Job Description

This is a high-impact opportunity for two experienced finance professionals 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 Partners to support either our Research and Knowledge Exchange Teams or UAL Short Courses Ltd.
You'll provide expert financial insight through budgeting, forecasting and management reporting, including data analysis and KPI dashboards, 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, 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.
The successful candidate for Short Courses will have experience in a commercial environment and understanding of profitability analysis and course costing from multiple systems. The Research and Knowledge Exchange candidate will ideally have prior experience of supporting grant funded activity in a Higher Education setting.
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.
For further details and to apply please click the apply button.
Closing date: 25 September 2025, 11:55 pm.
Our culture
UAL is committed to creating diverse and inclusive environments for all staff and students to work and learn - a university where we can be ourselves and reach our full potential. We offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and Staff Support Networks. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds, including race, disability, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion and belief, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, and caring responsibility.
44,375 to 52,977 pa + 15% market supplement may be applied where appropriate

Skills Required