Senior Strategic Finance Business Partner(UK Visa Sponsorship)

Automotive Jobs
Uk
January 14, 2026
Full Time Permanent
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Job Description

The Opportunity

The University of Sussex is seeking a senior, strategic finance leader to take on the role of Senior Strategic Finance Business Partner (Academic Faculties). This is a pivotal leadership position with responsibility for shaping and delivering high-quality finance business partnering services across the University’s Academic Faculties.

Reporting within the Finance Division, you will lead the Academic Faculties Finance Business Partnering team and act as a trusted adviser to the Provost, Faculty Executive Deans, Heads of School, and the Director of Strategic Planning and Performance. Your work will directly influence academic planning, long-term financial sustainability, and the achievement of the University’s strategic objectives.

What You Will Be Responsible For

  • Provide strategic financial leadership to Academic Faculties, ensuring robust financial planning, control, and decision-making at both Faculty and University level.
  • Lead and develop a high-performing finance business partnering team that delivers professional, proactive, and value-adding services to senior academic leaders.
  • Support budget holders in developing financially sustainable strategic and operational plans that deliver value for money and align with institutional priorities.
  • Advise senior management on Faculty financial performance, forecasting, and risk, including Five-Year Financial Plans and scenario modelling.
  • Play a key role in the annual academic planning and resource allocation processes, ensuring financial inputs are accurate, timely, and decision-focused.
  • Strengthen financial management capability and confidence across Academic Faculties through coaching, guidance, and clear financial communication.
  • Drive continuous improvement in financial reporting and analytics, ensuring that reporting tools and data insights are fully utilised to support strategic decision-making.

About You

You will be an experienced senior finance professional with a strong track record of delivering effective financial management and business partnering services in a complex organisation. You will bring:

  • Proven leadership experience, with the ability to set direction, motivate teams, and develop excellent service provision.
  • Strong strategic thinking skills, enabling you to balance long-term planning with operational delivery.
  • Experience advising senior stakeholders and influencing decisions through credible, insightful financial analysis.
  • A deep understanding of budgeting, forecasting, and multi-year financial planning.
  • The confidence to communicate complex financial issues clearly to non-financial audiences, particularly within academic environments.
  • Experience within the higher education sector, or a similarly complex public or not-for-profit organisation, will be particularly valuable.

About the Finance Division

The Finance Division is led by the Chief Financial Officer, who reports directly to the Vice-Chancellor. The Division comprises approximately 80 staff delivering high-quality financial, commercial, and strategic services across the University.

We work in close partnership with academic and professional services colleagues to understand priorities, manage financial risk, identify opportunities for growth, and improve the effective use of resources. A core part of our mission is to build strong financial capability and confidence across the University, supporting excellent outcomes for students and research partners.

Further information about the Division is available on the University of Sussex Finance webpages.

Why Work at Sussex

  • A distinctive campus set within 150 acres of parkland, adjacent to the South Downs National Park.
  • Excellent transport connections, including a mainline train station five minutes from campus and multiple on-site bus routes.
  • Strong support for flexible and sustainable travel, including a cycle-to-work scheme and dedicated cycling paths.
  • A diverse, inclusive, and international university community where people and collaboration are central to success.

Visa, Right to Work and Compliance Information

This role may be eligible for sponsorship under the UK Skilled Worker route. The assigned SOC code is 1131 – Financial Managers and Directors, with a current going rate of £75,100. Eligibility for sponsorship will depend on whether the candidate holds an existing Skilled Worker sponsorship that began before 4 April 2024.

All work undertaken for the University must be performed in the UK.

Relevant UK government guidance:

Informal Enquiries and How to Apply

Full details and application instructions are available via the University’s vacancies page.

Closing date: 26 January 2026, 3:59 pm
Expected interviews: Week commencing 9 February 2026
Expected start date: Immediate start, subject to contractual notice periods

The University of Sussex values equality, diversity, and inclusion and welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds.

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