Commercial Finance Manager

Overview

As Commercial Finance Manager you help drive strategic investments and growth by delivering robust financial analysis and commercial insight. You partner with Senior Finance and executive stakeholders to challenge proposals and build business cases that support university priorities. You translate complex data into actionable recommendations that influence decision-making and value creation. This role combines technical finance with strategic influence in a collaborative, mission-driven university context.

Pay / Benefits

• 30 days annual leave plus 8 public holidays and 4 customary days
• Generous USS pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Tusker Car Benefit Scheme for EV/hybrid leasing
• Professional development opportunities and annual time for development
• On-site nursery (Ofsted Outstanding) and family-friendly policies

Responsibilities

• Lead development, challenge and review of complex financial and commercial business cases
• Support executive decision-making, strategic investment and income-generation opportunities
• Collaborate with University Executive Committee and senior stakeholders to ensure robust analysis and clear value drivers
• Provide independent commercial challenge and assurance for major investments and initiatives
• Assess financial, strategic and value creation impacts of initiatives and inform governance decisions
• Present complex business cases and investment propositions to senior leadership, boards or committees
• Influence planning and decision-making through financial and commercial insight

Key requirements

• Educated to degree level (or equivalent)
• Professional practitioner with specialist knowledge to influence service delivery
• Experience providing specialist advice to a range of customers and colleagues
• Experience in internal/external networks to share good practice and influence reputation
• Experience implementing policies and supporting service improvements
• Extensive experience in financial modelling, investment appraisal and strategic business case development
• Experience developing and presenting business cases to senior leadership teams and governance bodies
• Experience assessing financial and commercial viability of projects, investments or growth initiatives
• Experience influencing strategic decision-making through financial and commercial analysis
• Ability to balance stakeholder priorities in complex environments
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills including motivation, negotiation, influencing and networking
• Strong digital competence across Microsoft 365 (advanced Excel) and financial/non-financial systems
• Commitment to continuing professional development
• Extensive knowledge of regulatory/compliance requirements
• Ability to influence planning and decision-making with financial and commercial insight
• Ability to evaluate risks, challenge assumptions and recommend evidence-based decisions
• Commercial acumen to evaluate opportunities from financial and strategic perspectives
• Ability to challenge and influence senior stakeholders with complex financial information
• Ability to work cross-functionally and manage competing priorities
• Provide constructive commercial challenge and assurance to strategic proposals

• Excellent communication
• Interpersonal and relationship-building
• Negotiation and influencing
• Financial modelling
• Investment appraisal
• Business case development

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