Interim Chief Financial Officer
Location: Head Office, Inverness (hybrid or remote working available across HIAL locations)
Contract: Interim - 5 Months (Potential to extend if required)
Hours: Full-time (35 hours per week)
Salary: £101,500 - £106,400
We are seeking an experienced and strategic Interim Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to join Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) at a pivotal time for the organisation.
HIAL is a company wholly owned by the Scottish Government, operating 11 airports across the Highlands and Islands. Its mission is to enable vital air connectivity and lifeline services for the communities it serves, while working towards the ambition of becoming a net zero regional airport group. With annual revenues of circa £35m, a capital programme of around £20m, and a workforce of approximately 670 staff, HIAL plays a critical role in Scotland’s transport infrastructure.
This interim role offers a unique opportunity to provide senior financial leadership within a complex, regulated, and high-profile public sector environment.
The Role
Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Interim CFO is a key member of the Strategic Leadership Team with full legal responsibilities under the Companies Act. The role combines strategic financial leadership with governance oversight.
Key responsibilities include:
Leading the development and delivery of HIAL’s financial strategy in line with corporate objectives
Providing high-quality financial advice to the CEO, Board, and Strategic Leadership Team
Overseeing budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, audit, and regulatory compliance
Managing finance, procurement, and project management functions
Ensuring compliance with the Scottish Public Finance Manual, IFRS, and relevant procurement regulations
Supporting commercial decision-making, investment appraisal, and risk management
Advising the Board on governance matters and ensuring compliance with the Corporate Governance Code
The role requires regular engagement with Scottish Government, Board members, regulators, and key external stakeholders, as well as site visits across the airport network.
The Person
We are seeking a senior finance professional who brings:
A recognised accountancy qualification and degree-level education
Proven experience in a senior financial leadership role, ideally at Executive
Strong strategic, commercial, and analytical capability
Experience of governance, risk management, and regulatory compliance
Excellent communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills
A collaborative leadership style with experience of managing and developing teams
Experience within the public sector, infrastructure, transport, or aviation environments would be advantageous.
Why Join HIAL?
This is a high-impact interim leadership role within an organisation that delivers essential services to communities across Scotland. You will play a critical role in maintaining financial stability, supporting strategic priorities, and strengthening governance during a key period of transition.
How to Apply:
Please submit your CV and supporting statement outlining how you meet the criteria and your motivation for applying.
HIAL is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.
For a confidential discussion, please contact Harry Thomson or Catriona Mackie at Aspen People on 0141 212 7555.
Closing date: Friday 30th January
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