Description Job Description Are you a dynamic finance professional with a proven track record in leading complex financial environments, driving innovation, and fostering continuous improvement? The Directorate for Health and Social Care Finance falls under the portfolio of the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and is responsible for managing and overseeing over £21 billion of spend. This includes reporting on the financial performance of fourteen Territorial NHS Boards, eight National Health Boards and related agencies, as well as the internal programme expenditure across the Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorates (SGHSCD). Working closely with colleagues across the wider Directorate, NHS Boards and Scottish Government, the Head of Financial Control has overall responsibility for leading on the Portfolio’s consolidated outturn and annual accounts process, ensuring the delivery of effective financial control, and the provision of professional accounting advice to DGHSC and stakeholders. You will report directly to the Deputy Director, Financial Management and Planning, and has management responsibility for four staff. Responsibilities • Co-ordinate the provision of accurate and timely financial reporting on the Portfolio’s overall outturn position for senior management, to support robust decision making and the requirement to achieve a balanced resource position. • Lead on the preparation of Health and Social Care portfolio end-year position (including NHS Boards sub-consolidation, SG annual accounts and UK Whole of Government Accounts) in accordance with agreed timeframes, legislative accounting requirements and professional standards. • Manage relationships with key stakeholders, including on the consolidation of NHS Boards and SGHSCD financial information, the provision of information to central finance for consolidated reporting, and engagement with external audit. • Provide accounting and budgeting advice to DG Health finance community, NHS Health Boards and other stakeholders; including regular participation at the Technical Accounting Group and Financial Accounting Network meetings. • Ensure appropriate control and governance procedures and structures are in place within DGHSC and Health Boards; including participation in scheme of delegation, certificates of assurance processes and oversight of the reconciliation of key budget processes and ledger balances. • Lead analytical support for the portfolio budget and spending reviews, including maintenance and improvement of key internal budget data and processes. • Represent DGHSC interests in the development of corporate systems, including exploring new ways of working from the shared services programme to ensure the best use is made of technological innovation. • Provide effective leadership and support to the team, including direct line management of the Financial Control and Assurance Manager. • The Division is currently undertaking a restructure and review of roles and responsibilities, and therefore the duties outlined above are subject to change. Responsibilities Qualifications The successful candidate must be fully CCAB qualified (or equivalent) with up to date CPD. Please include this in your CV and Personal Statement 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: Strong technical financial and analytical skills with a proven ability in communicating financial information clearly and concisely, leading and influencing key stakeholders and driving forward improvement in financial practices, processes and governance. Behaviours: • Seeing the Big Picture – Level 4 • Changing and Improving – Level 4 • Communicating and Influencing – Level 4 • Making effective decisions – 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. These will be held in person where possible. Assessments are scheduled for W/C 19th May 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.