Contents Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information Location Edinburgh About the job Job summary The Director of Finance is a critical and influential strategic leadership role within the SPS, which operate with 5 Directorates, forming the Executive Management Group. Whilst the Director of Finance is the portfolio lead and responsible for the running of the Finance and Estate functions, they also are part of the Executive Management team which supports the Chief Executive in the overall safe, person-centred running of Scottish prisons, with a focus on rehabilitation. This post is a key role within the SPS leadership team, which requires both an internal corporate focus and engagement with the Scottish Government, including Ministers, the Scottish Parliament and a range of Justice sector and other public sector partners as set out in the SPS Framework Document. You will operate at the most senior level of the SPS, leading on the annual Budget and Spending Reviews and working closely with the Principal Accountable Officer, members of the SPS Executive Team, and members of the Risk Monitoring and Audit Committee. This post leads the Finance, Estates, Net Zero and Procurement functions of the Scottish Prison Service, covering 17 prisons and annual resource budget of just under £500 million. Job description The duties and responsibilities of the Director of Finance include those listed below: Provide advice to the Chief Executive and lead on the development of financial strategy aligned to the current and future priorities of the SPS. Oversee the creation and implementation of a clear, cohesive and focused financial strategy: a strategy that is underpinned by a robust approach to risk management, financial compliance, and financial planning. Advise the Chief Executive, Directors and Scottish Government, as relevant, on the appropriate budget allocation, drawing together economic forecasts and strategies to manage allocation risk, considering resource, capital and operating cost budget. As part of the senior leadership team, ensure appropriate processes and controls are in place so that budgets are balanced. Provide strategic and technical advice, financial forecasting, and assurance in support of a number of strategic corporate projects, including new prison builds, change and major projects. Lead the development, delivery, and publication of the annual SPS Budget and any Spending Reviews to ensure each Budget provides clear and increased impact from resource and capital investments. Oversee the production of statutory accounts ensuring accuracy and to agreed timescales. All work must be underpinned by sustainable finances for inclusive economic growth, wellbeing, and a low carbon future, and processes managed in a way that is transparent to ensure accountable spend to the Scottish Government. They will ensure that opportunity cost and the overall sustainability of the SPS Budget are considered in all financial decisions; aligned at all times to outcomes and public value. For more information about the role and the Scottish Prison Service please go to the Scottish Government vacancy site. Person specification Qualifications The successful candidate must be fully CCAB qualified as a professional accountant with up to date CPD and have membership of a recognised professional accountancy body. Experience Strong technical financial accounting skills and ability to communicate complex financial information clearly and succinctly to a wide range of audiences, including to non-finance colleagues. Experience of implementing or managing effective, sustainable change, modifying and improving behaviours. Highly effective leadership, communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence, negotiate and collaborate with a range of staff and stakeholders. Strong planning and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage a diverse workload and team; able to adapt to changing situations and managing competing priorities. Significant financial management experience at a senior management level with a clear understanding of: Public body expectations Integrated approaches to improvement, performance, management information and risk management The relationship between strategy and financial management High levels of numeracy and understanding of financial frameworks. This includes the ability to: understand Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors deal with complex financial instruments drive quality, efficiency and value for money in the management of budgets Behaviours You are expected to provide evidence of the following behaviours at Level 5. Leadership Working Together Developing self and others Managing a quality service You can find out more about Civil Service Success Profiles Behaviours here. Qualifications You must be fully CCAB qualified as a professional accountant with up to date CPD and have membership of a recognised professional accountancy body. Memberships You must have membership of a recognised professional accountancy body. Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Leadership Working Together Developing Self and Others Managing a Quality Service Benefits Alongside your salary of £104,129, Scottish Government contributes £30,166 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% Things you need to know Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience. If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and psychometric assessment. Interviews are scheduled for w/c 10 March 2025 however this may be subject to change. The final interview panel will be held at SPS HQ, 1 Lochside Avenue, Edinburgh, EH12 9DJ. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise. As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above. Security Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window). See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks. Medical Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical. Nationality requirements This job is broadly open to the following groups: UK nationals nationals of the Republic of Ireland nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) Working for the Civil Service The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. Diversity and Inclusion The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window). Apply and further information This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative. The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window). Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. Contact point for applicants Job contact : Name : SCSResourcinggov.scot Email : SCSResourcinggov.scot Recruitment team Email : SCSResourcinggov.scot Apply at advertiser's site Share this page Print Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn GMail