JOB SUMMARY

This is a challenging, energising and fast-paced role which acts as key support for the Head of Finance, Director of Finance & Corporate Services, other Transport Scotland Directors and Senior Managers in our supported arm’s length bodies, providing high quality advice with an opportunity to deputise on a regular basis, as well as regular access to Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers.
A suitable candidate will bring experience from a strong background and knowledge of commercial finance in either the public or private sector, as well as a proven track record of delivering results in financial management and excellent leadership and people management skills.
This role sits within the Finance and Corporate Services (FCS) Directorate which is one of eight directorates within the agency. FCS consists of four distinct functions – Corporate Services, TS Finance, Sponsorship and Transport Portfolio Finance.
Reporting into the Head of Finance, you will lead one of the two Finance Business Partnering Teams. The team consists of approximately 6 members of staff and delivers key finance business partnering and management accounting to the Transport Scotland Directorates who are responsible for our public bodies, including rail and ferries. The team develops awareness of drivers of financial performance to date, and accurate forecasting and outturn reporting and provides professional financial advice to support achievement of objectives within available resources.

QUALIFICATIONS

The successful candidate must be fully CCAB qualified with up to date CPD and relevant post qualified experience in accountancy environment.

EXPERIENCE

• Strong commercial finance experience, with the ability to provide high quality advice to Senior Leaders and to negotiate with stakeholders.
• Highly effective leadership, communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence, negotiate and collaborate effectively with a range of staff and stakeholders.
• Strong background in finance business partnering or management accounting, with the ability to communicate and explain complex financial concepts to non-accountants.
• The ability to think and act strategically and make links across policy and organisational boundaries to achieve positive outcomes.

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)
• 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

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide effective leadership, oversight and strategic and operational support to your Finance Business Partnering Team in the provision of management accounting support, financial and commercial advice and guidance to your allocated Transport Scotland Directorates.
• Work with colleagues across the agency to develop provide professional financial and strategic advice to support the achievement of objectives within available resources, bringing constructive challenge to ensure robust decision-making.
• Bring extensive knowledge of commercial finance to assist Transport Scotland Directorates with high profile financial and contractual negotiations and transactions.
• Robustly assess projections of future expenditure and ensure regular updates to financial plans to support corporate and Scottish Government budgeting, risk management and long-term financial planning.
• Support the Portfolio Finance team, stakeholders and Ministers by engaging in the budget setting process, contributing to the development of applicable documents and advice for Transport Scotland.
• Deputise for the Head of Finance or Director of Finance & Corporate Services as appropriate in matters relating to finance business partnering and management accounting.