Senior Finance Manager – Income and Collections at Durham University

Durham, England, United Kingdom -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

18 Jan, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

20 Oct, 25

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Yes

Skills

Invoicing, Credit Control, Collections, Change Management, Communication, Digital Competence, Compliance, Problem Solving, Team Management, Stakeholder Engagement, Data Analysis, Policy Implementation, Service Improvement, Operational Planning, Customer Service

Industry

Higher Education

Description

Please note that interviews are expected to be held on Wednesday 12th November 2025. 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 This is a key role within Finance Department, reporting to the Head of Income and Collections, the Senior Finance Manager – Income and Collections will be responsible the University’s debt and cash collection activity, receipt and allocation of income, including leading and managing the Credit Control and Accounts Receivable teams, 16 staff with 2 direct reports. They will provide detailed analysis of data to focus on the key elements of University debt that need to be recovered and ensuring there is cross University stakeholder engagement in the process. The Finance teams work on a Hybrid basis normally 2 days in the office 3 days working from home, based on business need. This role will be based at Boldon House. 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. 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. It’s important to us that all of our colleagues are aligned to both our values and commitment to EDI. 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. Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience). 2. Professional practitioner with specialist knowledge in both Invoicing and credit and collections with expertise to influence service delivery. 3. Experience of developing / implementing change management within a transactional processing function. 4. 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. 5. Experience of implementing policies and procedures and supporting service improvements. 6. Track record of management and development experience applied across a large service team or teams. Skills/Abilities/Knowledge 7. Excellent spoken and written communication skills including the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally 8. Excellent digital competence with experience in using core digital tools including internet, email, digital communication tools, Microsoft 365 applications, digital booking system, project planning, financial systems, recruitment tools, auditing tools, eLearning authoring tools. 9. Committed to continuing professional development to maintain professional recognition. 10. Extensive knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines. 11. Ability to contribute to planning at operational and strategic levels. 12. Ability to solve problems and decide on and plan appropriate solutions. Desirable criteria 13. Experience of working with or within Higher Education 14. Relevant Professional Qualification 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 Caron Gregory on c.t.gregory@durham.ac.uk or telephone 07769113716 Typical Role Requirements Service Delivery/Development To review and recommend any changes to policies, processes and procedures to maximise the efficiency of the invoicing and collection activities. Ensure relevant KPIs are operated within the area of responsibility. To lead and manage the Credit Control and Accounts Receivable teams to achieve the goal of being an effective and high performing Customer centric team. Ensure relevant processes and controls are operating as required and adhere to compliance requirements. Manage quality and regulatory audits of systems and procedures. To undertake any other appropriate duties as requested by senior staff and to support the Head of Income and Collections in achieving their objectives Use your professional knowledge and experience to resolve problems and provide subject matter expertise and advice. Use your managerial and leadership expertise to identify priorities and shape the service to achieve the required outcomes. Look for ways to continually improve services and take a lead role in the development and implementation of assigned policies, processes and standards. Support the welfare, wellbeing and employment of your staff by providing professional guidance. Planning and Organisation · Contribute to the development of operational plans relevant to your area. · Oversee the analysis of data about the service levels provided by your area and make recommendations for improvement in reports to senior managers and committees. Team Development · Manage and develop the people, performance and resources of one or more teams to ensure that a customer-focused service is provided. · Help shape the skills and expertise needed to deliver a professional service by recruiting, inducting and training team members. · Ensure that your team can deliver the required services by devolving and delegating responsibilities to appropriate team members. · Carry out regular performance reviews to provide feedback on objectives and expectations and identify any development needs. · Handle most HR issues and support the welfare and wellbeing of your team, referring more complex issues to specialist services or more senior managers. Communication/Liaison · Use your professional knowledge to identify and recommend priorities for long-term business plans. · Provide professional guidance and advice when managing complaints, referrals and specialist services. · Design creative and innovative communications to promote and increase engagement relating to your service. · Influence University policy, standards and governance by leading operational business meetings, working groups and sub-committees. · Create strong working relationships, including internal and external networks, using your networks to increase your knowledge and skills, swap information with peers and positively influence the University’s reputation. · Represent the service and the University at promotional events. · Identify opportunities to develop and increase participation in special interest groups. · 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 Senior Finance Manager – Income and Collections will oversee the University’s debt and cash collection activities, leading the Credit Control and Accounts Receivable teams. They will analyze data to identify key elements of University debt that need recovery and ensure stakeholder engagement across the University.