Head of Finance & Procurement Systems and Transformation at Durham University

Durham, England, United Kingdom -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

29 Jul, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

30 Apr, 26

Experience

10 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Yes

Skills

Oracle Fusion, Digital transformation, Finance systems optimization, Change management, Financial operations, Strategic leadership, Process improvement, Stakeholder management, Financial controls, ERP systems, Data analytics, Project management, Regulatory compliance, Budget management, Team leadership, Communication skills

Industry

Higher Education

Description

The University At Durham University we are proud of our people. A globally outstanding centre of educational excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other. We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things professionally and personally. Across the University we have a huge variety of roles and career opportunities, which together make us a large and successful community, which is a key hub of activity within our region and nationally. We would be thrilled if you would consider joining our thriving University. Further information about the University can be found here. Find out more about the benefits of working at the University and what it is like to live and work in the Durham area on our Why Join Us? - Information Page. The Role and the Department The Head of Finance & Procurement Systems and Transformation will lead the digital transformation of Finance & Procurement Services across the University. The role is accountable for optimising the Oracle Fusion environment, strengthening systems integrations, and delivering a finance systems efficiency programme that enables the strategic use of digital solutions. Acting as a strategic bridge between functional finance requirements and technical delivery, the postholder will ensure finance systems developments are technically robust, operationally effective, and enhance user experience and stakeholder confidence. The role will drive end‑to‑end process improvement and change management to deliver robust, efficient, and future‑proof financial operations, including the introduction of AI-enabled capabilities within the service. The role will have 3 direct reports across a team of 12 and will combine operational oversight (including responsibility for the Finance Service Support Helpdesk) with strategic leadership of transformation, continuous improvement and systems optimisation across the Services. The base location for this role is Boldon House, our exciting new professional services hub. Boldon House is situated on the outskirts of Durham near the Arnison Centre in Pity Me. Boldon House brings a number of professional services teams together in a vibrant office environment which supports collaborative working and is designed to embrace hybrid working. To find out more, visit the project webpage: Boldon House – Durham University. Further information about the role and the responsibilities is at the bottom of this job description. Working at Durham A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University: • You’ll receive 30 days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year – a total of 42 days per year. The University closes between Christmas and New Year. • We offer a generous pension scheme, and as a new member of staff you will be automatically enrolled into the University Superannuation Scheme (USS). • No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered. We have ample parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies. You can also take advantage of our cost-effective and environmentally friendly Tusker Car Benefit Scheme, allowing you to lease a brand-new electric or hybrid vehicle with savings on tax and National Insurance. • We have a genuine commitment to developing our colleagues professionally and personally. There is a comprehensive range of development courses, apprenticeships and access to qualifications and routes to develop your career in the University. All staff have dedicated annual time to concentrate on their personal development opportunities. • We provide wide-ranging health and wellbeing support including discounted membership for our state-of-the-art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme. • Our on-site nursery is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and you can access holiday camps for children aged 5-16. • Our family-friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers). • We offer all staff the opportunity to take part in volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community. • You can access exclusive discounts via our benefits portal including money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, eating out and days out at various attractions. • Various salary sacrifice schemes are also available to help you take advantage of tax savings on benefits. • If you are moving to Durham, you may be eligible for help with removal costs, and we have a dedicated team who can help you with the practicalities such as house hunting and schools. If you need a visa, we cover most visa costs and offer an interest-free loan scheme to pay for dependant visas. Discover more about our total rewards and benefits package here. Durham University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion Our collective aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and we believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work. As a University equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key part of the University’s Strategy and a central part of everything we do. We also live by our values and our Staff Code of Conduct. At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive. We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in our work force including people with disabilities, women and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. If you have taken time out of your career, and you feel it relevant, let us know about it in your application. If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role. What you need to demonstrate when you apply/Person Specification When you apply it is important that you let us know what skills/experience you have from a similar role and/or what skills/experience you have which would make you right for this role. Further information about the role and responsibilities is at the end of this job description. Where a criteria has an asterisk* next to it, it may be given additional weighting when your application is considered. Your application should cover the following criteria: Essential Criteria Qualifications/Experience 1. Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent), with extensive post-qualification experience within a large, complex environment. 2. Proven track record of leading digital transformation or finance systems optimisation programmes, ideally within Oracle Fusion or comparable ERP environments. 3. Professional practitioner with specialist finance systems and transformation knowledge and expertise to influence organisational activity and shape service delivery, events and activities within the organisation, and delivering measurable operational improvements. 4. Experience of partnering and providing high quality specialist advice, insights and guidance across a range of customers and colleagues, including more senior colleagues. 5. Experience of participating in internal or external networks to share and discuss good practice, develop strong and productive working relationships and positively influence the University’s reputation. 6. Experience of implementing policies and procedures and supporting service improvements through system‑enabled process re‑engineering that reduces manual intervention, strengthens financial controls and evidences leadership of continuous improvement and change management programmes. 7. Track record of cross-functional leadership, management and development experience and/or an enhanced management qualification applied across a large and complex service team or teams. Skills/Abilities/Knowledge 8. Excellent spoken, written communication and presentation skills with the ability to clearly articulate complex and financial technical concepts clearly and effectively to a wide range of audiences. 9. Advanced digital capability (Microsoft 365, ERP finance systems, reporting tools, analytics) alongside an in-depth understanding of finance and procurement systems architecture, integration principles, data flows, internal controls, reporting, and compliance requirements. 10. Committed to continuing professional development to maintain professional recognition. 11. Extensive knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines. 12. Ability to contribute to planning at operational and strategic levels, including the critical analysis, interpretation and presentation of complex data to support decision-making at senior management level. 13. Ability to solve problems and decide on and plan appropriate solutions. Desirable Criteria 1. Experience within the Higher Education or public/not-for-profit sector. 2. Knowledge of FRS102 and HE SORP. 3. Formal certification in change, programme or project management (e.g. PRINCE2, MSP, Agile). 4. Knowledge of emerging digital finance technologies, including AI, RPA, and advanced analytics. 5. Experience of Procurement. How to apply To progress to the assessment stage, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification above. It will be at the discretion of the recruiting panel as to whether they will also consider any desirable criteria, but we would urge candidates to provide evidence for all criteria. Please don’t forget to check if there is any weighted criteria (see above). While some criteria will be considered at the shortlisting stage, other criteria may be considered later in the assessment process, such as questions at interview. Submitting your application We prefer to receive applications online. We will update you about your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to make sure you have not missed any of our updates. What you need to submit • A CV: and • A supporting statement which outlines how you meet all of the criteria within the Person Specification. Contact details For a chat about the role or any further information please contact Sue Jarvis, Director of Finance – susan.jarvis@durham.ac.uk. Typical Role Requirements Strategic Transformation Leadership & Change Management · Act as a trusted advisor to the Director of Finance, Director of Procurement and Chief Financial Officer, providing expert guidance on transformation priorities, sequencing, and delivery risks. · Lead and influence senior stakeholders across the University. · Balance business as usual systems operational stability with delivering long-term system structural improvements that support the University’s strategic objectives. · Lead change with clarity and pace, supporting teams through transition by ensuring communication is clear, timely and transparent, and that colleagues feel informed, engaged and supported throughout the change journey. Systems & Process Integration · Lead the review and redesign of end-to-end processes, removing duplication, manual workarounds, and unnecessary complexity to improve efficiency, control and user experience. · Work in close partnership with the Head of FP&A, Oracle Hub, CIS, Business Intelligence and data teams to strengthen integration between finance systems and wider institutional platforms. · Reduce reliance on offline spreadsheets for core financial processes where appropriate and proportionate, embedding robust system‑based solutions and controls. · Act as the bridge between Finance, CIS, and the wider institution, ensuring