Finance Business Partner

The opportunity

This is a high-impact opportunity for an experienced finance professional to take a leading role within University of the Arts London’s Central Finance team.

 

As Finance Business Partner, you’ll work closely with the Senior Finance Business Partner to support our Catering, Retail and Accommodation department, an £80m+ portfolio that plays a critical role in the student experience at UAL. You’ll provide expert financial insight through budgeting, forecasting and management reporting, ensuring these vital services are financially sustainable and strategically aligned with the University’s long-term goals.

 

This is a role with real influence. You’ll collaborate directly with budget holders and senior leaders across the University, offering financial guidance, producing monthly management accounts and variance analysis, and supporting year-end processes. Your work will directly inform operational decisions and long-term investment planning, from rent-setting and shop profitability to new business opportunities and cost-benefit assessments.

Your profile

We’re looking for a qualified finance professional (CIMA, ACCA, ICAEW, CIPFA or equivalent) with experience supporting large-scale budgets and forecasts, ideally in a complex or multi-service environment.

 

You’ll bring a strong financial accounting skillset, including experience in year-end processes such as accruals, prepayments and fixed asset schedules, and be confident working with large data sets to produce dashboards and reports for senior leadership.

 

You’ll also be:

 

• A clear, confident communicator with the ability to explain financial concepts to non-specialists
• Comfortable influencing stakeholders and contributing to strategic decisions
• Highly organised and adept at balancing long-term planning with day-to-day financial operations
• Proactive, collaborative and motivated to find opportunities for savings, efficiencies and innovation

 

We are UAL

University of the Arts London (UAL) generates and inspires the creativity the world needs for a better future. Since 1842, our colleges have been defining creative education. With curiosity, imagination and intent we make work which creates lasting change for people and our planet. London is core to who we are, a place where we meet and share ideas with people from different backgrounds and cultures.

Our creative network influences learning, culture, industry and society on a global scale. Our academics and practitioners deliver creative education and inspire new ways of thinking through research and innovation. We work with students at every level from pre-degree and short courses to postgraduate and online learning, enabling them to build the careers they want. Together, we are a community of makers, thinkers, pioneers and storytellers redesigning the future.

As a University we are ranked second in the world for Art and Design. We are formed of 6 Colleges with unique histories and identities: Camberwell College of Arts, Central Saint Martins, Chelsea College of Arts, London College of Communication, London College of Fashion and Wimbledon College of Arts. UAL also has 4 Institutes, 5 Research Centres, 1 Pre-Degree School and 2 subsidiary companies delivering specialist activities.

Application process

We operate a fair and open anonymous selection process. Thus, you will need to create an account and submit an application through our job board. As part of this, you will need to provide a supporting statement/answer some competency questions to demonstrate your suitability. Our recruitment process involves: Application, Shortlisting, Interview and Assessment, Offer, Onboarding.

We understand the benefits of using AI in work. But, if you are thinking of using it to submit an application, we ask you to think about what value it adds. AI tools tend to lack the personal touch and authenticity we value in candidates. We encourage you to showcase your unique knowledge and skills using your own voice.

If we receive a high volume of applications, the closing day date might close early. We aim to communicate any changes to the closing date with at least 24 hours’ notice. If you have any general questions or have accessibility needs, please refer to our Contact us page.

Start your application

Candidates are advised to submit applications early.