Job detail for Governance and Finance Officer

Could you combine strategic financial insight with strong governance expertise to help shape organisational decision-making?

As Business Partner, you will provide trusted advice and challenge to senior leaders, supporting the delivery of robust financial management, governance, risk and information management across the Inspectorate. Working at the heart of strategic planning and performance, you will use data, analysis and stakeholder engagement to support effective decision-making and ensure strong corporate governance across the organisation.

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Finance

• Provide support to the Finance and Governance Manager  by analysing monthly spend and payroll spend against budget and reforecast.
• Provide support to the Finance and Governance Manager by reporting monthly forecasts, ensuring budget is appropriately controlled and explain variances to senior management groups (end of Period report/Monthly deep dive report)
• Provide support to the Finance and Governance Manager to complete in year Budget Transfers; completion of in year spending reviews including MTFR; Accountable Officer Templates; commissions relating to the annual published Budget and end of year processes
• Provide support to the Finance and Governance Manager by analysing workforce data ensuring compliance with PSR requirements and Corporate Pay and Workforce Data Collection Commission
• Produce the Inspectorate’s annual budget and staffing budget plan.
• Challenge spend and variances and recommend actions to the Finance and Governance Manager to address these.
• Support and challenge the Inspectorate staff on financial management matters, ensuring appropriate policy is followed and controls are in place and engaging with specialist finance colleagues regularly.
• Liaise with SG and external partners to ensure income is received and reported on and to complete budget transfers.
• Provide analysis, data, management information and budget information to support change management and new initiatives by the senior leadership team and SG/external partners.

Governance and Information Management

• Ensure that the Inspectorate is appropriately governed and meetings are being managed by the Business Manager.
• Lead on the development of the risk management approach for the Inspectorate, including developing and managing the risk register and issues log for the Inspectorate, reporting to appropriate groups.
• Lead on developing a Data Protection Strategy for the Inspectorate, navigating data covered by SG Policies and those covered independently. Update Inspectorate Leadership Group of progress of Data Protection. Main point of external Data Protection Office, leading meetings where required
• Provide management and performance information on behalf of the Finance & Governance Manager and Inspectorate to inform and influence key decisions by leadership team.
• Support the Finance & Governance Manager to ensure compliance with Information Management, including Business of Government Correspondence, providing regular updates to the Inspectorate Leadership Group
• Lead on responses to data handling issues, including risks, breaches or sensitive information concerns.
• Provide support to the Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO) and Information Asset Owners (IAOs) by providing policy advice, risk escalation and compliance monitoring.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Work with teams across HMIE and Scottish Government corporate teams to support a consistent approach to governance and assurance.
• Give advice and support to colleagues on governance standards, compliance processes, and how internal controls work.

Success Profile

Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on.

Technical / Professional Skills:

• Government Economic Service Technical Framework  to Level 3 Expert (Grade 7 equivalent)

Experience:

• Proven experience as a professional economist and a strong understanding of economic concepts and analytical techniques, gathering, analysing and presenting economic data.
• Experience of leading a team and working with other professions to develop a shared evidence base to inform and influence policy.

Behaviours:

• Leadership - Level 4
• Changing and Improving - Level 4
• Developing Self and Others - Level 4
• Communicating and Influencing - Level 4

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.

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.

Assessments are scheduled for early November however this may be subject to change.

About Us

The Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland. We have responsibility for a wide range of key policy areas including: education, health, the economy, justice, housing and transport. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles.

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.

Recruitment Principles

As a government organisation, we adhere to the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles and we investigate any complaints received in relation to recruitment cases.

Working Pattern/Location

Our standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options depending on the needs of the role, including Flexi-leave. Scottish Government staff in hybrid-compatible roles should aim 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 you are applying for, please contact us.

Security checks

Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre-employment checks – Identity, Right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions).

You can find out more about BPSS on the UK Government website, or read about the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide.

Skilled Worker Sponsorship not being offered

Skilled Worker sponsorship is not available for this role. As a result, we are unable to appoint candidates who require Skilled Worker sponsorship now or in the future. Applicants must have an existing and ongoing right to work in the UK.

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.

This post is open to Internal Scottish Government candidates and Common Citizenship organisations only.

Please apply by 23:59 - 13/10/26