Interim Director of Finance

Interim Finance Director

Location:

London

6-month contract

Rate: £600-£800 per day

Hybrid: 3 days per week on site

A leading London-based university is seeking an experienced Interim Finance Director to provide senior financial leadership during a period of organisational change and capability strengthening. This is a high-impact role suited to a commercially astute finance leader with deep experience in complex public sector or higher education environments.

The role

Reporting to the CFO and working closely with executive leadership, you will provide strategic oversight and operational direction across core finance functions. The appointment will focus on stabilising delivery, strengthening financial capability, and driving improvements across reporting, governance, and transformation initiatives.

Key responsibilities include:

Leading finance capability development and strengthening internal delivery structures

Oversight of statutory and management reporting frameworks

Ensuring robust compliance, controls, and governance across finance operations

Providing expert oversight on tax matters within a complex institutional structure

Financial leadership across estates and capital programmes

Supporting ongoing finance transformation and process improvement initiatives

Acting as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders across the university

The candidate

We are seeking a senior finance professional with:

Proven experience operating at Finance Director or equivalent level

Strong background in higher education

Demonstrable success in finance transformation and capability development

Deep knowledge of reporting, compliance, and financial governance frameworks

Experience overseeing tax and estates finance in large institutions

Exceptional stakeholder management and leadership skills

A hands-on, delivery-focused approach suited to an interim environment