Director of Finance Operations

About the Role

HSDC is seeking an experienced, strategic and forward-thinking finance leader to join the College as Director of Finance Operations.

This is a key senior leadership role within the College Leadership Team (CLT), responsible for leading the operational delivery of Finance across the organisation and strengthening financial management, reporting, governance and strategic financial insight across the College.

Reporting to the Deputy CEO – Finance, the role represents a step change from operational financial support to senior leadership accountability, ensuring that robust financial planning, management accounting, forecasting, control and compliance are embedded at the heart of organisational decision-making.

You will play a central role in supporting the College’s ongoing financial recovery, sustainability and improvement journey, while helping to position the organisation strongly within an increasingly complex and evolving Further Education landscape.

This role provides an exciting opportunity for an ambitious and values-driven finance professional to shape and modernise Finance operations within a large and complex multi-campus organisation.

Responsibilities

As Director of Finance Operations, you will

• Lead the operational delivery of Finance across the College, including financial reporting, management accounting, financial control and transactional finance.
• Lead the development of robust budgeting, forecasting and financial planning processes.
• Provide strategic financial advice, insight and challenge to Executive Leadership and budget holders.
• Oversee the production of high-quality monthly management accounts and financial performance reporting.
• Ensure strong financial governance, audit readiness and regulatory compliance arrangements.
• Lead on financial control, risk management and continuous improvement activity across the Finance function.
• Support the College’s ongoing financial recovery and sustainability objectives.
• Lead and develop a high-performing Finance team, promoting accountability, professionalism and continuous improvement.
• Support effective engagement with auditors, regulators and governance stakeholders, including the Audit Committee and Board.

Requirements

We are seeking an experienced and credible senior finance professional with strong technical expertise, leadership capability and strategic insight.

You will need

• Full accountancy qualification (CIPFA, CIMA, ACCA or equivalent).
• Membership of a recognised professional accounting body
• Significant senior finance leadership experience within a complex or multi-site organisation.
• Proven experience of delivering high-quality management accounting, budgeting, forecasting and financial planning.
• Strong understanding of financial governance, audit and regulatory compliance.
• Experience advising and influencing senior leaders and stakeholders.
• Experience leading and developing high-performing teams.
• Strong analytical capability, with the ability to translate complex financial information into clear and actionable insight.
• Excellent communication, leadership and relationship-building skills.
• A strategic, resilient and solutions-focused approach, with the ability to operate effectively within a complex and highly scrutinised environment.

Experience within Further Education, the public sector or a similarly regulated environment would be advantageous.

How to apply

We strive in offering an inclusive and accessible recruitment and interview process to all candidates. Should you have any questions at all, or require any support with reasonable adjustments, please contact recruitment@hsdc.ac.uk and a member of our team will respond as soon as possible.

For more information on the position itself, please connect with Charlotte Nancarrow – Executive Director – HR & Corporate Services via charlotte.nancarrow@hsdc.ac.uk.

Please note, we appreciate the value of each applicant but kindly ask that you complete an application form as we do not accept CV’s.

Closing Date for Applications

14th June 2026

Interview Dates

1st and 2nd July 2026

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

Disability Confident

About Disability Confident

A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.