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Form of workJob Description
About the organisation
Caledonian Sleeper is the collective name for overnight sleeper train services between London and Scotland. A sleeper service has been in operation since 1873 and there have been many changes over the years with different organisations running the service.
In June 2023, the service was taken into public ownership and is now being run by Caledonian Sleeper Limited a subsidiary of Scottish Rail Holdings, an arm’s length company owned and controlled by the Scottish Government. This new arrangement replaces the previous Caledonian Sleeper franchise, operated by Serco Caledonian Sleepers Limited.
The Caledonian Sleeper is subsidised by the Scottish Government and generates significant value to the Scottish economy via increased tourism. The organisation employs around 270 people, three quarter of whom are front line staff, and that number is due in increase further next year.
About the role
As Finance Director for Caledonian Sleeper LTD (CSL) you will support the Managing Director and Senior Management Team in developing and agreeing accurate budgetary forecasts with Transport Scotland and Scottish Rail Holdings and delivering the agreed budget/subsidy as set by Scottish Government. You will manage and communicate to the highest of levels with all relevant stakeholders.
The role will provide dedicated, commercial, and financial decision support which will be aligned to strategic priorities and achieving the business plan. The post holder will challenge assumptions, influence decisions, and make recommendations for efficiency improvements in order to achieve value for money for the Scottish Tax Payer.
The Finance Director should be a trusted point of contact for the Managing Director and Senior Management Team, transforming financial and non-financial information into insight which influences decision making to improve the overall financial performance of CSL’s services. The role will involve building and maintaining strong relationships with Directors and Managers and acting as a role model for CSL values and behaviours.
The Finance Director should be a trusted, visible, and accessible leader to stakeholders, Directors and Managers, providing commercial and financial decision support and insight into business performance to drive enhanced performance.
One of the main deliverables in the first year will be to create a dedicated finance function now CSL is in public ownership. This includes the set-up of new processes, systems and reporting, along with the recruitment and management of a newly created finance team, to ensure the provision of finance to the business is fit for purpose now and in the future.
Once fully established, the purpose of finance will be to continue to drive efficiencies in the business model, collaborating with stakeholders across CSL to help control costs and seek out new commercial opportunities that can deliver greater value for money to guests and the Scottish Tax Payer.
About the individual
The Finance Director will be a commercially minded professional, with demonstrable experience of building and developing finance functions, delivering change programmes and operating at a senior level where they have influenced positively across entire organisations.
It is crucial that the Finance Director is intellectually curious, collaborative in nature and possesses the required levels of gravitas to support significant change. An ability to learn and adapt at pace, along with resilience, optimism and high levels of engagement in CSL as an organisation, are all key personal traits.
Remuneration
An attractive base salary and wider financial package is available to the successful individual, as detailed below. Full details of remuneration are available upon application.
What to do next
To access the full Position Profile and have a confidential discussion about this opportunity, please contact Mark Lewis ([email protected]) or Kirsty Mclardy ([email protected]).
Please note that any direct or third party approaches will be sent to Livingston James for review and assessment.
Livingston James is an equal opportunities advocate and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status or pregnancy and maternity.
