Location
Glasgow, Scotland, G2 7ER
About the job
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.
Job description
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.
Person specification
Qualifications
The successful candidate must be fully CCAB qualified with up to date CPD and relevant post qualified experience in accountancy environment.
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
1. Government Finance – Working.
* Government Finance Guidance - Standards as set out within guidance documents including handbooks, advisory documentation, accounting treatment handbooks specifically for government organisations, such as the Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM), Consolidated Budgeting Guidance (CBG), the Government Financial Reporting Manual (FReM) etc.
* Government Financial Management - Management of financial matters, allowing government organisations to be more efficient, more resilient, and make better decisions, supporting organisations delivering on Value for Money Responsibilities.
* Government Financial Reporting - Activity related to the application of the FReM and other statutory reporting requirements, including technical accounting guidance for the preparation of financial statements.
* Understanding of Accounting Officer Responsibilities - The accounting officer responsibilities outlined in the SPFM, understanding of Accounting Officer tests and use to manage resources and finances across government.
* Supporting the PAC Agenda - Understanding and application of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) process, clarity on roles and responsibilities. Awareness of their remit and how it applies across your organisation and government finance.
* Understanding the Role of Audit Scotland - Understanding the role and remit of both Internal and External audit processes.
* Understanding Taxation - Accurate recording of transactions and treatment of financial records in accordance with relevant taxation law.
2. Budgeting, Forecasting and Costing – Practitioner.
* Understanding of Budget Guidance - Clear on budget process including required inputs, outputs, performance indicators and timescales for preparation to ensure that the organisation fulfils its statutory and regulatory obligations according to Consolidated Budgeting Guidance, professional accounting standards and other standards as necessary.
* Budget Management - Work closely with the business to manage and prepare the budget submissions, support monitoring, conducting analysis and updating assumptions, including taking a forward view to support planning of activities.
* Understanding of Forecasting - Knowledge of the forecasting mechanisms including frequency of preparation and depth of detail in collaboration with stakeholders adhering to deadlines.
* Understanding Costing - Process of recording costs with the correct accounting treatment with associated drivers in the production, analysis and use of information for decision-making in the organisation. Using cost centre analysis to determine under/overspend. Working with stakeholders to drive decision making.
3. Strategy – Practitioner.
* Strategic Financial Analysis - Identifying and analysing options and assessing their feasibility and operational effects. Providing the intelligence to support strategic financial planning. Ensuring that business solutions are aligned with strategy, business goals, and user needs.
* Strategic Financial Insight - This is the process of articulating the organisation's Financial strategy, sense of identity and direction, why the organisation exists, for whom and what the stakeholders require from a financial perspective. Utilising the strategic analysis to support making informed decisions about future direction and develop finance strategies that align with goals and objectives.
4. Risk - Working.
* Risk Management - The ability to collaborate effectively with stakeholders to identify, analyse, manage and report on risks.
* Using Risk Management to Influence Performance - The ability to work with those responsible for performance to identify risks and their potential impact, in order to influence decisions, support delivery of objectives and improve outcomes.
* Delivery and Oversight of the Risk Management Framework - The ability to communicate and effectively embed Risk Management Frameworks, including ensuring that policies, processes and supporting data are up to date and subject to regular review.
* Understanding the Risk of Fraud - The ability to understand an organisation's structure, role(s) and external context in order to provide appropriate advice and build a strong risk culture at all levels.
* Management of a Risk Function - The ability to lead a risk function with a clear vision for organisational risk management as an essential part of good governance and delivery of organisational objectives, including the use of risk appetite statements
Working- Moderate understanding of the topic with occasional use in role/prior experience. Practitioner - Strong understanding of the topic with regular use in role/moderate prior experience.
Experience
1. Strong commercial finance experience, with the ability to provide high quality advice to Senior Leaders and to negotiate with stakeholders.
2. Highly effective leadership, communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence, negotiate and collaborate effectively with a range of staff and stakeholders.
3. Strong background in finance business partnering or management accounting, with the ability to communicate and explain complex financial concepts to non-accountants.
4. The ability to think and act strategically and make links across policy and organisational boundaries to achieve positive outcomes.
#J-18808-Ljbffr