Atlantic Technological University (ATU) was established on 1 April 2022 following the merger of Galway/Mayo Institute of Technology, Institute of Technology Sligo, and Letterkenny Institute of Technology. In November 2023, St Angela’s College Sligo also became part of ATU. ATU has approximately 27,000 students and 2,500 staff across its nine campuses in the West and North West region of Ireland, making it one of the largest multi-campus universities on the island. The University serves a diverse group of learners, staff, communities and organisations, playing a major role in supporting development in the region and further afield. Since its inception, ATU can already point to considerable achievements such as becoming a member of European University Alliance EU GREEN, successfully bidding for new nationally relevant higher education programmes in Pharmacy and Veterinary Medicine and becoming the first university in Ireland to be designated an Accredited Institution of Advance HE. ATU has also recently launched its inaugural strategic plan, Open Minds, Bright Futures, which centres around five guiding lights: Enabling Education, Engaged Research, Connected Ecosystem, Transformed Organisation, and Sustainable Future. This is an exciting time to join ATU as the organisation delivers on its first strategic plan and continues to drive impact and support the North and North West region.  

During this time of development and growth, ATU now seeks to appoint a Chief Finance Officer. Reporting to the President, the Chief Finance Officer will be a key member of the University Senior Leadership Team and will be responsible for the functional areas of finance, procurement, commercialisation services and financial resilience. As the University’s first Chief Finance Officer, this is a unique opportunity to be part of shaping ATU’s operational design, leading the effective transition to the new University structure. Finance will serve as a strategic enabler, supporting the Deans and other Chief Officers in the delivery of services across the University, with the Chief Finance Officer creating a supporting framework for all users that is effective and easy to engage with. 

The successful candidate will be a strategic leader with a keen understanding of business operations and how best to support operational excellence. They will be a qualified accountant and will have extensive leadership experience in a finance function as well as having led a team in a varied and complex organisation. This individual will have outstanding communications skills with demonstrable experience advising and supporting senior leadership teams and non-executive boards on complex issues related to finance and strategy. The ideal candidate will also have a proven track record of promoting equality and inclusion within an organisation. The successful individual will maintain a big picture view while also maintaining sufficient bandwidth to deep dive into detail when necessary.  

How to Apply  

Perrett Laver, the appointed advisers of ATU, are conducting an executive search exercise alongside the public advertisement for this role. Perrett Laver will support the Search Committee in the discharge of its duties. Applications should consist of a full curriculum vitae detailing academic and professional qualifications and experience, full employment history showing the more significant positions, responsibilities held, relevant achievements and budgets and staff managed. CVs should be accompanied by a covering letter describing how candidates meet the criteria outlined in the candidate profile and why the appointment is of interest. Candidates are asked to set out briefly their vision for the role.   

Applications can be uploaded to https://perrettlaver.com/atu-senior-appointments/ referencing the project number 7409. The closing date of applications is 12 noon Irish local time on Friday, 4th April 2025.  

Atlantic Technological University is an equal opportunities employer.  

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