Nick Richards Email & Phone Number

Bristol, England, Gb

Swindon, United Kingdom

London, United Kingdom

London, United Kingdom

Bristol

Responsibilities Responsible for the financial management of the group including external reporting, internal performance monitoring and reporting, budgeting and planning, operational cashflow, internal and external audit management, risk management.  Leadership of the Group Reporting, Operations Finance, Property Finance and Finance Services teams, in total being c.55 people. Member of the Executive Board, and both the Operations and Property Boards. As the only member of the company who sits across all three I have a key responsibility to ensure inter-dependencies are managed and that there is Group alignment. Ensure that the business units and the Group deliver its KPIs and performance targets through robust commercial challenge and support.  Lead the delivery of the Finance systems change programme, ensuring that it is delivered effectively, that process changes arising from it are implemented, and that a review of the finance team role and responsibilities following its introduction is undertaken. Responsible for the financial control framework within the Group, ensuring effective controls are in place and operating as prescribed. Responsible for the management of the Group’s energy hedging and insurance arrangements. Chair the Finance Leadership Team, which sets the vision for the finance function and manages the team’s development.

Bristol, United Kingdom

 Functional responsibility for leading the Operations Finance and Finance Services teams. IT Director responsible for the provision of IT services to the Group and customers’, including the requirement to development plans to become more self-sufficient and resilient, reducing reliance on consultants. Member of the Operations Board, the group responsible for recommending and implementing strategy across the operations business. Responsibility for the Market Intelligence team, a small department providing the analysis and insight on markets and universities in order to inform operating and investment decisions.  Responsible for directing and driving financial performance in line with business targets, including forecasting and managing cashflows linked to highly complex funding and structuring arrangements.  Represented the Group on 2 JV Fund Management Committees, being accountable for operational performance to the Funds in line with agreed budgets, and also for identifying and managing potential conflicts of interests between the Funds and the company.

Bristol, United Kingdom

 Functional lead for finance within the Operations business, including Finance Services. Responsible for driving delivery of finance and operational target for the business unit. Responsible for the group procurement function.  Responsible for the total overhead of the group (c.£40m), both in terms of managing its gross cost but also in developing the methodology by which it was allocated to operations and development spend.

London

 Member of London Business Executive from its formation – a division set up separate to the rest of the UK business to ensure focus on delivering the massive opportunities identified in this market. Functional leader in both the Property Development and Operations aspects of the London business. Responsible for the management of key banking relationships relevant to London development funding, and accountable to Group for delivery of funding in line with cashflow projections. Matrix manager to the Operations Regional Business Manager.

Bristol

Bristol

Bristol

Bristol, United Kingdom

Bristol

Gloucester

Started a training contract after graduating and subsequently qualified in the Bristol office of Coopers a Lybrand. Promoted to Audit Manager to work in the Gloucester office.

Leadership For Senior Executives

2:2, Accounting & Economics

Education record

4 A Levels 10 O Levels