Job Description

You will create and maintain relationships with key C-level executives in stakeholder organizations including HEI partners, industry partners MNEs and SMEs, international and national funding agencies, and philanthropic foundations. 

• Devise and implement a financial strategy for the diversity and sustainability of the Centre’s funding. With particular responsibility for the financial planning and scenario modelling to assist all aspects of company including operational, business development and strategic planning.
• Enable company to harness diverse funding opportunities by providing expert financial planning and direction cross a complex portfolio of research grants (contract value €100m) from multiple research sponsors such as SFI, Enterprise Ireland, the European Union as well as multiple industry partners including SME’s and MNC’s
• Develop and implement best practice approaches in all aspects of financial management to ensure the appropriate financial controls, policies and behaviors are developed and executed for the Centre based on the Irish Financial Legislation and funders requirements
• Devise and implement best practice governance with respect to all financial matters across the organization, communicating complex information clearly, concisely and persuasively to the wider Senior Management committees
• Enable the achievement of our strategic goals by implementing processes, systems, and ways of working to improve monitoring controls and procedures as well as the internal control environment in line with best practice for state funded organizations
• Utilize specialist knowledge and provide financial expertise in the compilation of proposals and business plans submitted to the various funding agencies (SFI, EI, EU etc.) for new and additional funding
• The Head of Finance will be responsible for informing the funding distribution across this virtual organization (i.e. university boundaries) associated with complex industry collaborative research projects involving investigators from multiple institutions
• Conduct value for money analysis of the Centre’s activities and expenditure bringing clarity, focus and innovative approach to support high level decision making to achieve the Centre’s long-term financial objectives
• Oversee ongoing variance through analysis; keeping tight controls on all research grants and liaise with principal investigators and relevant stakeholders for action when necessary
• Continuously evaluate the Centre’s funding performance, providing key expertise in the implementation of new methods to increase success rates in line with the Centre’s objectives
• Create and maintain relationships with key C-level executives in stakeholder organizations which including HEI partners, industry partners MNEs and SMEs, international and national funding agencies, and philanthropic foundations
• Liaise with external auditors such as the C&AG and Audit Authority and where necessary lead the implementation of any findings
• Lead the executive communication across the TCD finance office and faculty offices and build strong working relationships with key stakeholders across these various functions
• Develop and maintain strong relations across Centre partner institutions as well as executive directors of other SFI Centres
• Lead and manage a high-performing, multi-institute finance team across the Centre; encouraging a culture of initiative, innovation & continuous improvement through career development while ensuring the teams activities are aligned with our strategic goals.
• Promote continuous talent development across the finance function by motivating a continuous learning culture and champions the strengths & capabilities of team members to enable a positive work environment
• Lead and grow the existing finance unit which currently comprises of the Finance Manager, Finance Executive Officer and Research Accountant

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Possess a professional accountancy qualification and be a member of a recognised body of accountants (e.g. ACCA, CIMA, ACMA, ACA or equivalent).
• A minimum of 10 years’ experience with at least 5 years post qualification in a large complex organization with multiple stakeholders
• Comprehensive knowledge of public sector financial procedures and accounting methods and of contemporary accounting techniques and principles
• An understanding of the processes associated with the development, implementation and delivery of financial strategy would be very advantageous
• The successful candidate must have firm knowledge and experience of the research function in the industry and academic sectors.
• Experience at a senior management level of monitoring compliance and performance reporting
• Experience in developing and maintaining effective risk management structures and frameworks
• Experience in devising and implementing financial strategy
• Excellent experience in ensuring the appropriate financial controls, policies and behaviours are developed and executed based on the Irish Financial Legislation and funders requirements
• Proven experience of financial management, planning and budgeting at a leadership level
• Proven experience of staff management, including leadership of teams and prudent use of resources
• Experience creating and maintaining relationships with key C-level executives in stakeholder organizations
• Ability to communicate complex financial information clearly, concisely and influence decisions of senior management in line with strategic objectives
• A high level of ICT literacy and a strong aptitude for applying technology to all aspects of work.
• Ability to bring clarity, innovation and sound judgment to resolve complex problems arising from working within a multi-faceted research centre.
• Excellent computational, written and verbal communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively with people at all levels
• The ability to engender strong morale, cooperation and participation throughout the organization
• High levels of self-awareness and the ability to make sound and balanced decisions and to exercise robust operational and strategic judgments on issues