About the job

Job summary

The Scottish Government’s Finance function supports policy directorates together with a wide range of public bodies and their stakeholders to ensure the delivery of value for money outcomes.

 

We are seeking applications for two Assistant Finance Managers to join the Financial Management and Reporting Team, which plays a key role in delivering the Scottish Government’s flagship activities, directly supporting key financial reporting as well as the new corporate shared services system. 

 

This is an exciting opportunity to join the team, which sits within the Financial Management Directorate and provides robust advice to Ministers and senior officers across the public sector to support effective decision making with regards the allocation and management of resources.

 

We deliver a range of financial management, compliance, and strategic roles to ensure that the Scottish Government’s reputation for competent government, prudent fiscal management and value for money is maintained and enhanced, helping the organisation to manage and govern over £50 billion of public spending, and deliver a wide range of compliance and reporting requirements.

 

You will be adaptable and responsive to change, contributing to the continuous improvement of the team as it evolves to maximise the benefits of the new shared services system, which is planned to go live later in 2024.

 

The nature of the work is such that a key requirement of the role is a flexible and adaptable approach to managing tasks and programmes of work, with an ability to adapt quickly to change, in partnership with colleagues across the Team, Division, Directorate and wider Scottish Government community.

 

You will contribute to the budget monitoring and monthly finance reports of certain areas within the Scottish Government which enable senior officials to make informed decisions based on timely and high-quality financial information.  Communication and effective stakeholder relationships are an essential aspect of the role, as Finance Teams are the link between business areas and the wider Corporate Reporting Division.

 

You will report to a B3 Finance Manager and will have direct line management responsibility for a more junior member of the team, either a trainee accountant or Finance Officer. 

Job description

• Contribute to the timely and accurate completion of budget monitoring and reporting exercises and provide management with robust information and explanations to assist them in making informed decisions.

• Provision of high quality monthly financial reports to senior officials, influencing and challenging budget-holders, assisting them to make informed decisions.

• Support the provision of regular, high quality financial information and analysis, developing and using knowledge and expertise of local business and policy issues to challenge business returns and provide expert advice to resolve the root cause of issues.

• Contribute to the work of the Finance Team, overseeing the work of more junior team members, to ensure successful delivery of monthly and ad-hoc financial exercises, and driving forward efficiencies from the new system.

• Provide financial advice and assistance to stakeholders, and build and maintain effective working relationships with business areas.

• Contribute to the completion and quality assurance of areas’ input for the annual accounts in accordance with the corporate timetable. Ensure that working papers  provide a full audit trail and are retained and easily accessible during the audit process.

• Engage with colleagues across the Financial Management Directorate, in business areas, and bodies to work effectively together to deliver corporate financial exercises.

Person specification

Qualifications

 

The successful candidates must be part qualified as defined by the relevant qualifying body and studying towards an accountancy qualification (CCAB qualified or equivalent) or have relevant financial experience.

 

Essential Criteria 

 

1. Experience of managing a diverse and varied workload with the ability to prioritise and adapt to shifting stakeholder needs.

2. Effective communication skills with experience of influencing stakeholders and maintaining strong working relationships.

3. Demonstrate enhanced analytical skills using a variety of tools to develop informed options, make evidenced recommendations and support informed decisions.

4. Experience of implementing or improving financial systems or processes.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £36,585, Scottish Government contributes £9,877 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

Sift and Interview dates TBC.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.