Executive Director of Finance

Executive Director of Finance

Location: Teesside

Salary: Up to £70,384.70 per annum with a market leading benefits package which includes 44 days holiday and a local government pension scheme.

Who is my client: 

Middlesbrough College is the largest further education provider in Teesside. 

It provides predominantly further education but also selected higher education provisions to over 13,000 students. Middlesbrough College also employs over 1,000 staff out of their £100m state of the art campus on the banks of the tees.

Whilst retaining and developing its traditional offering it has also recently been selected as the Tees Valley hub of the North East’s Institute of Technology – A new concept providing higher technical training through collaboration between further and higher education and employers. The funding secured through the Institute of Technology has been invested in extending the College’s STEM Centre, the latest expansion of the Middlesbrough College group, bringing a range of academic, technical, and vocational training opportunities to learners across the region.

Teesside is set to benefit from a number of exciting developments! To name but a few, the largely discussed Freeport and the creation of a treasury northern campus will bring revenue that will create a vast number of opportunities to the people of our region.

Job Purpose:

Middlesbrough College has at its mission a drive to improve regional economic and social prosperity.

As a member of the College’s Finance Team, the postholder will demonstrate strategic financial leadership, implement process-driven financial change, conduct financial data analysis, and provide comprehensive financial reports to outline current and forecast trends to the Senior Leadership Team within the Middlesbrough College Group.

Responsibilities;

• To demonstrate strong leadership, communication and financial information reporting skills to ensure the objectives of the college are met.


• To be responsible for the creation, implementation, development and operation of high-quality financial information systems.  Including developing Business Central to support strategic objectives and provide accurate and timely information to budget holders.


• To develop and maintain systems to forecast and monitor pay costs.


• To develop and maintain systems to forecast, reconcile and monitor income; including Adult, Apprenticeship and other income paid on delivery.


• To line manage the Group Management Accountant, providing training and succession planning opportunities and carrying out performance reviews.


• To meet all strategic KPIs associated with your areas of responsibility.


• To ensure the timely preparation of accurate monthly management accounts, including actual and forecast income and expenditure against budget, balance sheet, analysis of capital expenditure against budget, cash-flow forecasts and ratio analysis.


• To assist with the preparation of the College’s annual revenue and capital budgets.


• To work closely with the Vice Principal – Finance and Registry in the preparation of statutory accounts, reports, returns and supporting schedules. 


• To act as the College’s Freedom of Information Officer (Freedom of Information Act) and ensure the College complies with legislation.


• To act as the College's Data Protection Officer and ensure the College complies with relevant legislation.


• To identify and execute operational efficiencies in financial processes and procedures to optimise responsiveness to service users and production of financial information.


• To support the Vice Principal – Finance and Registry in ensuring that budgetary control is maintained for both capital and revenue budgets.


• To ensure the work of the Finance Department complies with Financial Procedures and Audit and Regulatory recommendation and requirements.


• To act as a College authorised signatory.

Essential Requirements:

Qualified Accountant

A commitment to continually develop and undertake any mandatory training relevant to the role

Proven ability to produce financial plans, statutory accounts, cash flows, revenue and capital plans and management accounts.

Evidence of strong financial regulation and control

Experience of meeting regulatory deadlines and expectations.

Sound background in treasury, cash, bank and VAT

Ability to forecast financial trends and demonstrate proactive problem solving.

Pioneering skills in Excel management.

Honesty, integrity, trustworthy and transparency

Strategic and proactive

Collaborative and consultative

Desirable Requirements:

Educated to degree level or equivalent relevant professional qualification

Management qualification

Experience of managing FE funding.

Knowledge or experience in Data Protection Officer role or willingness to undertake relevant training.

Significant, successful management experience.

Knowledge of current issues facing the further education and or training sectors.

To commit to the safeguarding and promotion of the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults within the College.

For more information or for a confidential discussion around this opportunity please feel free to contact Anthony Antoniou at Imperial Recruitment Group