Description An opportunity has arisen for a Finance Officer within the Scottish Pensions Agency (SPPA). 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 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. As Finance Officer, you will be responsible for ensuring transactional activities are completed accurately and efficiently and may have line management duties in the future. Responsibilities Supporting the team in the production and distribution of financial reports to required timescales, providing accurate, relevant and timely management information. Review budget monitoring returns, undertake the first check of forecasts, year to date actuals, and budget data, and ensure that explanations make sense and support the figures, challenging areas where more explanation is required. Lead, support and line manage finance colleagues to ensure delivery of team priorities, while also providing support and guidance to direct reports. Providing assistance in updating the financial ledger for example performing monthly reconciliation’s and preparing and processing journal entries. Interrogating financial data held on the system, understanding and analysing trends, formatting in a way that drives high quality management reporting and decision making. Assisting in the maintenance of overall financial control, to ensure the integrity of financial data on the ledger and the accuracy of the supporting systems and records. Ensuring adequate financial controls and clear audit trails are in place around accounting and reporting processes. Establishing and maintaining strong relationships with colleagues and key stakeholders within your directorate and the wider Scottish Government. Working flexibly across the team and shifting direction quickly to meet changing priorities and demands. As Finance Officer the post holder may process payrolls for the National Health Service, Teachers’, Police and Fire-fighters’ pension schemes in Scotland – helping to deliver payments to over 200,000 people every month. Working collaboratively with other finance departments across Scottish Government. Responsibilities 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: Experience of running finance reports and drawing out trends and analysing financial data. The ability to work on your own with minimal supervision, alongside managing your own workload and competing deadlines. Behaviours: • Making Effective Decisions (Level 2) • Communicating and Influencing (Level 2) • Delivering at Pace (Level 2) • Working Together (Level 2) You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here. How to apply Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 1000 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 24th February 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 2 days minimum working onsite 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: 9th February (23:59)