About the job

Job summary

National Records of Scotland (NRS) is the Scottish nation's record keeper and official source of demographic statistics – information about population, households, migration, vital events, life expectancy and electoral statistics and maintains the nation’s records archive as one of Scotland’s five National Collections.

 

This post is embedded in our Finance Team, part of the Corporate Services Directorate. This role offers a unique opportunity to work with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders, including our Senior Management and Budget Managers, to ensure the delivery of value for money outcomes.

 

We are looking for an experienced finance professional to manage and develop our Finance Business Partnering (FBP) team as well as oversight of the day to day management of a diverse finance function.

 

As Senior Finance Manager you will be responsible for overseeing the production and reporting of the monthly financial position and for providing an accurate forecast outturn position for all budget areas to inform operational and strategic decision making.

The post holder will work directly to the Corporate Finance Lead.

Job description

• Support the preparation of the NRS annual corporate budget and in-year budgeting exercises as part of the SG Spending Review cycle.

• Support the production and publication of the NRS Annual Report and Accounts, ensuring compliance with the relevant accounting policies and engagement with the external auditors .

• Lead the production of the monthly management accounts and investigate and report on significant variances, recommend remedial actions required to deliver a balanced financial position and monitor the implementation of these actions.

• Supporting senior managers and budget holders by providing specialist advice on key financial management priorities including financial planning and reporting, risk management, capital accounting and VAT compliance.

• Proactively identify efficiencies in systems and processes, ensuring that financial controls are adequate and continually improving in order to contribute to the delivery of value for money outcomes.

• Line management responsibilities of the FBP team including managing, supporting and continuing to develop the team and their training requirements in the delivery of their role. Continue to develop and embed the FBP approach at NRS contributing to achieving positive strategic outcomes and ensuring financial stability for the organisation over the short, medium and longer term.

• Complying with the requirements of the Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM), the UK Government Financial Reporting Manual (FReM) and working within the requirements of the Consolidated Budgeting Guidance.

• Work flexibly across the Finance Team, taking on a range of other work as required to ensure that priorities are met.

Person specification

1. Well-developed analytical and excel skills with the ability to interpret and analyse complex financial data from a variety of sources, identify discrepancies and implement solutions to ensure value for money.

2. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to communicate the strategic implications of complex financial issues. Effective at building and maintaining relationships with Budget Holders and Senior Management. Confident in challenging when required.

3. Experience of financial management across financial planning, forecasting, management accounting and the month-end processes.

4. Demonstrable ability to manage people and teams, building confidence, capacity and capability.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £43,725, Scottish Government contributes £11,805 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

To apply submit your application by clicking on the "advertising site button".

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.