Head of Financial Strategy

Interim Head of Financial Strategy

Based in Central London
Monday & Wednesday onsite
Temp contract until approx. December

We are working with a leading higher education institution to recruit an experienced Interim Head of Financial Strategy. This is a senior leadership opportunity for an accomplished finance professional to play a pivotal role during a significant period of financial planning and strategic decision-making.

Working closely with the Director of Financial Planning & Analysis, you will provide leadership across financial strategy, with a particular focus on student income forecasting, medium-term financial planning and supporting the delivery of key strategic priorities.

The Opportunity

This is a high-profile interim appointment where you will help shape financial planning at an institutional level. You will lead financial oversight of the upcoming student recruitment and enrolment cycle, ensuring tuition fee income forecasts are accurate, well-governed and support informed decision-making across the organisation.

Alongside this, you will contribute to the development of the wider financial strategy, working with senior stakeholders to translate complex financial information into clear recommendations and communications.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead financial planning and oversight for the annual student recruitment and enrolment cycle.
• Develop and maintain robust tuition fee income forecasts, identifying financial risks and opportunities as recruitment activity progresses.
• Deliver scenario modelling and financial analysis to support executive-level decision making.
• Partner with strategic planning colleagues to align student number planning with longer-term financial objectives.
• Build medium-term planning assumptions that support sustainable financial performance.
• Work collaboratively across finance and the wider organisation to ensure financial implications are understood and effectively managed.
• Support the ongoing development and delivery of the organisation's financial strategy.
• Produce high-quality reports, briefing papers and presentations for senior leadership and governance committees.
• Lead and coordinate communications relating to financial strategy and planning initiatives.

About You

You will be an experienced senior finance leader with a strong track record of financial planning, forecasting and strategic analysis within a large, complex organisation. You'll be comfortable operating at executive level, influencing senior stakeholders and translating detailed financial information into meaningful insights.

We're looking for someone who brings:

• Significant experience in financial strategy, planning and analysis.
• Strong commercial and analytical skills, with expertise in financial modelling and forecasting.
• Experience leading complex planning cycles and managing competing priorities.
• The ability to influence and build relationships with senior stakeholders across a large organisation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including preparing papers and presentations for executive and governance audiences.
• A collaborative leadership style with the confidence to work across multiple teams and functions.

This is an excellent opportunity to make an immediate impact within a respected organisation during a key period of strategic and financial change.

51981CH

INDLON

The Portfolio Group are acting on behalf of our client in recruiting for this position.