Address Overview:
We are recruiting for Assistant Finance Lead to work within our Business Cases and Management Accounts & Monthly reporting teams. You will be working with wider Programme colleagues to support development and track progress of business cases, and supporting month-end activity including journaling and analysing spend, reviewing forecasts, and discussing performance with Finance Leads and Budget Holders. There will also be wider team activity they can support, including developing our guidance for all staff and improving our processes and controls.
This is a key role and will require you to provide budget holders with sound financial guidance and advice. The role will require partnership working with senior budget holders to ensure compliance with all statutory requirements and best practice to assist business areas in achieving their objectives.
The Scotland Act 2016 devolves responsibility for a number of social security benefits to Scottish Ministers, as well as the power to top up benefits and create new benefits. The benefits to be devolved amount to some £2.9bn expenditure per year in Scotland and required the creation of a new Agency, Social Security Scotland, to deliver these benefits to citizens.
The Social Security Programme Directorate has been established to take forward the Scotland Act powers on devolved benefits. This vacancy is in the Social Security Programme Management & Delivery Division of the Directorate. Programme Finance sits within the Programme Management & Delivery division within the Social Security Programme, working alongside Policy, Analysis, technology and change management experts to ensure that the Social Security Programme achieves value for money, continues to be affordable, and achieves its planned outcomes. This is a large and growing business area: there are over 800 people in the Programme currently and this will continue to grow over the next year.
Programme Finance covers four key areas:
Responsibilities:
Competencies:
Self-Awareness
Communications and Engagement
Financial Management
Analysis and Use of Evidence Essential Criteria & Qualifications:
Location:
5 Atlantic Quay, Glasgow and Victoria Quay, Edinburgh
Interview and Assessment:
To be confirmed
Further Information
We believe that rewards are about more than just a salary.
We offer our staff a comprehensive package of benefits and the chance to make a real difference contributing to vital public services in Scotland.
We offer rewarding careers in an inclusive environment with flexible working options to achieve the right work / life balance.
We offer our staff:
Minimum time in post:
You will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of three years unless successful at gaining promotion to a higher Band or Grade.
In the event that further posts are required, a reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for up to 12 months.
Additional information:
For further information, please download and review the “Person Specification” which you will find below.
PDF Band B Pers - Person_Specification_Band_B Updated Oct23 (V3)
The post is a full-time role, but staff with different working patterns are invited to apply, and we will assess proposed working patterns against the business requirements for this post.
For information regarding this post please contact socialsecurityprogramme_resourcing@gov.scot.
How to apply
To apply for this post, you will need to provide the information requested below via the online application process.
You must fully complete and submit an online application via the website before the closing date using evidence based examples to demonstrate your knowledge/skills (300 words). Remember, your answers should be clear, concise and reflect what actions you undertook. You may want to use the STAR(R) approach to respond to each criterion.
Important Information Regarding Interviews:
In recognition of ongoing measures and guidance in response to Covid-19, a decision has been taken that all interviews will be conducted in a virtual/remote setting.
All applicants must ensure that they have a suitable space to complete the virtual interview via MS Teams and ensure that Wi-Fi/Broadband capacity will be sufficient to carry both audio and video feeds to undertake the interview.
Scottish Government's ambition is to be a world leading, diverse employer where people can be themselves at work. We want to help you demonstrate your full potential whatever type of assessment is used. If you require any adjustments to our recruitment process, please let us know via scottishgovernmentrecruitment@gov.scot
As part of any recruitment process, Scottish Government and associated public bodies collects and processes personal data relating to job applicants and applicants for public appointments.
Personal information you provide in the recruitment process will be made available to Scottish Government and our additional data processors.
Do you have excellent attention to detail and the confidence to advise and influence colleagues and stakeholders at all levels?
We are recruiting for Assistant Finance Lead to work within our Business Cases and Management Accounts & Monthly reporting teams. You will be working with wider Programme colleagues to support development and track progress of business cases, and supporting month-end activity including journaling and analysing spend, reviewing forecasts, and discussing performance with Finance Leads and Budget Holders. There will also be wider team activity they can support, including developing our guidance for all staff and improving our processes and controls.
This is a key role and will require you to provide budget holders with sound financial guidance and advice. The role will require partnership working with senior budget holders to ensure compliance with all statutory requirements and best practice to assist business areas in achieving their objectives.
The Scotland Act 2016 devolves responsibility for a number of social security benefits to Scottish Ministers, as well as the power to top up benefits and create new benefits. The benefits to be devolved amount to some £2.9bn expenditure per year in Scotland and required the creation of a new Agency, Social Security Scotland, to deliver these benefits to citizens.
