Chief Financial Officer

Job title:

Chief Financial Officer

Department:
Finance

Location:

Manchester - UK Management College, with responsibilities across UKMC and the wider

Unibridge Group

Reporting to:

Group Chief Executive Officer

Remit:

UKMC, with Group-wide responsibilities and support across the wider

Unibridge

Group.

Works with:

Group shareholders and Board; UKMC Board and senior leadership; leadership teams across

Unibridge

Group organisations;
Finance and Audit & Risk Committees; external auditors; banks; HMRC; insurers; professional advisers; regulators; awarding bodies; funding partners; and other relevant stakeholders.

Salary:£100,000-£135,000 per annum

Employment Type:

Full-time, Permanent

UK Management College (UKMC) is a growing higher education provider in the United Kingdom, focused on widening participation andprovidingaccessible higher education opportunities to students from diverse and under-represented backgrounds.

UKMC delivers partner-validated and franchised degree programmes across multiple campuses in Greater Manchester, the East Midlands and the North-East.

UKMC forms part of the wider

Unibridge

Group, which includes a growing portfolio of education institutions and businesses. Each institutionoperateswithin its respective governance and regulatory framework, with the wider Group providing strategic direction and support.

The Chief Financial Officer will be based within UK Management College's Manchester offices and will provide senior financial leadership to UKMC while also supporting the wider

Unibridge

Group and its institutions.

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) will be the senior finance executive responsible for providing strategic financial leadership,oversight and stewardship across UKMC, while also supporting the wider

Unibridge

Group and its colleges and institutions.

The post holder will lead UKMC's finance function and provide Group-wide financialexpertiseand support in relation to financial strategy, sustainability, governance, financial modelling, reporting,

cash and capital management, financial controls, incomediversificationand strategic growth.

Beyond financial stewardship, the CFO will play a key strategic role in developing sustainable financial models,buildingandmaintainingsophisticated financial forecasts, designing and stress-testing scenarios for growth, diversification and resilience, and supporting the development of new and diversified sources of income.

The CFO will also provide financial leadership and support for the expansion of academic partnerships and portfolios, providing financial due diligence, businesscasesand investment appraisal to support strategic decision-making.

The CFO will report to the Group Chief Executive Officer and work closely with UKMC andUnibridge

Group senior leadership,Boardsand relevant committees.

• Lead UKMC's financial strategy and provide strategic financial leadership and support across the wider
  
  Unibridge
  
  Group.
• Ensure financial strategies support the strategic plans of UKMC and relevant Group institutions and promote long-term financial sustainability.
• Act as the principal financial adviser to the Group Chief Executive Officer,providing clear advice on financial performance, forecasts, risks,opportunities and strategic options.
• Work closely with shareholders,Boardsand senior leadership teams on significant financial and investment decisions.
• Develop andmaintainappropriate financial policies, delegation limits, approvalthresholdsand financial governance arrangements.
• Lead annual financial planning and budget cycles, ensuring budgets are realistic, capacity-led and aligned with organisational plans.
• Advise on the appropriate balance between investment, reserves,growthand financial sustainability.
• Ensure financial decisions support educational quality, studentoutcomesand the long-term sustainability of UKMC and the wider Group.

• Build,ownand continuouslymaintainintegrated financial models for UKMC and supportconsolidatedand institutional financial modelling across the wider
  
  Unibridge
  
  Group.
• Link student-number forecasts, fee income, staffing, estates, capital plans, cashflowand reserves within financial models.
• Develop rolling short,mediumand long-term financial forecasts.
• Design and undertake scenario and sensitivity analysis covering recruitment performance, partner concentration, changes in fees or policy, cost inflation, new partnerships, newcampusesand new income streams.
• Develop sustainability metrics including surplus margins, reserves,liquidityand partner-concentration thresholds.
• Ensure financial models are reconciled with business plans, regulatory submissions,forecasts and statutory accounts.
• Translate complex financial information into clear, decision-ready analysis for senior leaders and Boards.
• Maintain financial modelling approaches that reflect appropriate UKsector practice and regulatory expectations.