freedom, together with its renowned academic community and rigorous academic framework provides the ecosystem in which students flourish and achieve their highest potential.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, you will play a key role in leading the production and consolidation of financial management information for the College Executive Group (CEG), Senior Management Team (SMT), College Committees (including the Planning & Resources Committee and Council) and other external bodies as required.

Your key duties will include:

• Setting out how the College plans to finance its overall operations to meet its strategic objectives now and in the future, ensuring economic success and summarising key targets and actions over the next 5 years and beyond.
• Reviewing and compiling forecasts and financial plan updates to CEG, SMT, Planning & Resources Committee and Council.
• Providing analysis and decision support to the RCA, including appraisals on potential options, courses or business decisions for the institution.
• Setting the College's framework for the developing the short-term (annual) income and expenditure plans and prioritisation of resources, to ensure achievement of financial targets.
• Leading a team that is both performance and delivery focused.

THE SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT

You must be a fully qualified accountant with strong communication and leadership skills gained managing a team. Experience of working in a growing business and working with diverse stakeholders would be beneficial.

This is an organisation that has a clear vision and route to achieve its goals, with the financial capability and the ambition to experience significant growth in the coming years. This role will be the face of finance in the institution alongside the Chief Financial Officer, having worked with or presented to boards would be preferable.

The Royal College of Art is an equal opportunities employer. The College particularly welcomes applications from all sections of the community and would particularly encourage members of minority groups to apply.

WHAT'S ON OFFER

c£85,000 plus benefits

Closing date for this role 17th April 2023

To apply, please click on the ‘Apply’ button above.

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The Royal College of Art is an equal opportunities employer. The College particularly welcomes applications from all sections of the community and would particularly encourage members of minority groups to apply.  

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