About Mardyke Arena UCC
Mardyke Arena UCC is a leading multi-sport and fitness facility at the heart of University College Cork. The Arena delivers a diverse range of services across fitness, sport, high performance, and community programmes, operating as a dynamic student led and commercially focused organisation within the UCC group.
The Opportunity
We are seeking a commercially focused and ambitious Commercial Finance Manager to join our senior leadership team.
This is a high-impact leadership role that goes beyond traditional finance. While you will lead the finance function and a small team, your primary focus will be on partnering with managers across the business to drive performance, improve decision-making, and support the delivery of commercial objectives.
Reporting to the CEO, you will play a central role in shaping how the business is managed, ensuring that financial insight directly informs operational decisions across all profit centres.
You will also contribute to the long-term financial sustainability of the organisation through strategic planning, commercial analysis, governance oversight, and operational support.
What Makes This Role Different
You will not be sitting behind reports — you will be working alongside managers across the organisation
You will influence how budgets are managed, not just track them
You will help turn financial data into real operational and commercial decisions
You will operate as a key partner to the CEO and leadership team, with visibility at Board level
You will support managers in understanding the financial and people-related impact of operational decisions
You will lead a team
You will play an active role in shaping financial sustainability, commercial performance, and operational efficiency across the organisation
Key Responsibilities
Business Partnering & Commercial Performance
Act as a trusted advisor to operational managers across all areas of the business
Support and challenge budget holders to improve financial performance
Analyse revenue, costs, and activity to identify opportunities for improvement
Provide clear, actionable insights that influence day-to-day and strategic decisions
Drive a culture of financial accountability and ownership across the organisation
Support managers in workforce planning, staffing cost management, and operational resource decisions across profit centres
Analyse membership, programme, and commercial revenue performance to support growth and yield optimisation
Support operational managers in evaluating programme profitability and commercial viability
Financial Planning, Strategy & Insight
Lead budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning processes across all profit centres
Develop meaningful performance metrics and KPIs that support decision-making
Translate financial data into practical recommendations for the leadership team
Support pricing, investment, and commercial decision-making
Monitor payroll and staffing-related costs to support operational and financial sustainability
Support development of long-term financial strategy and sustainability planning
Contribute to capital planning, investment appraisal, and business case development
Support scenario planning and strategic modelling for future growth initiatives
Finance Function Leadership
Lead and develop a small finance team (2 staff)
Ensure high-quality financial reporting, controls, and compliance
Deliver monthly management accounts with clear commentary and insight
Oversee audit, statutory reporting, and financial governance compliance requirements
Manage payroll processes and ensure accurate and timely payroll administration
Ensure compliance with payroll-related statutory obligations, including PAYE, PRSI, pension, and reporting requirements
Drive continuous improvement in financial systems, reporting tools, and data quality
Support development of accessible performance dashboards for operational managers
Governance, Risk & Stakeholder Engagement
Act as the primary finance liaison with University College Cork
Support Board and UCC Committee reporting with clear, strategic financial insight
Ensure alignment with UCC governance and financial policies
Work closely with the CEO and management team on workforce-related financial planning and resource management
Maintain a practical working knowledge of employment legislation and HR-related compliance requirements relevant to payroll, workforce planning, and financial operations
Support procurement and contract evaluation processes to ensure value for money and financial compliance
Support organisational risk management processes from a financial and operational perspective
Support the organisation in maintaining appropriate financial and governance controls relating to staffing and employment practices
About You
You are a commercially minded finance professional who is as comfortable working with people as you are with numbers.
You will bring:
A professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)
Strong experience in a finance role with exposure to budgeting, reporting, payroll management, and operational finance
Proven ability to work with and influence non-finance managers
Commercial awareness and the ability to link financial data to business performance
Experience managing payroll and an understanding of payroll compliance obligations
Practical knowledge of employment legislation and HR-related compliance requirements relevant to finance operations
Demonstrated ability to influence operational decision-making through financial insight
Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills
Experience leading, mentoring, or developing finance staff
Confidence to challenge constructively and support better decision-making
Ability to operate independently while building strong collaborative relationships across the organisation
You may also have:
Experience in a business partnering or commercial finance role
Exposure to complex or multi-stakeholder environments (e.g. university, public sector, SME)
Experience working in a standalone or small-team finance function
Experience supporting operational managers with staffing budgets and workforce planning
Why Join Mardyke Arena?
Opportunity to play a central role in how the business is run and managed
Direct partnership with the CEO and leadership team
A broad, varied role with real ownership and impact
A purpose-driven environment focused on sport, health, and community
Strong links to University College Cork
Opportunity to shape financial performance and operational decision-making across multiple business areas
Opportunity to contribute to the long-term strategic and financial sustainability of a high-profile organisation
Generous company pension scheme
Company Sick Pay Scheme
Contribution towards health insurance
Friends & family access to Mardyke Arena facilities
Additional 2 Christmas leave days
Bike to Work Scheme
Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
Group discounts including cinema tickets and retail/shopping discounts
Regular fun-filled activities and social gatherings across the wider group
Ongoing training, professional development, and career growth opportunities
Competitive salary and 25 days
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