Finance Director / Chief Finance Officer

Anderson Quigley is delighted to be partnering once again with University Academy 92 (UA92) on the appointment of a permanent Chief Finance Officer or Finance Director, depending on the calibre of available talent in the finance leadership market.

Terms:

This is a permanent appointment based in Manchester, with hybrid multi-site presence of 2-3 days a week required across UA92’s campuses. The role offers a competitive market rate salary dependent on experience, with eligibility for the discretionary bonus scheme of up to 20%. UA92 offers hybrid working, a comprehensive benefits package and an empowering, inclusive culture where colleagues are encouraged to do the best work of their careers. Lancaster University is our awarding body and a critical partner in our academic and financial governance.

We warmly encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and particularly from those who are underrepresented at senior levels across the sector.

Who is UA92?

UA92 was created to challenge the traditional university model. Inspired by the Class of 92 and powered by our partnership with Lancaster University, we are a deliberately different higher education provider with a mission to increase access, transform lives and give every student the confidence to succeed. Six years on, we have built strong academic foundations, delivered outstanding outcomes and opened the door to thousands of students who might never have considered university an option. Now, we are preparing for the next phase of growth.

Overview of the role:

As Finance Director or Chief Finance Officer, depending on the depth and breadth of experience you bring to us, you will play a decisive and visible role in shaping that growth. You will work closely with our CEO, the Strategic Leadership Team (SLT), the Board, Lancaster University, and our shareholders to deliver a finance function that is commercial, agile and fully aligned to the ambitions of a modern, values driven institution.

We don’t see this as a passive stewardship role. Rather, we would like you to bring clarity to financial strategy, ensure rigour in planning, forecasting and governance, strengthen our operating model, drive revenue generating opportunities and lead a team that is motivated, collaborative and focused on excellent service.

You will help guide us through a period of expansion, investment and increasing complexity while protecting our culture and ensuring our students remain at the core of every decision. This is a role for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, enjoys working with autonomy and is energised by being part of an organisation that is deliberately disrupting traditional higher education, and changing lives through access to education.

Essential criteria:

• You will be an experienced financial leader who has already held responsibility at FD or CFO level in a comparably complex UK based organisation.
• You must be a fully qualified accountant with significant post qualification experience and a track record of leading high-performing finance teams.
• Experience in higher education or similarly regulated sector is important, and those from commercially minded or investor-backed higher education organisations are particularly encouraged.
• You will bring evidence of managing organisational budgets, delivering robust financial strategies, overseeing risk, audit, procurement and governance, and presenting confidently at Board level.
• You will be adept at navigating regulated environments and able to translate financial information into clear guidance for senior stakeholders.
• You will be comfortable moving between strategic thinking and operational detail and able to demonstrate resilience, judgement, ethical leadership and a commitment to UA92’s values, culture and purpose.

Learn more about us here – click here to download our candidate welcome pack

How to apply:

If you wish to apply, please click below to be re-routed to the application portal. Should you wish to discuss the role further or for details on how to progress your application, please direct all enquiries to our advising consultants Eva Tomka and Akhil Yerneni.

Anderson Quigley is acting as an advisor to UA92. An executive search process is being carried out by Anderson Quigley in addition to the public advertisements. If you are particularly keen on expressing interest for this role, but the timescales pose an issue to your interest, please reach out to our advisors to explore any discretionary room.