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.

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.

Please take the time to read the candidate information pack and full job description, which provide further information about Kingston University and the role. If, having reviewed these documents, you have any further questions or would like an informal conversation, please contact:

Stephanie Crossland - stephanie.crossland@gatenbysanderson.com
Hilda Gjika - hilda.gjika@gatenbysanderson.com

To view the job description and person specification, please scroll to the bottom of the page, tick to agree to the privacy policy, then click 'Continue to full details'.

Documents

Candidate Pack Professional Services Senior Staff.pdf

Finance 19102026 BP&MA.pdf

Benefits-KU-Booklet.pdf

Recruitment Timetable

Closing date
9am, Monday 7th December 2026

Preliminary interviews
w/c 7th December 2026

Short listing
w/c 14th December 2026

Final panel
Tuesday, 12th January 2027 (In person)

How to Apply

• Please submit your CV along with a Supporting Statement addressing the person specification criteria, evidencing how you meet the criteria.
• Detail any employment or education gaps.
• Be ready to provide the names, positions, organisations and contact details for two referees; one should be your current or most recent employer. Referees will be contacted for those proceeding to final stages. We will always gain your permission before we contact referees.
• Let us know any difficulty you may have with the indicative timetable.
• Check that your contact details are correct before you submit.

Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an automated email confirmation. If you do not receive, please email contactus@gatenbysanderson.com