We are looking for an experienced leader to join us as a Senior Finance Lead. This role offers significant scope, supporting large programmes and complex portfolios, spanning delivery, policy, strategic direction, and leadership. You'll collaborate closely with suppliers and a diverse range of stakeholders. You'll lead, direct, and guide a team, fostering a culture of innovative thinking, learning from experience, and driving quality improvements by challenging the status quo. Your key tasks will include ensuring rigorous control of project costs and meeting financial and performance reporting requirements through specialist financial services. You’ll enable the team to deliver on scope, on time, and within budget, facilitating informed strategic decisions. At the SDA, we champion flexible working arrangements. Regular in-person attendance (as per civil service guidelines) is expected to be a minimum of 40% to promote the benefits of face-to-face collaboration, alongside flexible hours to support work-life balance. Initially, you may need to attend more frequently to familiarise yourself with the site, the team, and your role. There may be a need for travel to other UK sites, including overnight stays, depending on organizational requirements. Travel and Subsistence allowances will apply. What you’ll be doing Overseeing the monthly financial forecasting process and long-term financial planning, including financial risk, and accurate and insightful commentary, challenge, and variance analysis. Leading on the Financial input and information at the monthly forecast reviews to empower stakeholder decision making. Leading the team in actively supporting audit and internal compliance. Ensuring efficiencies captured are promptly and adequately supported by auditable evidence and actively leading the team in resolving audit challenges. Monitoring project expenditure against approval and liaising with finance colleagues to ensure that VAT and FOREX costs receive the correct financial treatment. Working collaboratively to provide timely financial information for relevant Business Cases and Approvals. Providing prompt evaluation of proposals and monitoring project cost spending against approval. Leading a finance team, developing people and processes to maximise the effectiveness and efficient operation of the team. Providing essential support to the business area by analysing, understanding, and reporting on financial performance against delivery schedules and targets. Including evaluating risks and opportunities, collaborating effectively, and promptly assessing proposals and business cases. Person specification To be successful with your application, you'll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria: Qualified Accountant CCAB (including CIMA, ICAEW, ACCA, CIPFA, ICAS, Chartered Accountants Ireland, or International equivalent qualification, with full membership (with letters) of the relevant accounting body and up to date CPD records. Extensive experience in a Management Accounting or Financial Accounting, presenting financial information or public sector accounting. Excellent communication skills with proven stakeholder management and able to demonstrate challenging and influencing senior leadership. Evidence of an inclusive leadership style which role models, inspires, motivates, and promotes collaboration to develop high performing teams. In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview: Cost Management - Expert level Financial Analysis, Management Information & Reporting - Practitioner level Leadership - CSBC4 Communicating and influencing - CSBC4