Chief Financial Officer

Reporting to the Chief Executive, the Chief Financial Officer & Company Secretary is responsible for the James Hutton Group’s financial and operational strategy, as well as ensuring financial probity and delivering effective reporting and governance frameworks. This includes the provision of strategic financial advice, effective corporate planning and company secretarial support to the Board and Chief Executive. The role will provide leadership and co-ordination for the Professional Services functions including Finance, Business Systems, Procurement, Information Governance, Research Support, Capital Projects, Campus Management, IT Services, Health Safety Quality & Environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic advice to the James Hutton Institute and James Hutton Limited on finances, research support, procurement, legal, information governance, campus services, IT, and health & safety.
• As a member of the Executive team, play a key role in the strategic planning and development of the Hutton Group.
• Provide leadership and coordination for Professional Services functions including: Finance, Business Systems, Procurement, Information Governance, Research Support, Capital Projects, Campus Services, IT Services, Health Safety Quality & Environment.
• Be the company secretary for the James Hutton Institute and James Hutton Limited Boards and oversee all legal and contractual matters.
• Act as the main external link on financial planning with funding and delivery partners.
• Ensure the efficient utilisation of resources managed by the James Hutton Institute, including the management and delivery of the capital expenditure programme.
• Act as a role model for the Institute’s Values and associated behaviours.
• Develop and maintain close working links with the wider Executive team, Heads of Science and Heads of Professional Services, encouraging collaborative working and innovation to improve the effectiveness of corporate and scientific delivery.
• Liaise with Scottish Government on financial and legal matters concerning the James Hutton Institute.
• Develop appropriate policy and procedure frameworks for the Hutton Group.
• Deliver major capital programmes for the Hutton group that will deliver new facilities to enable world class science.

Finance

To develop and maintain effective working relationships with external stakeholders on all financial matters and act as the main interface with the Audit and Finance Committee of the James Hutton Board. Responsible for providing strategic and professional leadership for the Group finance function:

• Leading, directing, advising or managing all elements of the finance function.
• Overseeing the preparation of the annual budget and five-year forecast, statutory accounts, monthly management accounts and reforecasting, capital expenditure forecasting and monitoring.
• Overseeing the consolidation and interpretation of financial information to the Executive team, Board, Audit & Finance Committee and internal committees.
• Ensuring high standards of integrated financial planning, modelling, and budgeting.
• Ensuring appropriate financial systems, regulations and procedures are in place to provide the necessary levels of efficiency and effectiveness, coupled with control to ensure the security of assets and probity in financial transactions.
• Overseeing procurement arrangements and ensuring value for money.
• Overseeing financial corporate governance including risk management and insurance.
• Providing advice to the Executive team and Board on the financial implications of decisions.

Research Support

To ensure delivery of a research support function (pre- and post-award) that provides strategic and operational input to meet income objectives and provide effective financial management and reporting, including:

• Maintenance, development and improvement of policies, systems, processes and procedures to underpin the financial and contractual management of research projects.
• Supporting the identification of funding opportunities, assisting in the development of funding proposals and negotiating research agreements.
• Overseeing all financial and legal aspects of research awards and contracts.
• Maintaining and developing research project management methodologies.

Responsibility for Information Governance, specifically including leading and supporting activities relating to the Institute’s obligations under Data Protection and Freedom of Information requirements to ensure compliance with these and future legislation.

Campus Management

To ensure that the quality and type of facilities across the Hutton Group are reviewed strategically and that they are appropriate to make a significant contribution to the future development and culture of the organisation. This will include overseeing the development and implementation of an estates strategy and aligning capital development including:

• Leading and coordinating the effective use of space across all Hutton sites, acting as the focal point between end users, be they Hutton colleagues, tenants, partner organisations or public, and the key delivery partners across the Professional Services department with a particular focus on Estates, HSQE and ITS.
• Ensuring the appropriate capital investment is made within the estate.
• Seeking new funding opportunities to allow greater investment in the estate.

IT Services

To ensure that the IT services are reviewed strategically and developed to ensure the delivery of an IT service that can make a significant contribution to the delivery of the organisation’s strategic plan and future development of the organisation. This will include:

• A strategic and proactive approach to dealing with cyber security.
• Ensuring that appropriate new technologies are adopted to generate efficiencies and new, improved ways of working.

