Chief Financial Officer, UNIVERSITY

Overview

The University of Manchester is one of the world’s leading universities, combining academic excellence with a deep commitment to social responsibility. With origins as England’s first civic university, we have built a global reputation for pioneering research, outstanding teaching and meaningful impact across society. Today, with more than 46,000 students, 13,000 staff and annual income of c.£1.4 billion, we are one of the largest and most complex universities in the UK.

Our strategy, From Manchester for the world, sets out an ambitious vision for the next decade—advancing innovation, strengthening partnerships and delivering research and education that addresses the major challenges of our time.

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is a pivotal role. You will be responsible for the financial stewardship of the University, shaping and delivering its financial strategy, and leading a large and complex finance function. Working closely with the President and Vice-Chancellor, Board of Governors and senior colleagues, you will play a central role in enabling the University’s long-term sustainability and strategic ambitions.

This is a broad leadership position extending beyond traditional finance. You will provide expert advice on major investment decisions, oversee treasury and financial planning activities, and help drive transformation across systems, processes and ways of working. You will also support the development of commercial strategy, income diversification and partnership activity, ensuring that resources are aligned to institutional priorities and that the University remains financially resilient in a rapidly evolving external environment.

We are seeking an outstanding senior financial leader with a proven track record in a large and complex organisation. You will bring strong commercial acumen, experience of strategic financial planning and transformation, and the credibility to operate at Board and executive level. You will have excellent influencing skills, the ability to navigate complexity and ambiguity, and a values-led leadership style that inspires high performance, collaboration and continuous improvement.

This is an exceptional opportunity to join a globally recognised institution at a pivotal moment in its development.

Closing date:
Monday 24th August 2026.