Location
Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Exeter, Ipswich, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Nottingham. (Croydon and Stratford will only be available to existing employees of the Insolvency Service).
About the job
The Insolvency Service is a leading Government agency which plays a crucial role in providing essential services to the public and to business. The work we do is important to the proper functioning of markets, the economy in general and support for thousands of people each year who are in financial difficulty.
Inclusive and diverse teams are important to us. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups underrepresented in our workforce. The Insolvency Service strives to ensure that the agency is a safe, inclusive, and welcoming place for everybody to bring their true self to work and to help the agency to achieve its diversity objectives. We have 9 active employee network groups available to join or become an ally, these include Carers Network, Disability network group, Employee Assistance, Representatives, FACES Network Group, LGBT+, Mind Matters, Part Time Workers, The Shed - Men’s Network Group and Women’s Network Group.
The Insolvency Service is recruiting a G6 Head of Strategic Finance to provide senior leadership within the Finance, Commercial, Sustainability and Property (FCSP) Directorate. Working to the FCSP Director, the postholder will co‑lead the Agency’s Finance Function alongside the Head of Core Finance, championing strong financial management and influencing strategic decision making across the organisation.
They will oversee five key areas—Finance Business Partnering for operations and corporate centre directorates and for Strategic Projects and National Interest Cases, Financial Planning, Management Accounting, Fee Reviews and Benefits Management—ensuring robust financial governance, long‑term sustainability, and value‑for‑money outcomes.
The role is central to shaping the Agency’s financial strategy and requires close collaboration with operational, analytical, and cross‑government stakeholders to provide financial information for decision making, support fiscal events and maintain effective financial performance.
We offer full‑time, part‑time, job share and flexible ways of working. We value capability, technical skills and experience and we place great emphasis on lifetime development to support our people. We encourage our employees to become more involved in areas they feel strongly about, whether it be for the benefit of the agency, though our Engagement network or in their own local communities via volunteering opportunities.
The Insolvency Service is a great place to work, learn and grow your career!
Job description
This is a pivotal senior role within the Finance Directorate, offering significant exposure to the Executive Leadership Team and the Insolvency Service Board. The postholder will lead the Agency’s internal financial management and strategic planning processes, oversee financial reporting, shape the financial frameworks that support major change and transformation initiatives and act as Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) for high priority transformation projects. As part of the senior leadership team, the role also contributes to the wider management of the Finance Function and plays an active role within the Government Finance Profession.
Responsibilities
* Lead the Agency’s approach to spending reviews and fiscal events, oversee business planning cycles, and ensure long‑term financial sustainability.
* Provide leadership across five specialist finance areas: Finance Business Partnering for core operations and corporate centre directorates and Strategic Projects & National Interest Case, Financial Planning & Analysis, Management Accounting, Fee Reviews, and Benefits Management.
* Act as a senior financial adviser, offering insight, challenge, and expert recommendations to directors and senior leadership teams.
* Oversee internal financial management, strategic planning, and reporting to internal stakeholders and external funding partners, ensuring clarity, accuracy and alignment with organisational priorities.
* Drive strong financial governance and assurance, ensuring compliance with government financial standards and supporting effective decision making.
* Build and maintain strategic relationships with HM Treasury, DBT, and other key stakeholders to support effective financial stewardship and influence cross‑government outcomes.
* Lead the review and implementation of updated Agency fees to ensure financial sustainability, including coordinating required legislation and IT system changes.
1. Strategic Leadership
* Lead four specialist finance teams, driving high performance, capability development and strong financial governance.
* Provide strategic financial advice to the Executive Team, offering insight and challenge to inform decision making.
* Shape and promote a long‑term, forward‑looking financial strategy aligned to organisational priorities and sustainable delivery.
2. Business As Usual (BAU) Finance Business Partnering
* Lead internal budget management, forecasting and financial risk oversight across the organisation.
* Ensure high quality financial advice supports operational and strategic decisions.