The Social Security Programme Directorate has been established to take forward the Scotland Act powers on devolved benefits. This vacancy is in the Social Security Programme Management & Delivery Division of the Directorate. Programme Finance sits within the Programme Management & Delivery division within the Social Security Programme, working alongside Policy, Analysis, technology and change management experts to ensure that the Social Security Programme achieves value for money, continues to be affordable, and achieves its planned outcomes. This is a large and growing business area: there are over 800 people in the Programme currently and this will continue to grow over the next year.
Programme Finance covers four key areas:
- Financial planning – supporting future years planning and the overarching business case for Social Security
- Financial planning – supporting the key business cases underpinning the programme
- Management accounts and monthly reporting
- Financial accounting, controls and governance
- Journaling and analysing spend each month, to understand where key spend is recorded in Social Security and changes month-on-month.
- Reviewing forecasts and actual spend against budget, and supporting monthly meetings with Finance Leads and Budget Holders.
- Supporting the Business Case team working with wider Social Security colleagues to develop business cases, including financial analysis and reporting.
- Working flexibly across the team taking on a range of other work as required to ensure that priorities are met.
- Maintain & develop forecasting models as required.
- Work with key Senior Budget Holders to support their financial requirements.
- Direct, coach and develop staff.
- Prepare and review financial information as well as undertaking financial and staffing reconciliations.
Competencies:
Self-Awareness
Communications and Engagement
Financial Management
Analysis and Use of Evidence
Essential Criteria:
1. Be able to demonstrate ability to apply your developing professional judgement in accountancy. With current knowledge of financial regulations.
2. Understanding and working knowledge of financial systems. Advanced excel skills with a proven track record of using excel effectively as a business tool.
3. Well-developed interpersonal skills, confident communicator with refined written communication skills and excellent attention to detail. Proven experience of stakeholder management across diverse teams.
4. Excellent numerical and analytical skills. With the ability to present complex information in a logical manner.
1. Be able to demonstrate ability to apply your developing professional judgement in accountancy. With current knowledge of financial regulations.
2. Understanding and working knowledge of financial systems. Advanced excel skills with a proven track record of using excel effectively as a business tool.
3. Well-developed interpersonal skills, confident communicator with refined written communication skills and excellent attention to detail. Proven experience of stakeholder management across diverse teams.
4. Excellent numerical and analytical skills. With the ability to present complex information in a logical manner.
Location:
5 Atlantic Quay, Glasgow and Victoria Quay, Edinburgh
Interview and Assessment:
To be confirmed
Further Information
We believe that rewards are about more than just a salary.
We offer our staff a comprehensive package of benefits and the chance to make a real difference contributing to vital public services in Scotland.
We offer rewarding careers in an inclusive environment with flexible working options to achieve the right work / life balance.
We offer our staff:
- A competitive salary, pension and benefits – Find out more
- Meaningful work that makes a difference – Find out more
- Learning and career development – Find out more
- Equality, diversity and inclusion – Find out more
- Flexible working for a healthy work-life balance – Find out more
- Staff health, wellbeing and support – Find out more
Minimum time in post:
You will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of three years unless successful at gaining promotion to a higher Band or Grade.
In the event that further posts are required, a reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for up to 12 months.
Additional information:
For further information, please download and review the “Person Specification” which you will find below.
PDF Band B Pers - Person_Specification_Band_B Updated Oct23 (V3)
The post is a full-time role, but staff with different working patterns are invited to apply, and we will assess proposed working patterns against the business requirements for this post.
For information regarding this post please contact socialsecurityprogramme_resourcing@gov.scot.
How to apply
To apply for this post, you will need to provide the information requested below via the online application process.
You must fully complete and submit an online application via the website before the closing date using evidence based examples to demonstrate your knowledge/skills (300 words). Remember, your answers should be clear, concise and reflect what actions you undertook. You may want to use the STAR(R) approach to respond to each criterion.
Important Information Regarding Interviews:
In recognition of ongoing measures and guidance in response to Covid-19, a decision has been taken that all interviews will be conducted in a virtual/remote setting.
All applicants must ensure that they have a suitable space to complete the virtual interview via MS Teams and ensure that Wi-Fi/Broadband capacity will be sufficient to carry both audio and video feeds to undertake the interview.
Scottish Government's ambition is to be a world leading, diverse employer where people can be themselves at work. We want to help you demonstrate your full potential whatever type of assessment is used. If you require any adjustments to our recruitment process, please let us know via scottishgovernmentrecruitment@gov.scot
As part of any recruitment process, Scottish Government and associated public bodies collects and processes personal data relating to job applicants and applicants for public appointments.
Personal information you provide in the recruitment process will be made available to Scottish Government and our additional data processors.
