The University of Sheffield seeks an External Council Member with financial expertise to join the Finance Committee. They will bring advice, scrutiny, sound judgement and constructive challenge to the Council and Executive team. The successful candidate will have operated as a CFO / Finance Director or CEO / Managing Director or similar, and will bring strong commercial acumen.
The University of Sheffield is one of the UK’s leading research-intensive universities. With an international reputation for excellence, it is 105th in the world and 13th in the UK in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024. Founded in 1905, the University has roots going back to 1828. The aim of its founders was to bring higher education within reach of the children of the people working in the great industries of Sheffield, to give support to those industries and to serve as a centre for the study of diseases. The University of Sheffield remains true to its origins and the values which this has embedded. Its historic civic commitment to the city of Sheffield and the region remains strong and it continues to embrace that role.
As a member of the Russell Group of 24 leading UK research universities, the University is consistently confirmed by independent assessment as outstanding for its research. Its partnerships with leading companies like Boeing and Rolls-Royce set a new standard for industrial research which has been further developed through the University of Sheffield Innovation District’s specialist facilities in energy, sustainable aviation fuel, gene therapy and manufacturing research. The University was awarded Silver in the Teaching Excellence Framework and in the most recent UK Research Excellence Framework, with 92% of Sheffield’s research and impact assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent. Sheffield has been awarded five Queen’s Anniversary Prizes, an award recognising quality and innovation in research, and achievements which have made an outstanding contribution to the nation’s intellectual, economic, cultural and social life. It counts six Nobel prize winners amongst its former staff and students. The University was also placed number one within the Russell Group in the National Student Survey and was voted University of the Year and best for Student Life in the 2024 Whatuni Student Choice Awards. The Students’ Union is regularly voted as one of the best, if not the best, Students’ Unions in the UK.
The University is proud to be a values-led institution with global purpose and a reputation for the provision of outstanding research, teaching and student experience. Led by Professor Koen Lamberts, President and Vice-Chancellor, it is committed to changing the world for the better through the power and application of ideas and knowledge. Its vision is to build a university community which actively attracts, engages and develops talented individuals from all different backgrounds who will positively impact the world around them.
Role specification:
The governing body, the Council, plays a significant role in ensuring the effective governance and success of the University. In a rapidly changing external environment and with an increasing emphasis on regulation and accountability, Council business is growing in complexity. The University is looking to appoint exceptional an external Council Member who can make a significant contribution to the University’s future direction and to the effective operation of Council.
The main collective responsibilities of members of Council concern strategy, performance and accountability and can be summarised as follows:
To promote and safeguard the interests of the University, supporting the development of its mission and strategic vision to meet the needs of stakeholders
To ensure that the University’s performance against its strategic objectives is monitored and evaluated
To be the principal financial, business, legal and employing authority of the University and to have overall responsibility for its assets, property and estate
To ensure the establishment and monitoring of systems of control and accountability
To ensure that the University delivers its charitable objectives for the public benefit
To ensure that the University’s Charter and Statutes are followed at all times; this includes ensuring that Academic, Teaching and Research staff have freedom within the law to question and test received wisdom, and advance new, or controversial, or unpopular opinions
Much of the work of the Council is carried out through formally constituted committees, including the following:
Audit and Risk Assurance Committee
Finance Committee
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee
Nominations Committee
Senior Remuneration Committee
This Council Member will join the Finance Committee.
Person specification:
The University of Sheffield seeks an External Council Member with financial expertise to join the Finance Committee. They will bring advice, scrutiny, sound judgement and constructive challenge to the Council and Executive team.
The successful candidate will have senior strategic experience in financial planning and strategic management of budgets, ideally of similar size to the University of Sheffield (£880m in 2022–23). They could, for example, have operated as a CFO, Finance Director, CEO / Managing Director or similar, and will bring strong commercial acumen. In addition to bringing the above experience, individuals who bring the following skills would be seen as advantageous: business, industry or entrepreneurship, regulation / regulatory compliance, property / construction or innovation. Experience can come from any of the private, public or third sectors.
Whilst previous non-executive experience is not necessary, candidates will have solid leadership experience, a strategic approach, and excellent communication skills. They will be collaborative, collegial and will be strongly committed to the University of Sheffield’s vision and values as well as being passionate about the transformative impact of education.
Terms of appointment:
There are five Council meetings per year, held in person in October, November, February, April and July. There will be a dinner the night before Council meetings and Members will need to be available the following day, when meetings are held. Members will be expected to attend in-person meetings but the University will generally offer a hybrid attendance option to support attendance and engagement. There will be additional briefing meetings prior to Council meetings and these are held virtually. Additionally, the Council Member will join the Finance Committee which meets five times per year in a hybrid manner. Council Members will also be expected to attend an away day, which is usually held in June. The appointment is for a renewable three-year term. The role is unremunerated but reasonable, pre-agreed expenses will be reimbursed.
Location:
Council Members will be expected to attend in-person meetings, and will therefore be UK-based.
Diversity:
The University of Sheffield is strongly committed to having a diverse community which is inclusive and recognises the power of different perspectives and backgrounds. It welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith, or disability. As people from ethnic minority backgrounds and younger people are currently under-represented on the Board, applications from those individuals would be particularly encouraged. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where candidates from underrepresented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.
To apply for this position, please contact:
Brigitte Stundner: brigitte.stundner@nurole.com
University of Sheffield is again partnering with Nurole, the leading board-level search specialist, to find an External Council Member with finance / commercial experience. To arrange an informal conversation or in case of any other queries, please contact brigitte.stundner@nurole.com or richard.craske@nurole.com
