Head of Income

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Head of Income to join a leading London-based university on an interim basis. Reporting directly to the Director of Finance, this role will provide strategic leadership across the institution's income function, overseeing the full income lifecycle and ensuring robust financial controls, operational excellence, and continuous improvement across both student and commercial income streams.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage the University's income function, including student billing, accounts receivable, credit control, debt management and non-student income activities
• Provide strategic leadership and direction to the Head of Student Fees & Finance and wider operational teams
• Ensure resources are effectively deployed to deliver high-quality services and achieve operational objectives
• Develop a high-performing, customer-focused income function that supports students and internal stakeholders
• Oversee financial controls across the income lifecycle, ensuring accuracy, compliance and effective governance
• Monitor reconciliations, suspense accounts, debt provisions, bad debt management and audit actions
• Identify, assess and mitigate operational and financial risks
• Investigate historical issues and implement sustainable corrective actions
• Drive continuous improvement, standardisation and automation of income management processes
• Work closely with Finance Systems and key stakeholders to improve efficiency, controls and reporting capabilities
• Lead operational change initiatives and support finance transformation programmes
• Develop and monitor KPIs across billing, collections, debt management and income processing activities
• Produce meaningful management information and performance reports for senior leadership teams
• Analyse trends, identify challenges and recommend service improvements
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders across Finance, Registry, Student Support and wider University departments
• Maintain policies, procedures and controls to ensure compliance and financial best practice
• Act as a senior point of escalation for complex income-related matters
• Lead, develop and motivate managers and operational teams to deliver excellent service outcomes
• Review structures, workloads and operating models to maximise efficiency and effectiveness
• Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement

Ideal Candidate Profile:

• CCAB qualified accountant or equivalent senior-level financial management experience
• Significant leadership experience within income management, accounts receivable, credit control or financial operations
• Proven experience managing managers and leading large operational finance teams
• Strong knowledge of billing, income processing, collections, debt management and financial controls
• Experience managing reconciliations, operational risk and governance frameworks
• Demonstrable track record of delivering process improvements and operational change initiatives
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify risks and implement practical solutions
• Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence and challenge at senior level
• Experience developing KPIs and using management information to drive performance improvements
• Ability to operate effectively at both strategic and operational levels
• Higher Education finance experience, particularly within student billing and fee collection, would be advantageous
• Knowledge of Student Loans Company processes desirable
• Experience managing commercial or non-student income streams desirable
• Exposure to finance transformation programmes, automation initiatives and enterprise finance systems such as Oracle Financials or Banner desirable

Location: London

Working Pattern: Hybrid

Day Rate: £450 - £500 per day

Contract Type: Temporary

Start Date: ASAP

This vacancy will be actively shortlisted, so early applications are encouraged to avoid missing out.