Chief Financial Officer

at  The James Hutton Institute

Reporting to the Chief Executive, the Chief Financial Officer & Company Secretary is responsible for the James Hutton Group’s financial and operational strategy, as well as ensuring financial probity and delivering effective reporting and governance frameworks. This includes the provision of strategic financial advice, effective corporate planning and company secretarial support to the Board and Chief Executive. The role will provide leadership and co-ordination for the Professional Services functions including Finance, Business Systems, Procurement, Information Governance, Research Support, Capital Projects, Campus Management, IT Services, Health Safety Quality & Environment.

CAMPUS MANAGEMENT

To ensure that the quality and type of facilities across the Hutton Group are reviewed strategically and that they are appropriate to make a significant contribution to the future development and culture of the organisation. This will include overseeing the development and implementation of an estates strategy and aligning capital development including:

• Leading and coordinating the effective use of space across all Hutton sites, acting as the focal point between end users, be they Hutton colleagues, tenants, partner organisations or public, and the key delivery partners across the Professional Services department with a particular focus on Estates, HSQE and ITS;
• Ensuring the appropriate capital investment is made within the estate;
• Seeking new funding opportunities to allow greater investment in the estate.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide strategic advice to the James Hutton Institute and James Hutton Limited on finances, research support, procurement, legal, information governance, campus services, IT, and health & safety
• As a member of the Executive team, play a key role in the strategic planning and development of the Hutton Group
• Provide leadership and coordination for Professional Services functions including: Finance, Business Systems, Procurement, Information Governance, Research Support, Capital Projects, Campus Services, IT Services, Health Safety Quality & Environment
• Be the company secretary for the James Hutton Institute and James Hutton Limited Boards and oversee all legal and contractual matters
• Act as the main external link on financial planning with funding and delivery partners
• Ensure the efficient utilisation of resources managed by the James Hutton Institute, including the management and delivery of the capital expenditure programme
• Act as a role model for the Institute’s Values and associated behaviours
• Develop and maintain close working links with the wider Executive team, Heads of Science and Heads of Professional Services, encouraging collaborative working and innovation to improve the effectiveness of corporate and scientific delivery
• Liaise with Scottish Government on financial and legal matters concerning the James Hutton Institute
• Develop appropriate policy and procedure frameworks for the Hutton Group
• Deliver major capital programmes for the Hutton group that will deliver new facilities to enable world class science

To develop and maintain effective working relationships with external stakeholders on all financial matters and act as the main interface with the Audit and Finance Committee of the James Hutton Board. Responsible for providing strategic and professional leadership for the Group finance function:

• leading, directing, advising or managing all elements of the finance function;
• overseeing the preparation of the annual budget and five-year forecast, statutory accounts, monthly management accounts and reforecasting, capital expenditure forecasting and monitoring;
• overseeing the consolidation and interpretation of financial information to the Executive team, Board, Audit & Finance Committee and internal committees;
• ensuring high standards of integrated financial planning, modelling, and budgeting;
• ensuring appropriate financial systems, regulations and procedures are in place to provide the necessary levels of efficiency and effectiveness, coupled with control to ensure the security of assets and probity in financial transactions;
• overseeing procurement arrangements and ensuring value for money;
• overseeing financial corporate governance including risk management and insurance;
• providing advice to the Executive team and Board on the financial implications of decisions