Description Looking for a challenge in a fast paced financial environment? The Scottish Public Pensions Agency is an Agency of the Scottish Government. Our principal role is to administer the pensions for employees in the National Health Service, Teachers’, Police and Fire-fighters’ pension schemes in Scotland. The Agency administers these public service pension schemes on behalf of Scottish Ministers to over 640,000 members with annual payments of over £3.7 billion, together with the related agency administration expenditure of c. £31 million. The Scottish Public Pensions Agency’s Finance function delivers a complete financial management, reporting, and treasury service combined with responsibility for finance transactions with members and employers, to ensure the delivery of value for money outcomes. The Senior Financial Accountant has overall responsibility for the financial reporting outputs of the Agency including monthly budget monitoring returns and the Annual Report and Accounts, for the support of operational processes and information to inform financial decision making by Senior Management and by Ministers. You will be a member of the business area’s senior management team, managing members in one of the finance teams and supporting the Financial Controller and CFO. Responsibilities Lead and Manage the Accounting and Reporting team within the finance function, engaging and collaborating with both internal and external stakeholders to achieve outcomes. Provide professional technical accounting and budgeting advice, analysis and scrutiny of financial proposals to support business areas and contribute to future business strategies. Produce key statutory financial reports and notes to the Annual Report and Accounts, commissioning and collating the required information in accordance with the FReM and other accounting guidelines and regulations. Complete the associated Scottish Government Consolidation and whole of Government Accounts. Liaise with Audit Scotland and Internal Audit, on both the annual accounts and audit activity, throughout the year, and provide comments and management responses on draft audit report. Advise relevant Accountable Officer on any responses required to audit reports. Provide effective leadership and support to the team, including direct line management of staff. Responsibilities Qualifications The successful candidate must be fully CCAB qualified with up to date CPD and relevant post qualified experience in an 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. Experience: Producing key statutory financial reports and notes to the Annual Report and Accounts. 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. Behaviours: Seeing the Bigger Picture - (Level 4) Leadership - (Level 4) Communicating and influencing - (Level 4) Delivering at Pace - (Level 4) 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 3rd March however this may be subject to change. Qualifications About Us The Scottish Public Pensions Agency (SPPA) is an Agency of the Scottish Government. Its principal role is to administer the pensions, premature retirement and injury benefits schemes for employees of the National Health Service in Scotland (NHSSS) the Scottish Teachers' Superannuation Scheme (STSS), the Fire Scotland Pension Scheme and the Police Scotland Pension Scheme. 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, with two days minimum working on-site at SPPA. 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. Apply before: 12th February (23:59)