Head of Financial Planning, Analysis & Finance Operations

Welcome to HWU

Thank you for your interest in the role of Head of Financial Planning, Analysis & Finance Operations at Heriot-Watt University.

The Head of Financial Planning, Analysis & Finance Operations is a senior strategic leadership role within the Finance Directorate, reporting directly to the Interim Finance Director.

The postholder will provide leadership across the University's financial planning, forecasting, management reporting, financial performance and operational finance activities, ensuring the delivery of high-quality financial insight and efficient finance services that support institutional success.

As a trusted adviser to the Interim Finance Director, the role will contribute significantly to the development and execution of the University's financial strategy, supporting the delivery of Strategy 2035 through robust financial planning, effective resource allocation and evidence-based decision making.

Working closely with the Executive, academic leaders, Professional Services Directors and global campus stakeholders, the postholder will ensure that financial resources are aligned with institutional priorities and that strategic decisions are supported by comprehensive analysis, modelling and commercial insight.

The role combines strategic leadership with operational oversight and will be responsible for leading and developing both specialist financial planning functions and operational finance teams, ensuring a high-performing, customer-focused and future-ready Finance Directorate.

Strategy 2035

Our Strategy 2035 is driven by a clear purpose:

To develop leaders who build an equitable, sustainable and enriching society through applied learning and research that addresses real-world challenges.

As a distinctive international university, we combine academic excellence with strong industry engagement, entrepreneurship, global partnerships and innovation. Strategy 2035 sets out ambitious plans for growth, operational excellence, digital transformation, enhanced student experience, and the development of sustainable financial foundations that enable long-term impact across all our locations and activities.

About

Our Heritage and Scottish Roots

Founded in 1821 as the Edinburgh School of Arts, Heriot-Watt was the world’s first Mechanics Institute, born out of the Scottish Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution, with a mission to educate working people for technical and scientific jobs. Our founding mission, and character of the University across the years has been to make education accessible and deliver tangible benefit to industry and society.

Over the years, we have grown from a technical college to a global university with a reputation for excellence in science, engineering, business, and design.

As we look forward, we reflect on our origins and build on this heritage which sets the foundations for our future and Strategy 2035.

Heriot-Watt University today

Heriot-Watt University is a charity registered in Scotland, with a distinctive multinational operation through its campuses in the UK, UAE and Malaysia, as well as through collaborative activity with partners around the world and its Virtual Campus. Heriot-Watt University Malaysia is a Private Higher Education Institution and subsidiary company of the Heriot-Watt Group; Heriot-Watt University Dubai is a branch entity; and Oriam – Scotland’s National Performance Centre for Sport – is also a subsidiary company, along with Heriot-Watt Trading.

A Distinctive University; A Sustainable Future

Growing from these Scottish roots in the 19^th century, the University remains renowned for employability, for access and inclusion; and for its applied research impact and global reach. The University has an exceptional track record in transnational education with a globally connected delivery model, enabling students to ‘Go Global’ and learn through global teaching teams across campuses and cultures.

The University’s staff and students are the bedrock of its reputation, and it is their achievements in teaching, learning and research, underpinned by our values as a community, that makes the University what it is today. These values – to Inspire; Belong; Celebrate and Collaborate – help us stay true, with respect for one another; understanding and valuing diversity.

We have an exceptional partnership with our students and, as a university community, we care most about the transformational value of education which is accessible and research which impacts on real world challenges and benefits society.

We are thought leaders in sustainability and see that future prosperity depends on us curating a future with institutional, environmental, economic and human factors in mind. As we look forwards in Strategy 2035, we are sharpening our focus and building on these strengths and characteristics.

Our Institutional Impact Statement is the anchor for our strategy, defining our purpose as follows:

WE ARE FUTURE SHAPERS. Our Purpose is to develop leaders to build an equitable, sustainable, and enriching society. Our community will leverage its global presence and focused expertise to provide applied learning and research to transform lives and address real-world challenges.

