Head of Financial Analysis £79,498 - £83,299 Plus generous Civil Service defined benefit pension Bristol or London, with regular travel to Bristol Who we are The OfS is the statutory regulator for higher education in England. Our aim is to ensure that every student, whatever their background, has a fulfilling experience of higher education that enriches their lives and careers. We do so by regulating the higher education providers on our register to make sure they are delivering high quality courses and positive outcomes for their students; where they are not, we take action. The higher education sector in England is complex and diverse and the OfS’s approach to regulation recognises this. Our new strategy signals a shift from an organisation in a start-up phase to an established regulator that understands its regulatory tools and how best to use them to shape incentives across the sector we regulat e. We work to ensure that students in England enjoy higher education provision that is high quality; that their access to opportunity, success and progression is not limited by background, location or characteristics; and that providers are well and sustainably led. What you’ll do W e are looking for a ‘ Head of Financial Analysis ’ to be a key part of our statutory duty to monitor and report on the financial sustainability of HE providers and the financial patterns and trends across the sector. The purpose of this role is to lead an expert team to provide OfS with analysis and advice on the financial sustainability of the HE sector. The team identif ies current and future financial risks and assess the implications of these risks on providers. This role works across the OfS, including with the provider financial assessment team, the provider facing Core Regulatory Teams and with the OfS Data team. The role will also work with key external stakeholders, including banks, government departments and other funding bodies, to ensure higher education finances and financial risks are understood. Key to success in th is role will be your ability to understand and interpret complex regulatory and legal frameworks, regardless of whether or not you have previous experience working in a regulator, in order to reach fair, evidence-based judgements on complex issues. You will be equally adept at quickly adapting to working within higher education and able to learn and understand the key issues and challenges facing the sector. You will b e people focused, committed to our mission of driving positive outcomes for students, and able to work at pace within complex and ambiguous environments. Y ou will be an experienced leader of people and able to demonstrate an ability to motivate, develop and deliver exceptional results through people across an organisation. You will understand the role and value of a regulator and, regardless of your professional background, show an understanding of how effective regulation works in practice. How we do things is as important to us as what we do and your approach will be underpinned by our values of Ambition, Openness, Learning and Diversity. We are interested in hearing from candidates with experience of working in relevant financial analysis roles in the higher education sector, as well those who have experience of other regulators or regulated environments. This is an exciting time to join a rapidly transforming organisation that works to ensure that every student, whatever their background, has a fulfilling experience of higher education that enriches their lives and careers. To find out more about the OfS, please visit our website at https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/ Responsibilities include but are not limited to: The role is responsible for : Maintaining expert knowledge of the finances of the whole HE sector and ensuring OfS is the leading authority on HE financial sustainability Overseeing the design, collection and analysis of financial and costing data and other data that has an important bearing on institutional sustainability Oversee OfS financial foresight mechanisms, anticipating and modelling future financial risks Developing OfS financial modelling capabilit ies at a system and provider level, including modelling the exposure of providers to the impact of systemic risks Producing analysis and other information for OfS management and Board, and for sharing with other stakeholders as appropriate Producing high quality external publications on HE financial sustainability. Engaging with external stakeholders and representing OfS in external meetings and events as a leading expert in HE financial sustainability. Working across the organisation to improve our financial monitoring systems and processes, including optimising how we utilise financial data and other information on our work. Producing data, analysis and advice to support OfS functions for market entry and exit mechanisms. S upport, as, other priority projects within the remit of the OfS’ regulatory responsibilities from time to time. As Head of Financial Analysis, you will be responsible for leading the delivery of the following outcomes in the listed key areas of responsibility: Leading the directorate’s staff and teams to deliver Ensure effective leadership within the directorate, across the organisation, and in support of other directorates. Staff are led by example, with leaders modelling: the OfS’s behaviours and values; flexible, agile and collaborative working, including with staff and teams in other directorates. In the areas for which the postholder is responsible, the outcomes and objectives in the OfS’s business plan are delivered efficiently and effectively Risk to delivery is identified and actively managed with robust mitigation implemented where necessary Resources are aligned with priorities, and workload pressures are accommodated and managed, by working with other leaders in the directorate Ensuring that the OfS is able to discharge those of its functions that fall within the remit of the team The providers for which the postholder is responsible are effectively regulated, in a way consistent with the OfS’s risk appetite. Complex cases for which the postholder is responsible are prioritised and progressed to conclusion effectively The OfS’s work on HE finances and sustainability is developed and implemented on the basis set out in the OfS’s strategy. The team has expert knowledge about policy and the way it is implemented in practice There is a coherent and consistent regulatory and operational approach across the work of the team and the directorate that supports individuals and the team to develop their expertise and confidence Financial data and analysis, forecasting and modelling, is effective in supporting wider regulatory activity and functions, including market entry and exit Continuous improvement of the service provided by the team The team designs and delivers a high-quality service for providers The team understands the purpose of the system from the provider’s perspective and is able to design against customer demand The team collects and uses capability measures to understand how the system is performing from the provider’s perspective and takes action to improve the system Internal and external communication There is proactive authoritative and credible communication about regulatory and operational matters at a senior level in providers and with other stakeholders The work of the OfS, the directorate, and the team is effectively communicated in a range of public contexts Engagement with government, sector and student bodies on the OfS’s approach to regulation results in: understanding of the requirements placed on providers; the benefits of this for students; consistent communication of the OfS’s approach to regulation Person specification: Essential criteria A qualified and experienced accountant with significant expertise in financial analysis, accounting standards and management accounting techniques. Demonstrable good judgement, including in relation to financial risk, and ability to work creatively within HERA and the OfS’s regulatory framework Demonstrable intellectual credibility, analytical capability with the ability to think strategically and take a broad view of issues, events and activities and understand their likely impact or wider implications Demonstrable ability to work comfortably with high levels of complexity and ambiguity Demonstrable ability to think innovatively about applying financial analysis to regulatory theory and practice Demonstrable ability to lead financial analysis which supports the delivery of regulatory interventions at pace, including across professional functions Demonstrable ability to develop, lead and manage a team in a complex and ambiguous environment to make reliable judgements about financial risk Demonstrable ability to develop quickly a comprehensive and sophisticated technical knowledge and understanding of the areas in which the OfS regulates individual providers Experience of working with, and commanding the confidence of, a diverse set of external stakeholders through complex and contentious issues Benefits Our Total Reward Framework offers a range of benefits to suit your way of life: 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays Comprehensive learning and development – we’re invested in your future Generous Civil Service pension scheme Health benefits Diversity and inclusion We value diversity and the wealth of perspectives, experience and ideas that it brings to our work, and we strive to embed equality of opportunity in everything we do. We recruit based on fair and open competition and welcome applications from candidates regardless of age, disability, race and ethnicity, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation and socio-economic background. Working arrangements We love working flexibly because we know that it helps us all to do our best work. We’ve created a set of principles to shape our approach to flexible and hybrid working, which our teams then use as guidance on how they deliver their business goals. This would usually mean working from the office for two or three days in a typical week. Application is by CV and personal statement setting out how you meet the role requirements Closing date for applications: 12 Noon Monday 3 March 2025 Interviews: From 31 March 2025