Job Description

The Deputy Director Finance Business Partner Unit is a key leadership role in Financial Management Directorate within DG Exchequer, Strategy and Performance.

The Directorate supports Ministers and senior officials to make sound decisions about the allocation of resources, delivering a range of financial management and reporting, governance, and operational roles to ensure that the Scottish Government’s reputation for competent government, prudent financial management and value for money is maintained and enhanced.

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Deputy Director leads a team of qualified and experienced Finance Business Partners, providing strategic financial advice and expert support across all spending programmes - totalling around £50 billion annually.

This is a high impact leadership position offering the opportunity to drive financial sustainability, enable ministerial priorities and public service reform, and deliver value for money across government. We are seeking an inclusive, strategic leader who has:

• significant experience in public sector finance
• strong people management skills
• excellent communication and stakeholder engagement abilities
• a commitment to innovation, reform, and continuous improvement

Role and Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic financial leadership to support government priorities, ensuring value for money and long term sustainability.
• Lead high performing Finance Business Partner teams, fostering a culture of empowerment, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
• Deliver expert financial advice to Ministers, senior officials, and stakeholders on budgets, spending, and policy decisions.
• Oversee financial planning and governance, including budget setting, monitoring, reporting, and corporate financial exercises and controls.
• Collaborate across government, building strong relationships with internal and external partners to support integrated financial management and provide independent challenge and support.
• Drive innovation and transformation, supporting leadership of the wider finance operating model, and leveraging technology and data to improve financial services and decision-making.
• Champion financial capability, raising awareness and strengthening financial and commercial skills across the organisation.

Success Profile

Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on, you should provide evidence of how you meet these in your statement.

Behaviours (Level 5):

• Leadership
• Developing self and others
• Managing a quality service
• Delivering at pace

Experience:

1) A strong track record of success as a financially and commercially astute Finance Professional in a senior finance leadership role.
2) Evidence of working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders to deliver financial outcomes.
3) Ability to work with customers and delivery partners to lead financial change and improvement, preferably in a large scale environment.

Qualifications:

You must be a qualified accountant, with membership of one of the Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies (CCAB) or the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (or equivalent), and up-to-date CPD.

You can find out more about Success Profiles here: Success Profiles - Civil Service Behaviours (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Location & Working pattern

This role is a temporary position with an expected commitment for up to 12 months.

This post can be based in either Edinburgh or Glasgow, although you will be expected to attend regular meetings with Ministers and senior leaders in Edinburgh. As with most areas across the organisation, virtual & hybrid working is the current arrangement.

Applicants on any working patterns are welcome to apply for this post. If you are interested in applying on a job-share basis, please make clear in your expression of interest if you wish to be considered as a pre-existing job-share partnership or if you are interested in moving into a job-share arrangement. We will assess proposed working patterns against the business requirements for the post and discuss all options with candidates. You can find guidance on applying for SCS roles as a job sharer, whether you have a job share partner or not, here

Our standard hours are 37 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options depending on the needs of the role. The Scottish Government requires staff in hybrid-compatible roles to work in-person 40% of the time, either in an office or other agreed work location. If you have specific questions about the role r, please contact us.

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 experience and behaviours listed above.

Applications close on Monday 10 August at 23:55 - This role is open to internal candidates and Common Citizenship organisations only.

Please confirm in your CV or supporting statement your qualifications as stated in the person specification.

The note should also confirm that you have discussed the opportunity with your Director and that they would be content to release you if the application is successful.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application but all statements and examples provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

Please see our candidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.

Selection Process

The selection process will be short and light touch. Candidates who are considered to have the skills and experience will be invited to an informal discussion with the recruiting manager and another Director between 12 and 19 of August where possible, although this may be subject to change. They will recommend the candidate considered most suitable for the opportunity.

Salary on temporary promotion will be at the Deputy Director minimum (£93,667). On return to your substantive grade your salary will be adjusted accordingly.

Further Information

Further information about this opportunity is available from Jackie McAllister, Chief Financial Officer at cfo@gov.scot.