Paul Gowdridge

Head of the Finance Division, Paul is the Chief Financial Officer and plays a key role in delivering the University’s financial strategy. A member of the Executive Board and Senior Leadership team, Paul is responsible for all aspects of the Finance function.

This ranges from managing the income, value for money procurement of goods and services, timely payment of the invoices, overseeing taxation, managing payroll and pensions, supporting the budget holders via management accounting and financial planning processes, and ensuring they fulfill the statutory financial reporting duties. The role also involves managing relationships with key stakeholders like auditors and banks.

Overall, Paul is focused on ensuring the University is financially resilient and sustainable, while leading a Finance Division that adds value and communicates clearly with its stakeholders.

Paul has been at the University since January 2017, initially as Deputy Director of Finance. In April 2019 Paul was appointed Deputy Chief Financial Officer in recognition of his role across the Finance Division. In March 2020, just as the COVID pandemic began, Paul was appointed Director of Finance and managed the University’s finances through a particularly challenging period. Most recently, Paul joined the Executive Board in October 2022.

Prior to joining the University Paul held a number of positions in the NHS, most recently a series of roles at the University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL) where ended his time in the NHS as Head of Financial Performance and Planning for UHL.