Senior Finance Business Partner

University of the West of Scotland

Full time: 35 hours per week

Permanent

The post – REQ000394 - Senior Finance Business Partner

This is a dynamic and influential role requiring strong commercial awareness, excellent analytical and communication skills, and the ability to interpret complex financial data for diverse audiences. The SFBP will lead financial planning activities, assess business cases, identify income generation opportunities, and ensure robust financial control and reporting. Working closely with senior stakeholders, the post holder will help drive financial efficiency and sustainability across the University, while promoting a culture of continuous improvement and professional excellence.

University of the West of Scotland is delivering an ambitious strategy focused on high-quality learning, teaching, research, and global engagement. Financial sustainability is key to achieving these goals, and the Strategic Finance Business Partner (SFBP) plays a pivotal role in supporting this. Reporting to the Head of Finance, the SFBP will act as the principal financial adviser to Deans and Directors, providing expert guidance on financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and performance analysis.

The successful candidate should have the following: 

• Qualified accountant with post qualification experience gained in a complex commercially focused environment, educated to degree level.
• Extensive experience working in a finance role within a large and complex commercial organisation.
• Strategic financial management and leadership experience.
• Significant knowledge and experience of financial and budgetary control systems.
• Significant cost and income allocation and capital accounting experience.
• Considerable experience of leading budgeting, forecasting and reporting activity for E6 - significant areas of a business.
• Experienced change agents in relation to financial improvement.
• Proven track record of developing and securing excellent business relationships 

About us

The University of the West of Scotland is one of Scotland’s largest and most dynamic modern universities. Our reach across the country, together with our London campus, means that UWS is a significant force in global knowledge creation, innovation, and a leading provider of undergraduate, postgraduate and research degree education. Our degrees provide students with a transformational experience; equipping them with highly sought-after graduate skills that set them up for global success in world-leading sectors, industries and businesses

With cutting-edge courses, modern pedagogy and practical knowledge, we enable our students and staff to experience the joy of learning, teaching, research and innovation, and apply their knowledge for the benefit of others.

UWS is officially ranked by Times Higher Education in the top 200 universities worldwide under 50 years old (2024 Young University Rankings)

Our professional services teams are the backbone of UWS, providing robust and innovative solutions to support the vast range of work across learning and teaching, and research and innovation. You will join a supportive and dedicated team, playing a key role in a range of work that will help drive forward our ambition to deliver world-leading research, and graduates who will design, shape and build a new future.

We offer our staff a caring and supportive environment, across five campuses, and a competitive benefits package which includes: 

• 24 days of annual leave, plus a further 12 days for public/university holidays
• An additional days leave on your birthday
• Defined benefit contribution pension scheme (including death in service benefits upon joining the scheme  
• A flexible approach to working pattern and work-life balance
• Employee discount scheme across 3,500 retailers
• Fitness facilities across our campuses
• Access to a range of health and wellbeing resources, including occupational health, physiotherapy and access to our Employee Assistance Programme
• Professional, career and research development opportunities.

Closing Date: Sunday 30^th November 2025

Interview Date: Week commencing 8^th December 2025

Please note that the appointment will be made on the first point of the salary scale (unless by exception, where evidence would need to be provided).

The University reserves the right to shorten/extend the closing date of any position where a high/low volume of suitable applications are received. Therefore, if you are interested in this role, an early application would be encouraged.

You can find out more about how the University uses your personal data as part of the recruitment process by looking at the UWS HR Applicant Privacy Notice at www.uws.ac.uk

UWS are committed signatories to the Armed Forces Covenant.

UWS is committed to equality and diversity and welcomes applications from underrepresented groups.

UWS is a “Disability Confident” employer.

University of the West of Scotland is a registered Scottish charity, no. SC002520