Health, Safety, Quality and Environment

To ensure that the Hutton Group adopts the highest standards, whilst maintaining a pragmatic approach, to ensure that all Hutton sites provide a safe working environment for all. This will include:

• Ensuring all HSQE policies and procedures are developed in line with the Hutton values and align with the corporate social responsibility policies of the Hutton Group.

Capital Projects

To lead the delivery of significant capital projects from feasibility to inception to deliver the required outputs within agreed time frame, budget, to specification and the highest operational standards. This will include:

• Ensuring the appropriate resources are allocated to the delivery of each capital project.
• Ensuring budgets are managed appropriately throughout the life of each capital project.

Company Secretary

As the Company Secretary, provide support to Institute and subsidiary Boards, ensuring all Companies House and OSCR reporting requirements are met. Provide advice to Boards on legal, governance and company secretarial matters.

Procurement

Provide direction to and oversight of the procurement function to ensure:

• Delivery of the Institute procurement strategy and operation to support good practice and value for money.
• Compliance with relevant legislation and regulation.
• Support for the Group’s commitments to sustainable development and corporate social responsibility.

Corporate Systems

Oversee the replacement of our corporate systems including finance, research project management, HR/payroll and overarching analytics/business intelligence support. Support the subsequent embedding and development of those systems post-implementation to maximise the ongoing return on investment.

Legal services

Act as main interface with all legal advisers. Ensure all corporate legal matters are discharged as required.

Risk Management

Development and co-ordination of the risk register to ensure it is appropriate and up to date.

The successful applicant will be a qualified accountant and have significant experience at Director level including relevant operational experience. It is essential that the postholder has direct experience of managing teams and experience of leading on strategic and corporate planning processes is also required. A strong communicator and influencer, the applicant will be able to guide the further development of the Hutton Group. A skilled people manager, it is essential that the postholder has direct experience of managing a similar range of departments at this level and, in particular, of harmonising different business cultures.

Essential:

• Recognised accounting qualification (CCAB, CIMA, or equivalent) with commensurate and relevant post qualification experience in managing a comprehensive finance function at a senior level.
• Company secretarial qualification or recognised experience in this area.
• Demonstrable experience in strategy, planning and managing change.
• Strong analytical, financial planning and modelling skills.
• Proven ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with a range of staff, Board members and stakeholders.
• Experience of contributing to large scale capital projects.
• Experience of leading large scale organisational change and transformation programmes.
• Ability to manage, motivate and develop a team of professional staff.
• Exemplary time management skills with a particular ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in managing business support departments at Director level.

Desirable:

• Previous experience of working in an Academic or Research Institute environment.
• Experience of both public and private sector organisations.
• Project management experience and/or qualification.
• Previous experience of at least one of the non-finance functions i.e. information governance, project management, procurement, research support.
• Experience of operating on a Board and/or Audit sub-committee.
• Experience of supporting major capital investment projects from business case development to realisation.
• Experience of working with Scottish Government.

This post may be based in Aberdeen (Craigiebuckler) or Dundee (Invergowrie), regular travel between sites is required.

How to apply

To find out more about this exceptional opportunity, please contact Alan Walter on 07876 766972, email alan@dixonwalter.co.uk.

Applications should be made via email to alan@dixonwalter.co.uk and must include on separate documents:

• A letter of application setting out your interest in the role and details of how you match the person specification.
• A comprehensive curriculum vitae (CV).
• Details of three referees and notice period (referees will not be contacted without your permission).
• A completed Personal Details Form (available above).

Closing date for applications is Midnight on Sunday 9th February.

Preliminary interviews will take place with Dixon Walter via MS teams from w/c Monday 10th February.

Final interviews will take place at James Hutton Institute on w/c Monday 10th March.

Please note that the dates above are indicative and may be subject to change.

What we offer

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) - A confidential service available to support employees and their families with work or personal problems. Providing access to professional counsellors, psychologists, and work-life consultants available to help and support individuals in tackling all types of problems.

Annual Leave – Generous entitlement up to 40.5 days a year, with carry over possible and guaranteed time-off for Christmas.

Pension - Employer Contribution of 15% in a Personal Pension Plan and employee contribution flexibility.

Self-managed hours and Flexible Working – option to manage and spread your working time in line with organisational needs to create a healthy work life balance.

We will not consider the use of 3rd party recruitment agencies for the sourcing of candidates for this position.

The James Hutton Institute is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

The James Hutton Institute is a: Stonewall Diversity Champion; Athena SWAN Bronze Status Holder; Disability Confident Committed Employer and a Living Wage Employer.

The James Hutton Institute is Happy to Talk Flexible Working.