Role description

About the Finance Directorate

The Finance Directorate plays a critical role in enabling the University's strategic ambitions by providing robust financial stewardship, insight and decision support. The Directorate is a key strategic partner in supporting sustainable growth, investment, transformation and operational excellence across the University.

The team provides:

• Financial planning, budgeting and forecasting across the University's global operations.
• Strategic financial analysis and business partnering.
• Financial reporting and performance management.
• Financial systems and data governance.
• Capital investment appraisal and portfolio management.
• Operational finance services and financial controls.
• Support for major strategic initiatives, partnerships and transformation programmes.

As Heriot-Watt delivers Strategy 2035, Finance will play a central role in ensuring that resources are aligned to institutional priorities, investment decisions are evidence-based, and financial sustainability underpins the University's global growth ambitions.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Finance Leadership

• Act as a senior member of the Finance Directorate Leadership Team, contributing to the development and delivery of the University's financial strategy.
• Lead the University's integrated financial planning, budgeting and forecasting processes across all campuses and operations.
• Develop and maintain long-term financial plans and forecasting models that support the delivery of Strategy 2035.
• Provide expert financial advice and challenge to the Interim Finance Director, University Executive, Committees and senior stakeholders.
• Ensure financial strategies and plans support institutional priorities, resource allocation decisions and sustainable growth objectives.
• Lead strategic scenario planning and financial modelling to support decision-making in an evolving higher education environment.
• Deputise for the Interim Finance Director, representing the Directorate at governance groups, committees and stakeholder meetings as required.
• Lead the financial evaluation of strategic opportunities, partnerships, investments and transformation programmes.
• Work closely with the Vice Principal and Provost of the University who is responsible at Executive level for the Integrated Planning Process and resourcing.
• The postholder will also work closely with the Executive Director of University Operations and Director of Planning.

Financial Performance, Planning & Decision Support

• Deliver high-quality monthly, quarterly and annual financial performance reporting and analysis.
• Develop meaningful performance dashboards, KPIs and management information to support strategic and operational decision-making.
• Analyse financial and operational performance, identifying risks, opportunities and emerging trends.
• Provide business case development, investment appraisal and financial evaluation for significant institutional initiatives.
• Support capital planning and investment decisions across the University's global operations.
• Ensure robust financial performance monitoring and reporting frameworks are embedded across the organisation.
• Provide forward-looking financial insight that enables effective decision-making and enhances organisational performance.

Operational Finance Leadership

• Provide strategic oversight and leadership for designated operational finance functions and teams.
• Ensure the delivery of efficient, customer-focused and compliant finance services across the University.
• Lead operational finance managers and professional staff, ensuring services and controls are delivered effectively and consistently.
• Drive improvements in financial processes, controls, policy compliance and service standards.
• Ensure operational finance activities align with institutional objectives and support a culture of accountability and financial stewardship.
• Work collaboratively across Finance to ensure seamless integration between operational finance, management accounting and financial planning activities.

Strategy 2035 Delivery

• Partner with senior leaders to ensure financial planning supports the University's ambitions for growth, research excellence, employability, sustainability and digital transformation.
• Provide strategic financial insight to support the development of the University's Online Campus, international partnerships and other growth initiatives.
• Support the development and tracking of financial metrics and performance frameworks aligned to Strategy 2035 objectives.
• Lead financial analysis relating to strategic transformation programmes and organisational change initiatives.
• Ensure that financial modelling and planning support long-term institutional sustainability and resilience.

Leadership, People Management & Continuous Improvement

• Lead, develop and inspire a high-performing team spanning Financial Planning & Analysis and operational finance functions.
• Build leadership capability across the Directorate through coaching, mentoring and professional development.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement.
• Drive transformation and service improvement initiatives across finance operations, planning and reporting activities.
• Support the optimisation of financial systems, data governance and business intelligence capabilities.
• Champion the use of automation, digital tools and technology-enabled solutions to improve financial effectiveness and operational efficiency.
• Promote excellence in stakeholder engagement, customer service and business partnering across the Finance function.
• Ensure effective workforce planning, succession planning and talent development within the teams under their leadership.
• Line management of the Finance Business Partners ensuring effective business partnering service across the organisation is in place.