system and process solutions are practical, user‑focused, and aligned to operational and strategic business needs. Continuous Improvement Leadership · Own and prioritise the Finance & Procurement Continuous Improvement (CI) portfolio, ensuring alignment to the F&P Service objectives and wider institutional strategy. · Establish clear governance, tracking, reporting and benefits realisation for improvement initiatives. · Move improvements from ad-hoc fixes to structured, strategic change, and sustainable improvement activity. · Embed a culture of ongoing improvement across F&P teams, encouraging innovation and right first-time practices. Finance Service Support Helpdesk: Oversight & Insight · Oversee the Finance Service Support Helpdesk ensuring clear visibility of demand, user pain points, recurring issues, and process failure areas. · Use helpdesk data to identify systemic issues and root causes, and target opportunities for simplification, standardisation and automation. · Ensure F&P services are designed around the needs of end users, rather than being constrained by internal structures or legacy processes. Service Delivery/Development · Contribute to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University’s values. · Oversee and manage professional and regulatory standards and policies relating to activities carried out by the Finance & Procurement Services. · Use your leadership and management expertise to implement any significant changes optimally, in collaboration with other senior managers and specialists. · Lead on the development of new areas of work or activities including scoping, planning and implementing any changes to achieve the outcomes expected by senior colleagues. · Look for innovative ways to continually improve the services provided to your stakeholders. · Develop and implement new or improved policies, processes and standards. · Use your professional knowledge and experience as a senior finance professional to resolve problems, shape processes and activities, develop systems and to provide subject matter expertise and advice with regards to those areas under the role remit. · Support quality and regulatory audits to ensure that systems and processes are operating in an optimal and compliant way. · Meet the professional development needs of your stakeholders by ensuring that a programme of training and learning activities is designed and delivered by the Finance & Procurement Services. · Provide specialist insight that enables data-driven decisions to be made about the Finance & Procurement Services. Planning and Organisation · Use your expertise to help develop strategic plans and business plans that cover a wide range of operational activities. · Define what needs to be achieved so that other colleagues can scope, plan and implement large-scale/university-wide initiatives within any financial constraints provided. · Ensure your services are performing at the optimal level by setting clear standards and introducing measurable performance indicators. · Use your leadership expertise to help project teams understand what needs to be achieved, solve any problems that are encountered and keep implementation plans on track. · Allocate and monitor designated budgets, expenditure and resources. Leadership and Team Development · Set operational and strategic objectives and use your leadership and management skills, to develop the people in your teams and ensure high standards of performance. · Help shape the skills and expertise needed to deliver a professional service by recruiting, inducting and training team members and structuring your teams in a way that will best meet operational and strategic priorities. · Ensure that your team can deliver the required services by delegating responsibilities to appropriate team members and considering succession plans. · Carry out regular performance reviews with colleagues to provide feedback on objectives and identify any development needs. · Handle most HR issues and support the welfare and wellbeing of your team, taking advice on more complex issues from specialist services or senior managers. Communication/Liaison · Lead internal and external meetings and committees to influence University policy, standards and governance. · Build and lead an influential network of internal and external contacts to increase your knowledge and skills, swap information with peers and use that information to improve and develop the Finance & Procurement Service and its interactions with stakeholders. · Identify opportunities to build relationships with external organisations to support the delivery of strategic-level objectives. · Research new approaches being taken by internal and external stakeholders such as emerging ERP solutions, reporting solutions and lean best-practice approaches from sector peers and professional networks so that you can take these insights into account when developing the Finance & Procurement Service. · Explore options to promote and increase engagement in internal and external events being delivered by your service. · Design and deliver a programme of professional development activities to your stakeholders to support their development and information needs. · Any other reasonable duties. Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement Privacy Notices - Durham University which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data. When appointing to this role the University must ensure that it meets any applicable immigration requirements, including salary thresholds which are applicable to some visas.

Responsibilities

The role leads the digital transformation of Finance and Procurement services, optimizing the Oracle Fusion environment and driving end-to-end process improvements. It also involves strategic leadership of a team of 12, managing operational oversight, and acting as a bridge between functional finance requirements and technical delivery.