Statutory Returns Manager

University of the West of Scotland

Full-time: 35 hours per week

Fixed Term: 12 months

Strategic Planning is a small team at the heart of the University, located in Paisley. This team is responsible for developing and implementing business intelligence to guide institutional policy and performance. The post holder will lead the University’s engagement with the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) and will be in charge of preparing and submitting the University’s Data Futures statutory return to HESA. This role ensures that the University of the West of Scotland can consistently submit the required mid-year and end-year returns.

You will have strong stakeholder management skills and a passion for driving institutional policy and performance through business intelligence strategic planning skills. You will provide guidance and advice on key decisions related to statutory reporting.

You will lead the preparation and submission of:

• The University’s Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Student (Data Futures) return, ensuring that UWS is able to consistently submit the required mid-year and end-year returns in a business-as-usual environment.
• The University’s Scottish Funding Council (SFC) Early Statistics and Final Figures returns.

The post holder will be expected to provide professional, expert contributions to internal and external meetings, facilitate consideration of different opinions and influence and negotiate with senior colleagues to achieve institutional outcomes.

The successful candidate should have the following:

• A degree or equivalent qualification
• Experience of leading the preparations of statistical returns to a regulatory body
• Experience of optimising data for statistical returns within regulatory body guidelines
• Experience of interpreting complex regulations and guidance
• Experience of influencing decisions that have a strategic impact
• Experience of interrogating complex databases for example student record systems
• Experience of managing complex projects with cross-functional and technical areas

About us

The University of the West of Scotland is one of Scotland’s largest and most dynamic modern universities. Our reach across the country, together with our London campus, means that UWS is a significant force in global knowledge creation, innovation, and a leading provider of undergraduate, postgraduate and research degree education. Our degrees provide students with a transformational experience; equipping them with highly sought-after graduate skills that set them up for global success in world-leading sectors, industries and businesses.

With cutting-edge courses, modern pedagogy and practical knowledge, we enable our students and staff to experience the joy of learning, teaching, research and innovation, and apply their knowledge for the benefit of others.

UWS is officially ranked by Times Higher Education in the top 200 universities worldwide under 50 years old (2023 Young University Rankings).

Our professional services teams are the backbone of UWS, providing robust and innovative solutions to support the vast range of work across learning and teaching, and research and innovation. You will join a supportive and dedicated team, playing a key role in a range of work that will help drive forward our ambition to deliver world-leading research, and graduates who will design, shape and build a new future.

We offer our staff a caring and supportive environment, across five campuses, and a competitive benefits package which includes:

• 24 days of annual leave, plus a further 12 days for public/university holidays
• An additional days leave on your birthday
• Defined benefit contribution pension scheme (currently 19.3%), including death in service benefits upon joining the scheme.  
• A flexible approach to working pattern and work-life balance
• Employee discount scheme across 3,500 retailers
• Fitness facilities across our campuses
• Access to a range of health and wellbeing resources, including occupational health, physiotherapy and access to our Employee Assistance Programme
• Professional, career and research development opportunities.

Interview date: To be confirmed

The University reserves the right to shorten/extend the closing date of any position where a high/low volume of suitable applications are received. Therefore, if you are interested in this role, an early application would be encouraged.

You can find out more about how the University uses your personal data as part of the recruitment process by looking at the UWS HR Applicant Privacy Notice at www.uws.ac.uk

UWS is committed to equality and diversity and welcomes applications from underrepresented groups.

UWS is a “Disability Confident” employer.

University of the West of Scotland is a registered Scottish charity, no. SC002520.