King’s College London offers an intellectually stimulating environment, where staff are dedicated to the advancement of knowledge and learning in the service of society. We are a multi-faculty institution, providing high-quality research, education and innovation across the social sciences, humanities, health, law, dentistry, and sciences. As a member of the Russell Group, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards in research and education.
The Finance, Procurement, Strategic Planning and Analytics directorate, led by the Chief Financial Officer / VP (Finance), comprises c.150 roles located across our campuses in central London. The Finance department of c.100 roles provides various accounting, assurance, advisory, decision support and financial processing functions for the whole university.
The Director of Finance Business Partnering (Operations) is a critical role within the Financial Strategy, Planning & Performance division that will lead, develop and deliver high quality finance business partnering and decision support to all the central services of the university, including providing financial planning, reporting and insight across revenue and capital funded activity.
You will support the senior Director of the Financial Strategy, Planning & Performance function in development and improvement projects. Examples include the development of a professional competencies framework to support career progression and performance at all levels, supported by learning and development opportunities, improving key processes, resource allocation and financial planning methodologies, and reporting on financial performance.
As part of the function’s senior management team, this role will lead a team of finance business partners who will provide outstanding partnering services to our central services including large functions such as Estates and Facilities, IT, Students & Education, Research Management and on other crucial ‘head office’ activities. Working closely with the corporate reporting team on the provision of management accounts, you will lead on financial performance support in-year and across our three-year financial planning framework. You will also undertake and provide professional support to your team on business partnering skills, financial modelling, business case development and financial appraisals. You will play a wider role as a senior member of the finance leadership team on cross-college initiatives and be asked to deputise for the senior Director of the division or their peers.
It is an exciting time to join the university as we are making a step change in our support and advice, particularly to directorate heads and our Senior Vice Principal (Operations), and onwards through the leadership roles across the central service directorates where financial and operational decisions are made.
This is a full time post (36 Hours per week), and you will be offered an indefinite contract. We work in a hybrid way and there is an expectation of being able to work at least three days a week in our offices to help facilitate a collaborative working culture.
To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:
Essential criteria
1. Professional Accountancy Qualification
2. Highly resilient with the ability to run multiple objectives, large senior teams and complex political processes concurrently
3. Exceptional understanding of running and leading financial planning, monitoring, forecasting and business partnering in a complex and large organisation
4. Exceptional leadership skills and a service approach in your professional work
5. Ability to operate and deliver change and improvements in a complex organisational environment
6. Exceptional business case financial appraisal and modelling skills
7. Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in the written word and in person in a variety of formats including committee presentations and policy documentation
8. Numerate and IT literate with the ability to use the standard suite of office software together with excellent knowledge of one or more corporate finance/ERP and reporting systems
9. Significant recent experience of leading business partnering, financial support and advice functions and services
10. Experience of designing, delivering and improving capital planning and reporting processes
11. Leading teams to achieve complex and competing objectives over a variety of time horizons in partnership with other technical leads and partnered areas.
12. Ability to build and manage internal and external relationships
13. Self-management and ability to work independently to meet deadlines
14. Attention to detail and working to a high-level of accuracy
Desirable criteria
1. Degree level qualification
2. Leadership of technical / professional staff who manage their own work and activities
3. Experience of having worked in or with the university sector
We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel that they belong and are connected to others in our community.
We are committed to working with our staff and unions on these and other issues, to continue to support our people and to develop a diverse and inclusive culture at King's. We have a strong equality, diversity and inclusion agenda and would expect the post holder to demonstrate these values.
We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. The deadline for applications is Sunday 19th May 2024. If you would like to discuss the role, please get in touch with Bryony Thomas via the Allen Lane agency website.
Shortlisting will complete late May and may include an initial conversation with Allen Lane, our recruitment partner for this role. First stage interviews with King’s College London are planned for early June.
We are not able to offer sponsorship for candidates for this role who do not currently possess the right to work in the UK.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
About 5Rights
5Rights Foundation exists to ensure a digital world that will serve children and young people today and for future generations.
