Senior Finance Business Partner

Help shape confident financial decision-making across one of London’s most ambitious universities.

Kingston University is seeking an experienced and influential Senior Finance Business Partner to provide strategic financial leadership across a significant and varied portfolio at the heart of the University.

Working across Finance, IT, HR, Estates and the Strategic Planning Office, you will partner closely with senior leaders, providing the insight, challenge and commercial perspective that enables confident decision-making. The portfolio is substantial, spanning more than 220 colleagues, and includes significant investment across technology, infrastructure and the University’s estate.

This is a highly visible role with considerable autonomy. You will lead budgeting and forecasting across your portfolio, provide insightful analysis, support business cases and major investment decisions, and help identify opportunities for efficiencies and value for money. You will also play an important role in strengthening financial understanding and capability across the directorate. 

The Person

We are looking for a qualified accountant who combines strong financial and commercial judgement with excellent relationship-building skills. You will be comfortable operating with senior stakeholders, able to provide constructive challenge and, crucially, able to make complex financial information clear and meaningful to non-finance colleagues.

You may come from higher education or from another large and complex organisation. What matters most is your ability to build credibility quickly, understand the organisation you are supporting and combine technical rigour with a pragmatic, collaborative approach. Higher education experience is desirable rather than essential.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a well-established finance function and build on strong foundations, while helping senior leaders navigate investment choices, competing priorities and the financial opportunities and challenges ahead.

Join Kingston University and help ensure its resources are used effectively to support its ambitions for students, staff and the wider community.

Directorate/Function

The Directorate for Finance, HR, and Infrastructure plays a critical role in shaping and supporting the University’s strategic and operational success. With a focus on excellence, efficiency, and people-centred practices, it delivers vital services that influence the daily experience of staff and students while enabling long-term institutional growth. These services span financial management, workforce development, and the maintenance of both physical and digital infrastructure - ensuring the University’s operations and ambitions are fully supported. With a clear focus on service quality, innovation, and people-first practices, the Directorate operates in close partnership with academic faculties and senior leadership to ensure institutional goals are achieved. It is driven by a commitment to excellence, service, and sustainable progress, promoting a culture where collaboration, innovation and transformation thrive. This is an opportunity to join a proactive, solutions-focused team whose work directly contributes to the University’s continued success.

Further information

This is a full time, permanent position with a starting salary of £78,551 per annum depending on experience.

This campaign is being managed on behalf of KU by our recruitment partner GatenbySanderson. If you have any queries or would like further information on the role, please contact Stephanie Crossland at stephanie.crossland@gatenbysanderson.com or Hilda Gjika at hilda.gjika@gatenbysanderson.com. 

Bring your true self, expertise, and passion to Kingston where we are continuing to strive to build a university where authentic inclusion and belonging is at its heart. Every one of our staff and students’ identities, backgrounds and diverse experiences makes us who we are - so harness and embrace yours by applying today. We welcome applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ communities and those with disabilities.

We are a place-based organisation, proud of our location in Kingston and the civic role we play in our community. Our campuses inspire collaborative, innovative and creative communities. Being present on campus is important to us because it helps us to create a sense of belonging for both our staff and students. Therefore, staff are expected to be on campus for the majority of their working week.

Candidates must be able to demonstrate their eligibility to work in the UK in accordance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006. Where required, this may include entry clearance or continued leave to remain under the Points Based Immigration Scheme. 

To apply click on ‘Apply Now’. If, for accessibility reasons, you need to apply in an alternative format, please email jobs@kingston.ac.uk or call the HR Shared Services team on 020 8417 3118.