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Senior Finance Leaders: Network

For CFOs, FDs, and Deputy FDs


We welcome senior finance leaders in higher education to our networks, events, and meetings for Chief Financial Officers/Finance Directors and for Deputy Finance Directors. 

CFOs/FDs

BUFDG's most senior members with ultimate responsibility for finance within their organisation - the Chief Financial Officers and Finance Directors in our member institutions - can meet and network in a number of different groups/ways. Each of these groups has its own chair (or co-chairs) who sits on the full BUFDG executive committee, representing the needs of members within their group.

There is also a CFO/FD only discussion board where you can ask questions, raise issues, and share experience.

Access the CFO/FD discussion board

 

CFO/FD Groups

Expand each section below to find out more about each group.

This group meets online twice a year, in January/February and September/October, and in-person at the Annual Meeting (see below). CFOs/FDs from anywhere in the UK are welcome to attend.

The group is co-chaired by:

Stephen Belderbos - Director of Finance and Planning (Norwich University of the Arts)

Deborah Harry - Chief Financial Officer (Northern Royal College of Music)

For more information about this group, please contact Amanda.

This group meets twice a year online, and in-person at the Annual Meeting in May (see below).

While the group helps to provide a forum for CFOs/FDs from HEPs not in a mission group, and with a turnover of >£100m, it welcomes CFOs/FDs from any HEP. CFOs/FDs from anywhere in the UK are welcome to attend.

The group is co-chaired by:

Alison Jarvis - Chief Financial Officer (University of Southampton)

Ryan Keyworth - Chief Finance Officer (Sheffield Hallam University)

For more information about this group, please contact Joni.

The Scottish Universities Finance Directors Group (SUFDG) meets twice a year in-person, in the Spring and Autumn. Meetings usually start at lunchtime, followed by an evening dinner, and the meeting concludes the following day.

The group is chaired by Andy McGoff - Finance and Operations Director at Edinburgh Napier University.

The Welsh Higher Education Finance Directors Group (WHEFDG) usually meets two to three times per year, with meetings sometimes held online and sometimes in-person.

The group is chaired by Darren Xiberras - Chief Finance Officer at the University of Cardiff, and the group secretary is David Elcock - Finance Director at Wrexham University.

CFO/FD Events

Senior Finance Leaders: Time to Talk Webinars

We provide thought-provoking Time to Talk webinar sessions on topics that senior finance leaders are thinking about, want to hear about, and need to know about. Some sessions are recorded, but many are held under Chatham House Rules and not recorded, ensuring we can have the most frank conversation while together in the virtual room. If you have a story to share, or a topic or speaker to suggest for one of these sessions, please let Karel know.

Upcoming Time to Talk sessions and events for CFOs/FDs

Annual Meeting

We hold our Annual Meeting for CFOs and FDs in April/May. The event is a face-to-face get together for university FDs/CFOs, and a unique opportunity to meet colleagues, share challenges, and gain high-level, HE-specific finance knowledge. The business programme runs for one day, with an informal dinner the evening before. And we also host a range of fringe meetings the afternoon before the main event, for you to meet and discuss challenges with colleagues in a similar situation. These meetings include the various H E mission groups as well as Smaller HEPs and Larger HEPs meetings. There are also just 25-30 specifically invited delegates from the most significant sector supporters in attendance – including the major banks, auditors, and pensions advisers, plus representatives from other H E organisations. They are there to contribute to the sessions and discussions and share their expertise as required. There are no stands, exhibition, or other sponsorship. Save the date for the next Annual Meeting: 29-30 April 2025 at the University of Birmingham's Edgbaston Hotel and Conference Centre.

 

Deputy Finance Director Regional Meetings

Deputy Finance Directors and/or Finance Directors reporting in to a Chief Financial Officer are welcome to join our DFD network, organised on a regional basis. If you have any questions about the regional DFD meetings, please contact Rachel.

Find out about all events and meetings for DFDs using this link:

Events for Deputy Finance Directors

 

Expand the relevant section below to find out about your region.

Chairs:

Calli Hopkinson, Deputy Finance Director, University of St Andrews and Laura Wright, Head of Financial Reporting and Projects, Edinburgh Napier University.

Chairs:

James Sole, Deputy Finance Director, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and John Sharp, Deputy Finance Director, University of London

 

Chairs:

Paul Cropper, Deputy FD, Huddersfield University and Andrew Crozier, Deputy FD, Salford University

Chair:

Sally Crabb, Associate Director Treasury, University of Southampton

 

Chairs:

Kerry Findlater, Deputy Finance Director, University of Worcester and Katherine Inns, Deputy Finance Director, University of Leicester.

Chair:

Nicola Owen, Associate Director, Swansea University

 

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