We are a small team of senior professionals and experts delivering change in how the digital world works. We have shifted the narrative and the agenda through provocative comms campaigns (e.g. Twisted Toys), pioneering research (e.g. Pathways) and award-winning tools (e.g. Child Online Safety Toolkit). We continue to drive real-life change thanks to an outstanding track-record of delivering legislation (e.g. Californian Age Appropriate Design Code), policy and regulatory frameworks (e.g. UNCRC General comment No. 25), and industry standards (e.g. IEEE 2089).
Key responsibilities
Reporting to the Executive Director, you will:
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Work on the development of technical frameworks, guidelines, standards, certification or audit processes relevant for implementing regulation for children’s rights in the digital environment at international, EU and UK levels. This includes representing 5Rights in technical meetings and working groups, such as at the IEEE and CEN-CENELEC.
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Work to promote and support the uptake of these standards by the tech industry, including by working with industry associations, chambers of commerce and tech companies directly.
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Lead our work to gather technical evidence on company compliance with regulation for children in the UK and EU.
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Identify cases of non-compliance, develop argumentation and engage with companies and regulators for remedy, with legal support as necessary.
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Work to promote compliance, by supporting public accountability for non-compliance and positive visibility of best practice.
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Lead our work to raise awareness and stimulate action of industry stakeholders, notably advertisers and investors.
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Liaise with technologists and experts around the world, exchanging knowledge and staying up to date on the latest developments, research and emerging issues.
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Oversee the 5Rights Research Officer, research projects and evidence-gathering programmes.
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Draft briefings for Executive Director and policy leads.
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Contribute to 5Rights reports, positions, communications and fundraising materials.
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Represent 5Rights as an expert at meetings and events.
Person specification
You’ll be a confident and skilled researcher, a clear, fresh thinker, and an excellent writer. High attention to detail, an eye for nuance, and the ability to digest complex information quickly and communicate it coherently are all musts. A background in technology issues or children’s rights is preferable, but not essential. Most of all, we’re looking for someone who’s thorough, proactive, super smart, and committed to our mission.
ESSENTIAL skills and attributes:
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In depth knowledge of the technology regulatory landscape from the perspective of privacy, consumer protection or child rights;
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A strong understanding of the tech industry ecosystem and business models.
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Experience developing or contributing to tech regulation or technical frameworks.
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Strong research credentials and the ability to design and oversee technical evidence gathering for corporate compliance;
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A sharp mind and pen for succinct regulatory analysis;
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A meticulous eye for detail and proven ability to design and deliver high-quality products, including the ability to craft and manipulate legal language (at least in English);
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A keen sense of politics and knack for strategic negotiation and timing;
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The imagination and curiosity to put forward new and inventive ways to solve problems without compromising on core goals;
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The reliability, patience and relentless focus required to get complex deliverables over the line;
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The interpersonal, communication and leadership skills (including humility and self-confidence) to build consensus within groups and lasting positive relationships;
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The confidence to engage in adversarial exchanges when necessary;
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Strong prioritisation and organisation skills to manage various processes and pieces of work in parallel;
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A can-do, action and solution-oriented attitude;
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Self-motivation and drive to work independently and cohesively within a remote team;
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The commitment, energy and enthusiasm to deliver on 5Rights’ ambitious mission.
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Right to work in Belgium or the UK.
DESIRABLE skills and attributes:
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Legal or technical expertise.
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Experience in a similar role, e.g. working on research, enforcement or technical standards.
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Experience working internationally and in culturally-diverse settings;
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Ability to work in other languages, such as French or Spanish.
Remuneration and details
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Location: Remote position with employee contract in UK or Belgium. Hybrid working in 5Rights’ London and Brussels co-working office spaces is available.
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Salary: £43,600-£48,300 for UK-based candidate, with flexibility depending on experience; EUR 61,500-68,100 for a Belgium-based candidate.
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Working hours: Full time, with some accommodation necessary for work across time-zones and international travel.
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Statutory pension contribution.
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25 days of annual leave.
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Work equipment including a laptop and mobile phone will be provided
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Starting data: asap.
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Reporting line: Executive Director.
5Rights values diversity and we strongly encourage people from under-represented groups to apply for this role. We aim for our recruitment to be inclusive and equitable, and we strive to constantly learn and improve in this regard.
Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a written task as part of our recruitment approach. The task will take 2 hours. First round interviews will be held over Zoom.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.