Transport Scotland is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government, and Scotland’s national transport agency, we focus our activities on delivering, through our National Transport Strategy (NTS2) - National Transport Strategy 2 | Transport Scotland, the transport driven National Outcomes within the National Performance Framework (NPF) - National Performance Framework - gov.scot and the Programme for Government (PfG) - Programme for Government - gov.scot
Our purpose is to deliver the Scottish Government’s vision for transport which is set out in the National Transport Strategy 2.
Our vision is outlined within the National Transport Strategy (NTS2), to have a sustainable, inclusive, safe and accessible transport system, helping deliver a healthier, fairer and more prosperous Scotland for communities, businesses and visitors. The National Transport Strategy sets out our vision for Scotland’s transport system to 2040. The vision is underpinned by four interconnected priorities: Reduces Inequalities, Takes Climate Action, Helps Deliver Inclusive Economic Growth and Improves our Health and Wellbeing.
Director, Finance & Corporate Services is a unique opportunity to join Transport Scotland’s Senior Management Team in what is a pivotal role to help shape the future of Scotland’s transport system. This high-profile role leads the development and delivery of a finance vision and strategy for a £4 billion portfolio, ensuring alignment with Transport Scotland’s purpose and Scottish Government priorities. You will provide assurance to the Chief Executive and Ministers that statutory responsibilities are met and that financial decision-making is robust, enabling resilient, value-for-money transport services. You will work closely with the Chief Executive to provide strategic input on major decisions.
In addition to finance, you will oversee corporate services, ensuring compliance with legislation and best practice across functions including HR, IT, information governance, communications, facilities, risk management, and health and safety. This role also encompasses the oversight of sponsorship of the transport public bodies and the contribution of the transport sector to Public Service Reform - Scotland's Public Service Reform Strategy: Delivering for Scotland - gov.scot. The directorate comprises approximately 86 staff, including senior leaders.
Responsibilities
* Shape and deliver financial strategy for a £4bn transport portfolio, aligning with Transport Scotland’s vision and government priorities while addressing future risks and opportunities.
* Ensure strong governance and provide assurance to the Chief Executive and Ministers, ensuring statutory responsibilities, robust financial decision-making, and value-for-money transport and TS corporate services.
* Lead strategic planning for capital investment and infrastructure, prioritising projects and programmes to support long-term transport needs.
* Oversee governance and sponsorship arrangements for Transport Scotland and its sponsored bodies, embedding best practice and driving efficiency improvements aligned with the Public Service Reform Strategy.
* Direct financial and corporate services functions, including finance, HR, ICT, information governance, communications, and facilities, ensuring compliance and high-quality service delivery.
* Contributing at a corporate level to the TS Transformation Programme with a focus on our Workforce Strategy.
* Champion risk and audit assurance, maintaining strong financial controls, reporting systems, and engagement with Audit Scotland, while supporting organisational resilience and transformation.
* Play an active role in supporting Transport Scotland’s response to major planned and unplanned events.
Success Profile
It is essential that you can provide evidence in your application of the professional experience and skills required for this role. In addition, candidates applying for roles with the government agencies and public bodies in Scotland are assessed in line with the Success Profiles framework that is used across the Civil Service. This means that as well as evidencing the professional experience and skills you will also be expected to evidence behaviours at the level required for this Senior Civil Service role.
Qualifications
You must be a qualified accountant, and a member of a Consultative Committee of Accountancy Body, with up-to-date CPD:
* Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA)
* Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)
* Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS)
* Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ireland (ICAI)
* Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
* Chartered Institute of Management Accountant (CIMA)
Technical / Professional Skills
* A strong track record of success as a financially and commercially astute Finance Professional in a senior finance leadership role. With extensive knowledge of UK accounting and financial reporting frameworks and experience of managing large & complex budgets of at least £50 million in the public sector and leading multiple functions in a complex organisational setting.
* Significant experience of managing and developing governance and accountability frameworks with a strong track record of securing quality, efficiency and value for money in the management of budgets.
Experience
* Shaping and leading cross-team strategies to improve overall operational delivery effectiveness, capability and service outcomes including in high-pressure situations and under challenging deadlines.
* Demonstrate political acuity and highly effective leadership, communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence, negotiate and collaborate with Ministers and a range of staff and stakeholders, embedding a strong performance and improvement culture and inclusive behaviours and practices.
* Taking an effective whole system approach to complex, dynamic issues; actively developing wide networks internally and externally, breaking down and collaborating across barriers to deliver strategic outcomes.
Behaviours
You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, including descriptors for each level here: Behaviours - Success profiles: candidate guide - gov.scot
You are required to demonstrate the following behaviours at level 6 for this role:
* Leadership
* Working Together
* Developing Self and Others
* Managing a Quality Service
How To Apply
Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 1000 words) that directly addresses the Qualification, Technical/Professional Skills and Experience criteria listed in the Success Profile above. Your statement should clearly demonstrate how you meet the specified experience requirements, and your CV must confirm your qualifications. General or unrelated statements, or failure to evidence the required qualification criteria, may result in your application not being considered.
During the interview and assessment process we will test your Skills, Experience and Behaviours aligned to this role.
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, psychological assessment and a staff panel exercise.
Assessments are scheduled for w/c’s 26 January and 2 February 2026, however this may be subject to change.
The Final Interview Panel Will Take Place On 20 February 2026, In Person At St Andrews House, Regent Road, Edinburgh, EH1 3DG. Interviews Will Be Chaired By Liz Walmsley, Civil Service Commissioner. The Other Panel Members Are
* Alison Irvine – Chief Executive, Transport Scotland
* Lesley Fraser – Director General, Corporate
* Jackie McAllister – Chief Financial Officer, Scottish Government
* Graeme Dickson - Transport Scotland Non-Executive Director
For full details of the role and responsibilities of the Civil Service Commission, please refer to the Civil Service Recruitment Principles in our candidate guidance.
Benefits
We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Alongside your salary of £111,916, Scottish Government contributes £32,422 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
* Learning and development tailored to your role
* An environment with flexible working options
* A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
* A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
About Us
Find out more about what we offer.
Transport Scotland is the national transport agency for Scotland, established as an Executive Agency, and accountable to Parliament and the public through Scottish Ministers, with a budget of over £4 billion for financial year 25/26. It is responsible, on behalf of Scottish Ministers, for transport policy and strategy across all modes, transport investment planning, transport infrastructure including the trunk road network and rail enhancements, accessibility and active travel and transport’s contribution to the development of a low carbon economy. Please refer to the Transport Scotland website for further information - Transport Scotland | About
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
The Transport Scotland hybrid working policy is currently under review. Our standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. We offer a range of flexible and hybrid working options depending on the needs of the role.
Individuals on any working pattern can apply for any post. Job sharers are encouraged to apply. You can find guidance on applying for SCS roles as a job sharer, whether you have a job share partner or not, here.
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).
In addition to the standard pre-employment checks, this vacancy will also require all candidates to obtain National Security Vetting (NSV) at Security Check (SC) clearance level. This type of check normally includes meeting a minimum UK residency period, which for SC level is 5 years.
Further information about NSV checks can be found on the UK Government website - National security vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK
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.