Strategic Finance & Governance Lead

Accounts Receivable Manager

We have an exciting opportunity available for a Strategic Finance & Governance Lead to join the team at Northern Regional College on a full-time permanent basis.

As the Strategic Finance & Governance Lead, you'll play a pivotal role in shaping the financial future of the College. You'll work closely with budget holders, senior leaders, and external partners to ensure robust financial governance, develop compelling business cases, and support the delivery of high-impact projects aligned with the College Development Plan.

This is a dynamic role that blends strategic thinking, financial analysis, and governance expertise - ideal for someone who thrives on making a meaningful difference through sound financial leadership and assurance.

Job Purpose:

Reporting to the Head of Finance, Governance & Risk the post-holder will assist in the development and capital investment of the College by preparing a range of Business Cases and Project Evaluations. The post-holder will be required to ensure compliance with the Business Cases™ guidance, all other relevant regulations and requirements as demanded by the College, sponsor Department and statutory agencies.

The postholder will be responsible for the provision of advice and support to budget holders across the College, to assist in the planned delivery and development of the College, supporting it's College Development Plan.

The post-holder will also be the point of contact for the wider College and will assist in the preparation of bids for projects, contracts and sources of revenue

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

Governance & Risk

• Under the direction of the Head of Finance, prepare business cases for a range of projects, which involves the following for each proposal:

1. Research and document the relevant strategic context.
2. Research and establish the strategic and business need.
3. Set suitable objectives and targets.
4. Identify and quantify the relevant monetary costs and benefits.
5. Identify and analyse risks.
6. Assess risk and uncertainties using sound and realistic assumptions and propose risk management and risk reduction strategies.
7. Adjust for optimism bias, where necessary, in accordance with guidance in Annex 4 of the Green Book.
8. Identify a suitable way to assess non-monetary factors and apply the methodology to the business case (to include lifetime opportunities, sustainable development and equality).
9. Calculate net present values and undertake sensitivity analysis.
10. Assess affordability, and research and record proposed arrangements for funding, management, procurement, marketing, benefits realisation and evaluation.
11. Assess the balance of advantage between options and present appraisal results and conclusions with a recommendation for a preferred option.
12. To undertake evaluations and draft reports that examine the outturn of projects and programmes (PPEs).
13. To deliver written, oral and visual reports, which a variety of audiences can understand in order to inform decisions.
14. To comply with all statutory and management requirements for the preparation of business cases and evaluations.
15. To liaise with College staff, sponsor Department, and external agencies in order to effectively research and analyse topics as directed by the Head of Finance.
16. To maintain an up-to-date register of business cases and post project evaluations ensuring each is of suitable quality.
17. To assist the Head of Department in the completion of all appropriate statutory returns and returns to the sponsoring Department.
18. To assist the Head of Finance in the development of policies, procedures and systems for the preparation of business cases and post project evaluations.
19. To lead on the delivery of training across the College, as necessary, to ensure sound principles of Financial Governance are in place.
20. Be responsible for quarterly College governance returns for Business Case and Post Project Evaluations and liaising with the Department for the Economy in relation to any follow up queries. Ensuring that any additional or ad-hoc requests are suitably flagged, completed and submitted as required. This will include:
    1. Maintaining a log of returns, planning ahead within the College to ensure that adequate information is gathered and input onto the return templates.
    2. Engaging with relevant officials within the Department to ensure any returns are completed in line with guidance/policy.
    3. Being responsible for the production and compilation of reports, ensuring they are of a suitable standard to be distributed to the Department.
    4. Proactively engage with the Department to establish if any additional returns are required, keeping a log of actions to ensure that the College is compliant with any requests/changes.
21. Manage internal audit recommendations tracker, including liaison with business areas to ensure recommendations are implemented effectively, in a suitable timeframe, and reporting to the Head of Finance/Audit and Risk Committee on these actions.
22. Be responsible for the Raising Concerns Log and reporting on this log to the Department, to update the Department's and College's Audit and Risk Committees of the status of any active concerns.
23. Assist the HoF at all stages of the investigations across the College in line with Raising Concerns policy, including:
    1. Development of clear terms of reference
    2. Preparation of investigation guidance and reports
    3. Production of a final report.

Bids / Project:

• To assist in the preparation of bids for various projects, contracts and sources of revenue.
• To provide assistance to Schools and Departments with costing calculations and analysis for bids / projects.
• To provide a general financial support service to the wider College in order to enhance performance and compliance with financial regulations and maintenance of controls.
• To provide appropriate statistical and ratio analysis to assist with the interpretation of financial results.
• To provide support to the Finance department in financial planning and forecasting.

(Full Job Description available upon request)

Essential Criteria:

• A relevant degree* (*A qualification where modules taken consist of more than 50% of the course, ie: Governance, Risk or Numeracy related topics e.g. Business, Accountancy, Economics, IT, Statistics etc). (Level 6 or above
• Applicants must hold GCSE Mathematics and English Language at grades A - C, or equivalent.
• 1 years' experience of preparing appraisals and evaluations in accordance with the Better Business Cases™ (5 Case Model) and Evaluation

OR

• 3 years' experience within a role of assessing and evaluating projects.
• 1 years' experience in financial governance, business case development or public sector finance.
• Strong knowledge of governance frameworks, internal controls and risk management
• Proven ability to analyse complex information, and compile and present reports.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including strong negotiation and influencing skills

Desirable Criteria:

• A working knowledge and/or experience of current issues in the Northern Ireland Further Education sector.

Base Campus:

• Base campus is to be confirmed with the successful candidate
• The College offers hybrid working, one day per week from home, during term time with increased flexibility during non-term time.

Salary:

• £45,718 - £48,710 per annum.

To be shortlisted for this role all applicants MUST meet the essential criteria. If you are interested, please upload your CV to the link provided, and Deirdre Hamilton will be in contact to confirm if you have been shortlisted.