Durham University
Commercial Finance Manager (Job Number: 26001257)
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Grade 8: - £47,389 - £56,535 per annum *Appointment may be made above this range for exceptional candidates with significant relevant experience
Open-Ended/Permanent - Full Time
Contracted Hours per Week: 35
Working Arrangements: Mon - Fri 9am to 5pm
Closing Date: 11-Oct-2026, 11:59:00 PM
The Role and the Department
The Commercial Finance Manager reports to the Commercial Director and plays a key role in providing commercial finance support for major strategic initiatives across the University.
Working in partnership with Strategic Finance colleagues, the role will lead the development, challenge and review of complex financial and commercial business cases, supporting executive decision-making, strategic investment, income generation opportunities and commercial growth initiatives.
The post holder will work closely with University Executive Committee members, Heads of Finance and senior stakeholders to ensure that significant initiatives, investments and commercial propositions are supported by robust financial analysis, commercial insight, and assessment of the financial, strategic and value creation impacts of major initiatives.
The role will act as a source of independent commercial challenge and assurance, ensuring that strategic investments and major initiatives are supported by robust analysis, clear value drivers and deliverable outcomes.
Further information about the role and the responsibilities is at the bottom of this job description.
Essential Criteria
Qualifications/Experience
- Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience).
- Professional practitioner with specialist knowledge and expertise to influence service delivery, events and activities within the organisation.
- Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including more senior colleagues.
- Experience of participating in internal or external networks to share and discuss good practice, develop strong and productive working relationships and positively influence the University’s reputation.
- Experience of implementing policies and procedures and supporting service improvements.
- Extensive experience in financial modelling, investment appraisal and strategic business case development, including working with senior stakeholders to evaluate commercial opportunities, strategic initiatives and complex organisational challenges.
- Experience of developing and presenting complex business cases and investment propositions for senior leadership teams, boards or governance committees.
- Experience of assessing the financial and commercial viability of strategic projects, investments or growth initiatives.
- Experience of influencing strategic decision-making through the presentation of financial and commercial analysis.
- Experience of operating in complex organisational environments where stakeholder priorities, risks and strategic objectives must be balanced.
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Skills/Abilities/Knowledge
- Excellent spoken and written communication skills including the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally.
- Strong interpersonal skills including motivational, negotiating, influencing and networking.
- Strong digital competence across a range of digital devices and apps including digital communication tools, Microsoft 365 applications (advanced excel), financial & non-financial business systems.
- Committed to continuing professional development to maintain professional recognition.
- Extensive knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines.
- Ability to influence planning and decision-making at both operational and strategic levels through the application of financial and commercial insight.
- Ability to evaluate complex financial and commercial risks, challenge assumptions constructively, and develop evidence-based recommendations which support strategic decision-making.
- Demonstrable commercial acumen with the ability to evaluate opportunities, investments and initiatives from both financial and strategic perspectives.
- Ability to influence and constructively challenge senior stakeholders through the presentation of complex financial and commercial information.
- Ability to operate effectively in complex environments, working collaboratively across functions and managing competing stakeholder priorities.
- Ability to provide constructive commercial challenge and assurance to strategic proposals, investment decisions and business cases.
Typical Role Requirements
Service Delivery/Development
- Contribute to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University’s values.
- Develop and promote an in-depth understanding of university policy and external developments relevant to your role.
- Ensure that policy and regulatory standards are met by ensuring all colleagues adhere to approved financial and procurement activities and processes that are carried out in services you are responsible for.
- Use your professional knowledge and experience as a qualified Finance professional to understand, explain and contribute to improved University performance and provide subject matter expertise and advice.
- Provide specialist advice on the analysis and interpretation of complex data and information relevant to your area.
- Use your managerial and leadership expertise to identify priorities and shape the assigned business unit/s to achieve the required financial outcomes.
- Look for ways to continually improve services and take a lead role in the development and implementation of assigned policies, processes and standards.
- Instigate and manage business process reviews to improve the service in your area.
- Meet the professional development needs of your stakeholders, providing training when required.
- Ensure data (commercially sensitive and/or personal) is appropriately stored and managed.
- Manage quality and regulatory audits of systems and procedures.
- Support the welfare, wellbeing and employment of your staff by providing professional guidance.
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Planning and Organisation
- Contribute to operational leadership teams to influence the type and level of services that are provided by your area.
- Contribute to the development of operational and strategic-level plans relevant to your area.
- Scope, plan and implement large-scale/University-wide initiatives.
- Oversee projects to deliver agreed objectives while solving any problems which are encountered.
- Provide oversight for short term/temporary project teams.
- Analyse data about the service levels provided by your area and make recommendations for improvement in reports to senior managers and committees.
- Allocate and monitor designated budgets, expenditure and resources.
Communication/Liaison
- Use your professional knowledge to identify and recommend priorities for long-term business plans.
- Provide professional guidance and advice when managing Finance & Procurement services.
- Design creative and innovative communications to promote and increase engagement relating to Finance & Procurement Services.
- Influence University policy and standards by leading operational business meetings, working groups and sub-committees.
- Design and deliver training to your stakeholders to support their development and information needs.
- Create strong working relationships, including internal and external networks, using your networks to increase your knowledge and skills, swap information with peers and positively influence the University’s reputation.
- Represent Finance & Procurement Services, the assigned business unit/s and the University at promotional events.
- Identify opportunities to develop and increase participation in special interest groups.
- Any other reasonable duties.
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