Head of Finance

We offer a hybrid working model that provides flexibility to our colleagues in terms of how they work, as long as it meets the needs of both the individual and the organisation. Whilst some opt to do the majority of their work from home, others opt to blend home and office working to suit their specific needs. Your contractual base will be Meadowbank House, Edinburgh EH8 7AU, you may be required to visit this location when it is deemed necessary.

Grade: C1 Band salary range (£52,359 – £65,103).

Benefits: Civil service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%, generous annual/parental and special leave policies, plus extensive personal wellbeing benefits. Please see full reward package at end of job description for more information.

Duration: Permanent. 

Contract: 36 – hour flexitime.

Department: Finance.

Directorate: Corporate.

Role reports to: Chief Finance Officer.

Closing date: 17th September 2023 at 23:55.

Are you a senior leader in the finance space, looking for an exciting career move?

Do you put robust financial management and end users of financial data at the heart of what you do?

Are you motivated by digital transformation and change in pursuit of service excellence?

Are you able to lead, motivate and develop people through the change journey, creating a sustainable, high performing and diverse workforce? 

If you have answered yes to the above, then Registers of Scotland want to hear from you.

Registers of Scotland (RoS) is at a critical and exciting point in our transformation into a digital and information business. RoS manages 21 land, property and other legal registers which are a critical asset for the Scottish economy. We aim to provide the best public service for Scotland and are on a mission to make some of the oldest public land registers in the world into some of the most modern. We are committed to providing the best service to our customers through the creation of award-winning digital services, supported by the latest in cloud and AI technology. 

When working at RoS we are committed to supporting our colleagues by offering a range of modern work policies and workspaces, as well as encouraging an inclusive, diverse, and equitable work environment. We are proud holders of the We Invest in People Gold Award, We Invest in Wellbeing Gold Award and Investors in Young People Silver Award, have zero gender pay gap, we’re a Carer Positive and Disability Confident employer. To get a taste of what we do, our facilities and our hybrid working approach please see the following link for a short video.

In this role, you will have a key strategic role, working closely with the senior management team at RoS, providing value to RoS through the provision of appropriate financial information to support strategic decision making and to monitor and evaluate outcomes against plans.  This is a great opportunity to play a professionally and personally rewarding leadership role where as a leader you will be motivated, inspiring, inclusive, and passionate, both in terms of the changes you will make to the organisation and the difference we can make to people’s lives. You will have line management responsibilities for staff and will take a proactive role in supporting the effective performance of the finance team and support the delivery of RoS being an effective and efficient delivery organisation.  You will work collaboratively with your peers to support RoS’ success and to ensure that our strategic objectives are met, in an affordable and fiscally sustainable manner, helping to shape and deliver an ambitious and future focused corporate strategy, which embeds a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.  Reporting to the Chief Finance Officer (CFO), you will be responsible for leading and coordinating the finance division’s work, and where necessary, stepping in for the CFO as required.

This role sits within the Corporate Directorate which is one of five directorates within RoS. Within the finance team, which sits at the heart of the organisation and consists of about 35 core staff, there are five teams – Management reporting and finance business partnering, Modelling and analysis, Financial accounting, Financial transactions and credit control and Finance systems. As Head of Finance, you will lead at least two of these teams. The team provides a range of financial services including finance business partnering, provision of technical and strategic financial advice to all business areas across the organisation, delivery of the annual accounts and audit assurance and corporate reporting.

Current duties and responsibilities 2023-24

• Responsible for leading the financial accounting and finance systems teams.
• Responsible for the planning, preparing and delivery of interim and year end audits and accounts.
• Audit and Risk Committee attendance.
• Internal Fraud prevention oversight.
• National Fraud Initiative oversight.
• Cash management.
• Responsible for developing and delivering the financial systems strategy and system replacement/upgrade plan.
• Governance boards attendance.
• Project board attendance as required.
• Delegation for CFO as required.