Education, Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• Fully qualified accountant (CCAB recognised qualification such as ACA, ACCA, CIMA or CIPFA) or equivalent relevant professional experience.
• Significant senior leadership experience within a complex finance environment.
• Experience leading Financial Planning & Analysis functions and developing strategic financial plans within a large and complex organisation.
• Demonstrable experience leading multidisciplinary finance teams, including both strategic finance and operational finance functions.
• Proven experience of developing and implementing financial strategies aligned to organisational objectives.
• Significant experience developing long-term financial plans, forecasts and scenario models to support strategic decision-making.
• Demonstrable ability to influence, challenge and guide senior stakeholders, including executive-level leaders.
• Strong commercial awareness with the ability to translate complex financial information into clear strategic insight.
• Experience supporting organisational transformation, growth or major change programmes.
• Excellent financial modelling, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong understanding of financial governance, risk management, internal controls and operational finance processes.
• Evidence of successfully leading, developing and motivating managers and professional finance teams.
• Experience operating effectively within complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
• Excellent communication, presentation and relationship management skills.
• A commitment to continuous improvement, innovation and collaborative leadership.

Desirable

• Experience working within Higher Education or another large, complex public sector organisation.
• Experience supporting international operations or multi-site organisations.
• Experience implementing or optimising ERP, planning, forecasting or business intelligence systems.
• Understanding of higher education funding, research finances and transnational education models.
• Experience supporting strategic growth initiatives, partnerships and major investment decisions.
• Experience contributing to board, governing body or executive-level reporting and decision-making processes.

What Success Looks Like

The Head of Financial Planning, Analysis & Finance Operations will play a pivotal role in enabling Heriot-Watt University's ambitions under Strategy 2035 by:

• Delivering a robust and integrated institutional financial planning and performance management framework.
• Providing trusted strategic financial leadership and insight that supports effective decision-making at Executive and governance levels.
• Strengthening the University's long-term financial sustainability and resilience.
• Supporting investment in growth, research excellence, student experience, digital transformation and global partnerships.
• Creating a high-performing Finance function that combines strategic business partnering with excellent operational service delivery.
• Developing leadership capability and succession strength across the Finance Directorate.
• Driving continuous improvement, innovation and transformation across planning, reporting and operational finance activities.
• Acting as a trusted adviser and strategic partner to the Interim Finance Director and senior institutional leaders.
• Embedding a culture of evidence-based decision-making, accountability and operational excellence across the University.

This role provides an exceptional opportunity for an experienced senior finance leader to shape the future financial direction of a globally connected university and to play a central role in delivering the ambitious objectives of Strategy 2035.

How to apply

To submit an application, please contact Tara Tannock at taratannock@livingstonjames.com.

Alternatively, candidates who would like an informal, initial conversation about the opportunity are welcome to contact Mark Lewis directly at marklewis@rutherfordcross.com or on 07738 732776.

Early applications are encouraged, as interviews are anticipated to take place in November 2026.

GDPR personal data notice

According to GDPR guidelines, we are only able to process your Sensitive Personal Data (racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, genetic data, biometric data, health, sex life, or sexual orientation) with your express consent. You will be asked to complete a consent form when you apply and please do not include any Sensitive Personal Data within your CV (although this can be included in your covering letter if you wish to do so), remembering also not to include contact details for referees without their prior agreement.

Due diligence

Due diligence will be carried out as part of the application process, which may include searches carried out via internet search engines and any public social media accounts.

Equality of Opportunity statement

Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised, and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all. Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our University community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website.