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Finance Business Partner Jobs 2026 at Durham University has announced a Finance Business Partner vacancy for 2026. The university needs someone to cover a maternity leave, so this is a temporary position for an experienced finance professional.
The job is at Boldon House in Durham. It is a full-time job for 12 months and comes under Grade 8. The salary is between £47,389 and £56,535 per year. The university also says that a higher salary may be possible for someone with significant relevant experience.
The vacancy number is 26001254. The last date to apply is 5 October 2026 at 11:59 PM.
Finance Business Partner Jobs 2026: Job Details
The new Finance Business Partner will be part of the Strategic Finance team and will report to the Head of Finance.
In simple terms, this job is about helping senior staff with financial matters. The person will work with managers and people responsible for budgets and help them understand their numbers before making business decisions.
Budgeting and forecasting are important parts of the work. There can also be work related to financial plans, investment appraisals, business cases and scenario modelling.
Some of the financial information handled in this position can be quite detailed. The person needs to look at it, understand the main points and then explain them in a clear way to senior colleagues.
This is not mainly a day-to-day accounting job. Routine accounting, financial reporting and transactional work are mostly handled by other finance teams at Durham University.
Contract, Hours and Location
The university is offering this job for 12 months as maternity cover. According to the vacancy information, the contract is not expected to be extended after the maternity cover period.
The job is full time and has a 35-hour working week. Normal working hours are Monday to Friday, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
The main workplace is Boldon House, which is close to the Arnison Centre in Pity Me, Durham. The university also supports hybrid and collaborative working.
The job may sometimes require travel to other university locations for meetings or other work.
Interviews are expected to take place on Monday, 12 October 2026, in the morning, and Friday, 16 October 2026, during the day.
Who Can Apply?
This vacancy is for a qualified accountant with good professional finance experience. Previous experience in a senior finance position is important because the job includes regular contact with senior staff.
There are 15 essential criteria in the person specification. Applicants should read these carefully and make sure their application shows how they meet the requirements.
The university wants someone who can work well with senior people and give useful financial advice. Good communication and relationship-building skills are also important.
Experience with budgeting and forecasting is required. Applicants should be able to look at financial information and explain the important points without making things harder than they need to be.
Experience of improving services and putting policies or procedures into practice is also part of the requirements.
Skills and Experience Required
Good written and spoken English will be needed for this job. The Finance Business Partner will have to communicate with people from different teams and may also deal with people outside the university.
Computer skills are important too. The vacancy asks for experience with Microsoft 365, advanced Excel, and financial and non-financial business systems.
The person taking this job should also keep their finance knowledge up to date. They will need to understand relevant rules, regulations, university policies and guidelines.
Problem-solving is another part of the position. When something is not working properly, the person may need to look into the issue, suggest a solution and help get it sorted.
There may also be times when they need to question a decision or raise a concern with a senior manager. This needs to be done in a professional and helpful way.
The university is also looking for someone who can handle different tasks at the same time and work with several teams.
Main Responsibilities
A large part of the job is using finance knowledge to help different areas of the university.
The Finance Business Partner may look at financial performance, review financial information and give advice to faculties or professional services teams.
They may also look at current business processes and find ways to improve them. If a new policy or standard is introduced, they may help put it into practice.
The position can also include helping colleagues with professional development and training.
There is a lot of information involved in finance work, and some of it will be sensitive. This can include commercial information and personal data, so it needs to be handled properly.
The person may also be involved in checking systems and procedures during quality reviews and regulatory audits.
The job also supports the university’s work around equality, diversity and inclusion.
Budgets, Planning and Projects
The Finance Business Partner will work with operational leadership teams and help them decide what finance support they need.
Some work will be about current budgets and plans, while other work will look further ahead. The position can also include financial input into larger projects and university-wide programmes.
Some projects may involve temporary teams. The Finance Business Partner may be asked to manage or coordinate this type of work.
Keeping an eye on budgets and spending will also be part of the job. Financial information and recommendations may need to be prepared for senior managers and committees.
The person may also help with longer-term business plans and give finance advice when services or other university activities are being planned.
Working With Other People
This is a people-focused finance job, so communication will be a regular part of the working day.
The Finance Business Partner may attend or lead meetings, working groups and sub-committees. Some of these groups may deal with university policies and standards.
There may also be a need to prepare information about finance services or provide training to colleagues.
The job is not limited to working with university staff. Building professional contacts outside Durham can also be part of the work. These contacts can help with sharing ideas and good practices.
The Finance team may also be represented at promotional events and professional or special interest groups.
Other reasonable duties related to the position may be given when required.
How to Apply for Finance Business Partner Jobs 2026
Applications should be made online through the Durham University recruitment system.
Applicants need to submit a CV and supporting statement. The supporting statement should explain how their previous experience matches the requirements in the person specification.
It is worth checking all the essential criteria before submitting the application. If you have relevant experience, give a clear example rather than simply saying that you have the skill.
Some requirements will be checked during shortlisting. Others may be discussed at the interview. The criteria marked with an asterisk have extra weighting during the application process.
After applying, candidates will receive recruitment updates by email through the university’s e-recruitment system. Check the spam or junk folder as well if an expected email does not arrive.
For questions about the job, applicants can contact Vicki Hart at vicki.hart@durham.ac.uk.
Salary and Benefits
The salary is £47,389 to £56,535 per year. Candidates with significant relevant experience may be considered for more than the advertised range.
The holiday allowance includes 30 days of annual leave, plus 8 public holidays and 4 customary days. This gives 42 days in total. The university also closes between Christmas and New Year.
There are several other benefits available to staff. These include the University Superannuation Scheme, parking, cycle-to-work support, local transport discounts and a salary sacrifice car benefit scheme.
Staff can also get professional development support, health and wellbeing services, access to sports and gym facilities and a 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme.
Other benefits listed by the university include an on-site nursery, family-friendly policies, volunteering opportunities and discounts through the university benefits portal.
Eligible employees who move to Durham may also receive help with removal costs and other practical relocation matters.
Anyone who needs a work visa should check the university’s sponsorship information before applying. Being a UKVI sponsor does not mean every vacancy comes with sponsorship.
Other Information for Applicants
This is a maternity cover position and will last for 12 months. The university says it does not expect the job to continue after the fixed-term contract ends.
Current Durham University employees may also be able to apply through a secondment. This would need to be agreed with their current line manager. The advertisement says an internal secondment would be full time for one year.
Durham University welcomes applications from people with disabilities, neurodiversity and long-term health conditions. Reasonable adjustments can be provided during the recruitment and interview process where needed.
If you have a problem with the online recruitment system, you can contact e.recruitment@durham.ac.uk. This email can also be used if you need to discuss reasonable adjustments or cannot complete the online application.
Final Words
The Finance Business Partner vacancy at Durham University is for someone who already has good experience in professional finance and feels comfortable working with senior staff.
The work covers budgeting, forecasting, financial planning, business cases and other finance-related projects. It is also a role where communication matters because you will be working with people from different parts of the university.
If you are interested in applying, read the full job description and person specification first. Make sure your CV and supporting statement show your actual experience and explain how it fits the requirements of the job.
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