 Other duties and responsibilities (to be delivered by other Head of finance)

• Provide support to the Chief Finance Officer (“CFO”) and the Senior Management Team as required.
• Advise on the financial and commercial impacts of current and planned business initiatives and activities, across both statutory and non-statutory functions.
• Support the CFO and Accountable Officer in their responsibilities, including ensuring the finances of RoS are continually managed in an economical, efficient and effective manner.
• Ensure financial control is in compliance with all relevant accounting standards, tax and legislation.
• Lead on the day-to-day management of allocated finance teams (including staff management and training).
• Assist RoS to develop and renew the long-term financial strategy. 
• Responsible for the provision of financial performance reporting and Management Information from the finance team.
• Responsible for providing accurate and timely financial and FTE data for the RoS Corporate Plan.

Essential criteria – Your Skills and Attributes for Success

Technical

• Financially astute – CCAB qualified (or equivalent), with up to date CPD, strong technical accountancy and financial management skills and preferably knowledge of public sector budgeting and accounting frameworks
• Experienced at developing business services beyond core business, always with consideration to where digitalisation is appropriate
• Ability to uphold and ensure compliance, and a rapid response team to manage the business continuity process both internally and externally when customers are impacted.

Competencies:

Changing and improving

Considers the cumulative impact on own business area of implementing change (culture, structure, service and morale)

Analysis and making effective decisions

Analyses and evaluates data from various sources to identify pros and cons and identify risks in order to make or support well considered decisions at a senior level.

Leading and communicating

Confidently engages with the ability to influence, negotiate and collaborate with stakeholders and colleagues at all levels to generate commitment to goals.

Collaborating and partnering

Works as an effective team player, managing team dynamics when working across boundaries in an organisation while seeking to build high performing teams

Delivering value for money

Understands impacts of financial position of the organisation and uses insight to curtail or support business and investment activities.

Demonstrating commitment and Drive

Gets the best out of people by being positive and encouraging about priorities, objectives, and expectations. Has the ability to think and act strategically and make links across policy and organisational boundaries.

What can we offer you? – Benefits at RoS:

• We are a welcoming and inclusive community that functions on supportive practices such as Agile Coaches, Business Analysts, UX specialists and more. 
• We offer a stimulating working environment and strongly believe that a diverse team is crucial to achieving our mission!
• Our team is ambitious, acts with integrity and demonstrates commitment to progress and impact. We nurture talent and reward success.
• We work in an agile way, which is applied across the whole organisation. 
• RoS offers a generous annual leave entitlement. Starting with 26 days of holiday plus 12 days bank holidays (for a total of 38 days). We reward your commitment to us by increasing annual leave by +1 day per year, for up to +4 additional days on your entitlement, bringing your allowance to 42 days.
• We operate a 36-hour working week and offer flexible working arrangements (up to 30 hours flexi per month). 
• Based in the Edinburgh office and we currently offer a hybrid working model, having established we can successfully work remotely.

As part of the reward package, you will get access to: 

• Civil Service employer pension contributions at circa 27%.
• Service benefits, cycle to work scheme, discounted dental insurance, £100 eye care vouchers subsidised gym memberships, buying and selling annual leave, retail discounts and more!
• Family friendly leave policies (Maternity at *1-year full pay, Paternity Leave/Shared parental Leave/Special Leave & more) *after 1 year of continuous service.
• We will pay for your annual financial accreditation fee.
• We offer continuous training and development opportunities, including being able to attend industry events.
• A generous salary range with pay progression arrangements is in place. 
• You will have access to external counselling and external advice. 
• We are a Disability Confident employer.
• We hold a Invest in People Gold Award, Investors in Young People Silver Award and We Invest in Wellbeing Gold Award.
• We monitor equal opportunities and offer support where needed.

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available.
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Job contact :

• Name : resourcing@ros.gov.uk
• Email : resourcing@ros.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : Resourcing@ros.gov.uk