Chief Finance Officer

Sarah Jones is the Chief Finance Officer with responsibility for providing strategic financial leadership, expert advice and guidance on all financial matters across the University’s operational services, as well as extensive input into the strategic decisions regarding investment. At an operational level, her team provides high quality financial advice, along with robust financial processes and systems which support staff in delivering the strategic ambitions of the University.

Sarah took up her role in February 2020 bringing considerable experience of the HE Sector. She obtained a BA in Psychology from Sheffield University and then qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Ernst and Young in 1992. She began her career in Higher Education at Sheffield University and moved to Plymouth University in 1998 to take up the post of Head of Financial Accounting. Over the next 20 years, the latter 10 of which were as Director of Finance, Sarah led several phases of significant cost-reduction and reorganisation, as well as improving the quality of financial information, governance, planning and decision making. She is passionate about Finance being seen as an enabler within the University whilst also ensuring that there is a focus on excellence both, within the team and in everything they do.

Sarah Jones, Director of Finance