Senior Finance Manager
Scottish Government.com
Office
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Full Time
Job description
How to apply Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 1500 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the skills, experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profile above. Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment. If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and (presentation). Assessments are scheduled for w/c 17th November however this may be subject to change. About usThe Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland. We have responsibility for a wide range of key policy areas including: education, health, the economy, justice, housing and transport. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles. Our staff are part of the UK Civil Service, working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland.We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer. As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules. Working pattern Our standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options depending on the needs of the role. From October 2025, the Scottish Government will require staff in hybrid-compatible roles to work in-person 40% of the time, either in an office or other agreed work location. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us. Security checks Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre-employment checks – Identity, Right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions). You can find out more about BPSS on the UK Government website, or read about the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide. Equality statement We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation. Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them. Further information Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website. Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.
Do you want to help deliver, develop and shape the future of financial management for the Scottish Procurement and Property Directorate (SPPD) within DG Corporate.
We’re looking for a Senior Finance Manager to lead a team responsible for detailed oversight of two specific divisions within SPPD plus strategic oversight and monitoring of the budgets for the Directorate as a whole.
This key role sits within our Directorate Business Management Unit (DBMU) and reports to the SPPD Head of Finance. The DBMU supports the wider Directorate in providing a range of services including financial and risk management, business management, communications and strategic engagement, and support to our Director.
You’ll lead a small team and support the SPPD Head of Finance in the financial management and strategic planning of a budget of around £80 million, which includes Capital, Resource, Annual Managed Expenditure (AME) and Corporate Running Costs (CRCs).
- Engage with colleagues across central finance and the SPPD finance team to work effectively together to deliver corporate financial exercises, including the ABR and SBR processes.
- Provide key financial support through in-year financial monitoring and reporting, engaging with areas and colleagues across Finance to build and maintain effective working relationships, and provide robust in-year and year end reporting to SPPD Director, SMT and DG Corporate as appropriate.
- Lead the budget monitoring output and provide line management for relevant members of the finance team, reinforcing the standard of output required, identifying improvements to the quality of work and addressing any training needs.
- Support finance managers and finance teams, leading by example to develop and coach staff to ensure effective and efficient working with appropriate delegation, ensuring continuous improvement and learning, with the aim of developing an effective and high performing team.
- Lead the continuous improvement of business area management reporting, ensuring reports are of high quality, using plain English and compelling and persuasive language to influence and challenge, and to assist budget-holders to make informed decisions.
- Oversee and manage all calculations and forecasting for IFRS 16 leases and continually improve knowledge and understanding of IFRS 16 and its implications for accounting for property and land leases, providing guidance and training across the finance team and to other staff as required.
- Leadership and management of team – embedding and role-modelling a professional, approachable and inclusive culture, working with peers to support the new finance structure whilst building connections with the Workplace Division side of the Finance Team, deputising for the team lead and providing cover for the Senior Finance Manager for Workplace Division as required.
- Be a Senior Business Manager for the operation of Oracle for SPPD, leading reporting, assisting with workforce planning, identifying issues and providing solutions.
- Budgeting, Forecasting and Costing.
- Strategic Financial Analysis and Insight.
- Understanding International Accounting Standards.
Experience
- Strong technical accounting skills and ability to communicate complex financial information clearly and succinctly to a wide range of audiences, including to non-finance colleagues.
- Experience in and knowledge of IFRS 16 accounting requirements for property leases and the impact of IFRS 16 on types of budget required (RDEL – both ring-fenced and non ring-fenced, RAME, CDEL and CAME) is desirable but not essential.
Behaviours
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
How to apply Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 1500 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the skills, experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profile above. Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment. If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and (presentation). Assessments are scheduled for w/c 17th November however this may be subject to change. About usThe Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland. We have responsibility for a wide range of key policy areas including: education, health, the economy, justice, housing and transport. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles. Our staff are part of the UK Civil Service, working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland.We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer. As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules. Working pattern Our standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options depending on the needs of the role. From October 2025, the Scottish Government will require staff in hybrid-compatible roles to work in-person 40% of the time, either in an office or other agreed work location. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us. Security checks Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre-employment checks – Identity, Right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions). You can find out more about BPSS on the UK Government website, or read about the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide. Equality statement We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation. Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them. Further information Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website. Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.