Chief Financial Officer

Lincoln Bishop University is seeking an exceptional Chief Financial Officer to play a pivotal role in delivering its Strategy 2030 and shaping the University's next phase of growth, impact and transformation.

As the University prepares to become part of Global University Systems, this is a rare opportunity for a strategic, commercially astute and purpose‑led financial leader to help scale educational opportunity for the students, employers and communities the University seeks to serve.

As a confident, person‑centred and forward‑looking university offering a highly personalised and engaging student experience on‑campus, online, in the workplace and through partners, the positive difference Lincoln Bishop makes through its graduates is reflected in a sector‑leading reputation for widening participation with outstanding results.

The University's mission is to serve the common good by advancing social and economic prosperity through excellence in teaching, research and knowledge exchange. The Chief Financial Officer will play a central role in enabling this mission, combining strong financial stewardship and regulatory assurance with an entrepreneurial approach to sustainable growth, investment and the expansion of high‑quality educational opportunity.

Reporting to the Vice Chancellor, and working in close partnership with University Council, executive colleagues and Global University Systems, the Chief Financial Officer will provide senior leadership of finance, estates, IT services and data and planning. The postholder will ensure that financial plans, investment decisions, institutional risk management and corporate services are aligned to the University's strategic priorities and long‑term sustainability.

• Leading the development, implementation and ongoing delivery of the University's financial strategy in support of Strategy 2030.
• Providing clear, authoritative and commercially informed advice to the Vice Chancellor, University Council and University Executive and University Leadership teams.
• Ensuring robust financial planning, forecasting, management reporting, treasury, cash‑flow management and financial resilience.
• Leading institutional approaches to financial risk, internal control, regulatory compliance and governance.
• Overseeing the external audit process and ensuring the continued effectiveness of internal audit arrangements.
• Supporting the development and delivery of key institutional sub‑strategies, including Estates and Accommodation, People and Data, and the University's Digital Transformation Roadmap.
• Driving improvements in the University's data environment, financial systems, business processes and decision‑making capability.
• Ensuring effective strategic and operational alignment across Finance and relevant corporate service functions.
• Identifying, evaluating and supporting sustainable commercial, partnership, portfolio and investment opportunities that advance the University's mission.
• Providing visible, credible and reassuring leadership throughout organisational change, fostering confidence among colleagues, students, partners, regulators and other stakeholders.

Lincoln Bishop University is seeking a fully qualified accountant with substantial post‑qualification experience in senior or executive financial leadership roles. The successful candidate will bring the judgement, resilience and strategic perspective needed to lead in a complex and changing higher education environment.

They will be an effective and influential communicator, able to build trusted relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.

The University is looking for someone who can demonstrate:

• A strong track record of executive‑level financial leadership, ideally within a complex, regulated and mission‑driven organisation.
• The ability to translate financial insight into clear strategic choices and practical action.
• Sound knowledge of financial governance, risk, audit, controls, compliance and regulatory accountability.
• A commercially minded and entrepreneurial approach to sustainable growth, investment and organisational development.
• Experience of leading finance and corporate service…