Description Job Description Do you want an exciting opportunity to be involved in a high-profile area with exposure to funding, programme management, policy, and stakeholder engagement? This role is in the Mission Strategy Team, within Drugs Policy Division. The Drugs Policy Division focuses on developing and delivering the National Drugs mission, as was set out in the First Minister’s statement to Parliament on 20 January 2021. This role supports the effective decision-making and stewardship of public money. As the fiscal environment becomes more complex, there is a need for continuing development of financial reporting and successful candidates will play a key role in supporting this work. You will support the National Mission Senior Finance Officer in overseeing the divisional budget including day to day processing. You will provide financial advice across the division on a regular basis. You will be providing support to ensure that the robust financial management are maintained of a high-profile political commitment to spend £250 million over a 5-year period. This role will provide you with opportunities for development of financial management, communications and engagement and core policy development skills and including Ministerial briefings. Responsibilities Supporting the team in the production and distribution of financial reports to required timescales, providing accurate, relevant and timely management information. Review budget monitoring returns, undertake the first check of forecasts, year to date actuals, and budget data, and ensure that explanations make sense and support the figures, challenging areas where more explanation is required. Providing assistance in updating the financial ledger for example performing monthly reconciliation’s and preparing and processing journal entries. Interrogating financial data held on the system, understanding and analysing trends, formatting in a way that drives high quality management reporting and decision making. Assisting in the maintenance of overall financial control, to ensure the integrity of financial data on the ledger and the accuracy of the supporting systems and records. Ensuring adequate financial controls and clear audit trails are in place around accounting and reporting processes. Establishing and maintaining strong relationships with colleagues and key stakeholders within your directorate and the wider Scottish Government. Working flexibly across the team and shifting direction quickly to meet changing priorities and demands. Responsibilities Success Profile Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on. Technical / Professional Skills: Financial Management & reporting - Working Level Data / Information Management - Working Level You can find out more about the skills required here: Finance Profession Capability Framework Experience: The ability to work on your own with minimal supervision, alongside managing your own workload and competing deadlines. Behaviours: Making effective decisions (Level 2) Communicating and influencing (Level 2) You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here: Behaviour levels - Success profiles: candidate guide - gov.scot How to apply Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 1500 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the skills, experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profile above. If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and presentation. Assessments are scheduled for w/c (23rd June 2025) however this may be subject to change. Qualifications About Us The Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland. We have responsibility for a wide range of key policy areas including: education, health, the economy, justice, housing and transport. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles. 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 Our standard hours are 35 hours per week. We offer a range of flexible and hybrid working options depending on the needs of the role. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us. 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.