Head of Commercial Support, Research and Reference

Join to apply for the Head of Commercial Support, Research and Reference role at Oxford University Press

Head of Commercial Support, Research and Reference

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Join to apply for the Head of Commercial Support, Research and Reference role at Oxford University Press

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We are the world’s largest university press. That means we serve the academic community as no other publisher can. We work in partnership with institutions and learned societies to bring a world of knowledge to the fingertips of students and researchers worldwide.

The goal is impact. Together with our academic communities, we curate and seamlessly connect together the ideas that push their fields forward, so they can learn from them, add to them, and continue a virtuous cycle of scholarship.

And because we are a part of the academic community and guided in everything we do by our mission, we re-invest in our people, our publishing, and the world-leading research institution of which we are part.

About the Role

As our new Head of Commercial Support, you will act as a director-level finance business partner, supporting the Research Books and Reference publishing groups and the Divisional Product function. In this capacity, you will work closely with business leadership to provide financial and commercial insight and share collective responsibility for delivering turnover, surplus and strategic objectives. In addition, this role will support the Finance Director on Divisional initiatives as required and will be a member of the Academic Finance Leadership Team.

This position focuses on driving strong financial performance and strategic alignment across the business and involves ensuring turnover and surplus targets are met, with a clear understanding of risks and opportunities. Strategic priorities are defined in collaboration with leadership, supported by robust KPIs and effective execution. High-quality planning, budgeting, and forecasting, including long-term financial outlooks, are essential, alongside providing commercial insight and external perspectives to guide decision-making and anticipate performance trends.

Additionally, you will support investment decisions through rigorous financial appraisal and benefit tracking, ensuring alignment with long-term goals. Building trusted relationships with stakeholders is key, acting as a strategic adviser and influencing outcomes. A commitment to continuous improvement in financial and operational processes is expected, along with maintaining strong governance and risk management practices, including compliance with internal controls and audit support.

We operate a hybrid working policy that requires a minimum of 2 days per week in the Oxford office.

About You

• Qualified Accountant (CIMA, ACCA or ACA)
• Strong financial acumen with advanced Excel skills
• Proven experience in a commercial or finance business partnering role
• Intellectually curious, proactive and committed to adding value
• Confident communicator, able to explain complex financial matters clearly to a range of audiences
• Strong influencing and stakeholder management skills
• Effective working in a matrix
• Comfortable managing multiple priorities and deadlines
• Familiarity with SAP S/4HANA an advantage
• Discreet, professional and trustworthy

We care about work/life balance here at OUP. With this in mind we offer 25 days’ holiday that rises with service, plus bank holidays and Christmas closure (3-days) and a 35-hour working week. We are open to discussing flexibility in respect to working patterns, dependent on role. We also have a great variety of active employee networks and societies.

We help make your money go further by contributing to your pension up to 12%, offering loans and savings schemes through our partnership with Salary Finance, in addition to travel to work schemes and access to a wide range of local discounts.

This role comes with the added benefit of private medical insurance, a car/allowance, and a management bonus.

Please see our Rewards and Recognition page for more information.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Finance

• Industries

  Book and Periodical Publishing

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