Head of Finance Business Partnering (London)

Location
Docklands Campus

Salary
£62,443 to £71,685 per annum inclusive of London Weighting

Post Type
Full Time

Post Type
Permanent

Closing Date
Friday 27 March 2026

Interview Date
To be confirmed

Reference
0610-26-S

University of East London

We're the University of East London (UEL) founded in 1898 and proud to change lives through education. Our goal is to advance industry 5.0 careers-first education and provide a clear path to the jobs and opportunities of the future. We're committed to driving diversity in the 5.0 talent pipeline, working in partnership to promote talent wherever it is found and creating a balanced, inclusive, and green future.

But we can't achieve this goal alone. We need forward-think, innovative, and curious individuals like you to join our community and help us craft our future. As part of our team, you'll have the opportunity to work with a diverse range of people who share your passion for creating positive change. We're an inclusive and welcoming community that is constantly moving forward, never satisfied with the status quo.

About the Service

The Finance Department at the University of East London plays a key role in managing the University's financial resources to ensure stability, efficiency, and strategic investment in its future, aligned with Vision 2028. We provide a comprehensive range of financial services, including budgeting, financial and tax planning, compliance, and advisory support, ensuring the University operates smoothly. Our responsibilities also include the preparation of annual financial statements, statutory reporting, and regulatory submissions. We work proactively with schools and services staff, and students to offer financial guidance, maintain compliance, and drive value for money across all operations.

About the Job:

This role is responsible for delivering the Financial Management team's support to budget holders across the University in London (excluding Careers and Enterprise), ensuring robust reporting, forecasting, business case support and effective use of finance systems and processes.

You will:

• Deliver timely, accurate monthly management accounts and capital reporting, providing clear variance analysis, risks and actions, and agreeing next steps with budget holders.
• Lead budgeting and in-year forecasting for assigned areas, ensuring clear processes, robust outputs and budget holder accountability.
• Provide high-quality financial advice, analysis and business case support, including commercial input to proposals and post-implementation review of arrangements.
• Maintain and improve finance processes and systems (including Unit4 reporting and budgeting tools), ensuring efficient, compliant reporting and supporting statutory/regulatory audits and returns.

About You:

You will be a qualified finance professional with strong business partnering capability, able to support senior budget holders and lead effective financial planning and performance management.

You will bring:

• CCAB accounting qualification or CIMA qualification.
• Experience of management accounting, business partnering, and financial budgeting and forecasting.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, including the ability to negotiate and influence peers and build effective networks outside Finance.
• The ability to manage multiple deadlines under pressure, analyse complex problems with limited data, provide commercially sound advice, and deliver customer-focused solutions.

You will demonstrate a strong customer focus and a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, aligned with the University's values of Passion, Inclusion and Courage.

Benefits Package

At UEL, we believe that a great role is about more than just a salary. It's about the complete package, including our outstanding work environment and inclusive culture.

We offer a genuinely competitive salary, dependent on experience (DOE), and a range of excellent benefits.

You can explore our full benefits package here:

Equal Opportunities

As an inclusive, equal-opportunities employer, our Stonewall membership and Athena Swan awards reflect our ongoing dedication to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and we're committed to closing the "diversity pay gap". We are proud of the progress we've made and honest that there's more to do. We're determined to keep moving forward so everyone at UEL can thrive.

So, if you'd like to take your career to the next level with us here at the University of East London and are inspired by our environment and commit to success, we want you to apply today!

Please note that this advert may close earlier than the deadline if we receive many applications. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.

Further Details

Job Description & Person Specification

To contact the recruitment team please phone x 4600 or e-mail

CVs without a completed application form will not be accepted.

At UEL we are committed to working together to build a community which values diversity in both our staff and student populations, is representative and inclusive, enabling all to progress and thrive.