* Drive value for money through robust challenge and evidence‑based forecasting.
* Lead financial appraisal of new initiatives, ensuring affordability and clarity of financial implications.
* Provide financial modelling and support for procurement, contract renewals and commercial activity.
3. Project Finance & National Interest Case Business Partnering
* Oversee a team responsible for supporting the financial management and reporting for major transformation programmes and National Interest Cases (NICs).
* Drive forecast accuracy, high quality reporting and strong guidance on government finance processes.
* Oversee development of business cases in line with the Green Book, providing specialist accounting advice.
* Provide senior assurance over programme financial governance, ensuring risks, assumptions and benefits are clearly articulated.
4. Benefits Management
* Lead the organisation’s approach to identifying, modelling, tracking and reporting benefits and efficiencies.
* Ensure confirmed benefits are embedded into budgets, forecasts and long‑term financial plans.
* Champion continuous improvement and efficiency across programmes.
* Align benefits realisation processes with strategic planning and business change activity.
5. Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)
* Lead development of the organisation’s financial strategy and analytical outputs.
* Oversee management reporting, including monthly and quarterly reporting to the Executive Committee and Board, management accounts aligned to Government Accounting Principles, and dashboards and statutory reporting for DBT and Companies House.
* Lead annual budget setting, scenario modelling and long‑term financial planning.
* Oversee planning and delivery of fiscal events, including spending reviews.
* Ensure financial insights clearly articulate performance, risks and opportunities.
6. Fee Review Implementation
* Identify where the Agency’s fees and charges need to change to maintain the final health of the organisation.
* Lead the work to implement new fee levels, including coordinating development and laying of underpinning legislation and changes to IT systems.
7. Project Senior Responsible Officer (SRO)
* As an SRO you will be accountable for ensuring a project meets its objectives, delivers expected benefits, and remains aligned with organisational priorities, providing strategic leadership, decision‑making, and overall governance throughout the project’s lifecycle.
8. External Funding & Stakeholder Management
* Oversee monthly financial submissions to DBT and other funding partners.
* Maintain strong financial relationships with DBT, Companies House, HMRC (National Insurance Fund), and HM Treasury.
* Ensure financial plans reflect external funding requirements, income forecasts and funding constraints.
Please note that the organisation is currently undergoing a period of change and development. As a result, aspects of the role - including responsibilities, team structures, and management arrangements - may evolve over time. The successful candidate should therefore be adaptable and open to change, with a willingness to help shape the role as the team and organisation continue to develop.
Person specification
This role requires an individual who is an outstanding leader who can quickly grip and deliver their leadership responsibilities, build highly effective teams and influential relationships with the ability to collaborate effectively and work with a very broad collection of internal and external stakeholders.
* have strong technical accounting and financial management skills that can be applied to the Agency’s complex financial frameworks and mix of funding streams, including Grant in Aid and income from fees and charges
* have experience of supporting the delivery of the strategic direction of a complex organisation with the ability to confidently, clearly and credibly influence stakeholders and decision makers
* have an understanding of developing technologies and shared service provision
* have strong leadership skills, and the ability to motivate and develop themselves and staff whilst leading through periods of change
* be able to bring strategic analytical rigour coupled with pragmatic problem solving
* be able to bring business insight to address ambiguity in complex financial situations and a capacity to drive innovative approaches through to implementation
* be able to successfully build and maintain broad diverse networks and relationships, using communication and collaboration skills to challenge assumptions, negotiate and influence decisions
Essential Criteria
* have an outstanding track record in leading teams of multiple discipline finance professionals in a fast‑paced environment and managing competing priorities
* have experience leading a project or change initiative, with responsibility for developing the strategic rationale and overall project delivery, including, overseeing project governance, project deliverables, project milestones, resourcing, plans and budget management.
Essential Additional Requirements
* Full Professional CCAB/CIMA qualification with significant post qualification experience
* CCAB or CIMA membership
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