Assistant Director - Institutional Sustainability & Governance - Finance (GIST) M1

TN United Kingdom; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

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Assistant Director - Institutional Sustainability & Governance - Finance (GIST) M1, Edinburgh

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Client:

Location:

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Finance

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EU work permit required:

Yes

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Job Reference:

cb171672fad0

Job Views:

7

Posted:

26.04.2025

Expiry Date:

10.06.2025

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Job Description:

Description

To lead, manage and develop a group of Senior Financial Analysts and Finance Trainees within the Governance, Infrastructure and Sustainability team (GIST). To provide advice and support on financial, governance and wider policy matters to the sectors, Scottish Government and other internal and external stakeholders.

This will be a fixed term role of up to 12 months.

GIST is responsible for monitoring and reporting on the financial health of institutions in a timely manner so it can be used to inform SFC operations. It is also responsible for building strong relationships with institutions and holding them to account and supporting them in their effective financial management, long-term financial planning, budgeting and forecasting. GIST is also responsible for leading on SFC’s capital investment projects and programmes. This is to ensure that our colleges and universities have appropriate buildings and estates to deliver SFC’s vision for the sector, and they make a significant contribution towards Net Zero and other responses to the climate emergency set by the Scottish Government.

Key Responsibilities

• Reporting to the Deputy Director, Institutional Sustainability & Capital, lead, manage and develop a group of Senior Financial Analysts and Finance Trainees within the Governance, Infrastructure & Sustainability Team, taking responsibility for planning and delivering their programme of work to monitor and report on institutions’ financial health and financial governance for SFC. This includes supporting the team in managing a discrete portfolio of institutions and technical specialisms.
• Ensure that the effective review and analysis of institutional financial health is carried out in full compliance with professional accountancy principles and practices (Statement of Recommended Practice etc.), SFC policy and strategy, and Scottish Government Financial guidance (e.g. the Scottish Public Finance Manual). This includes, as necessary, seeking expert external advice from specialists – e.g. legal advisors – to help inform recommendations and proposed actions.
• Through developing a business partnering approach, build strong relationships with institutions and support them in their effective financial management, long-term financial planning, budgeting and forecasting. This also includes:
  • supporting and challenging institutions’ financial business cases and investment appraisals.
  • working with SFC colleagues (particularly the Access, Learning & Outcomes team) to support institutions in finding solutions to complex business issues.
  • deepening our capacity for explanation and analysis to enhance our understanding of institutions and options available for the future.
• To provide authoritative financial and governance advice to SFC, the sectors, and the Scottish Government, share and promote good practice. For example, in relation to: college severance guidance; disposals of assets which have been paid for with money from the taxpayer; adherence to FE/HE governance codes; and the interpretation of government accounting and budgetary guidance.
• Draft concise and impactful reports and provide any other appropriate information in a timely manner to the Executive Team, SFC Board and its committees, on the financial health and governance of the sectors. This is to inform SFC operations and ensure that the Council and key stakeholders are aware of the developing landscape of the sectors, including any specific concerns.
• Working with the Deputy Director, lead engagement with a range of stakeholders at a senior level such as colleges, universities, the Scottish Government, external auditors, UK funding bodies and other SFC directorates. This includes representing SFC in negotiations and discussions with a wide range of external stakeholders on matters concerning sector financial health and governance.
• As a member of management, develop the team’s business plan and contribute to wider Finance & Funding Directorate and SFC strategy and programme of change.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

It is important through your CV / Cover Letter that you give evidence of proven experience of each of the following essential criteria:

ESSENTIAL SKILLS, QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Fully qualified accountant with a minimum of 5 years’ post qualification experience due to level of understanding and professional judgement required
• Strong understanding of business analysis, planning, budgeting, audit and financial and non-financial control issues
• Understanding of the Scottish and UK Government budgeting and accounting requirements and guidance
• Understanding of technical accounting issues, with up-to-date knowledge of UK accounting and auditing standards and governance codes
• Proven ability to lead, manage and develop staff
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills - ability to analyse, interpret and communicate complex financial and governance issues to those with a non-financial background
• Highly organised – to manage self and work of team to meet changing organisational priorities
• Excellent people skills and track record in forming and maintaining effective working relationships with staff across a wide range of stakeholders including institutions, Scottish Government, SFC and Regional Strategic Bodies (RSBs)
• Ability to manage priorities and diverse workload in an area subject to close political media, and stakeholder scrutiny
• Ability to think and operate strategically
• Highly effective oral and written communication skills
• Proficient in desk-top software packages particularly Advanced Excel skills

DESIRABLE SKILLS

• Understanding of current governance, leadership and management (including financial management) and other relevant issues in further and higher education
• Comprehensive understanding of public sector and the role of an NDPB
• Experience in, and management of, business analysis, finance, and financial and management systems
• Good understanding of operational practices in finance departments
• Knowledge of current employment law and procurement issues
• Evidence of continuous personal, professional, leadership and management development and its application in the workplace.
• Previous experience of finance business partnering

Terms and Benefits

· Normal full-time hours of work are 35 per week. We will consider flexible working arrangements. A flexi-time system is in operation.

· Annual leave entitlement of 26.5 days pro-rata, rising to 30 days pro-rata after 2 years’ continuous service. Public and privilege holiday entitlement of 13 days pro-rata.

· A flexible approach to hybrid working, giving you flexibility to work from home anywhere in the UK for some of the time while also maintaining regular in-person contact with colleagues.

· Annual pay review: approved within the framework of the Scottish Government’s Public Sector Pay Policy and negotiated with our recognised trade union, Unite. Salaries are reviewed annually in April for employees who commence employment prior to 1 October in the preceding year.

· Eligibility to join the Civil Service Pension Scheme. With its low member contribution rates and generous employer contributions, this gives you a secure, inflation-proof pension for life with no investment uncertainty. Details of contribution rates together with further details of the pension benefits are available on the Civil Service Pensions website. There is also the option of a Partnership pension account.

· Support for continuous professional development: as a part of SFC, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive support for continuous learning and professional development. Civil Service-Learning curriculum has thoughtfully designed to cater to various learning preferences, allowing employees to engage in a manner that best suits their needs. All our educational resources are conveniently accessible through the CSL website.

· Support for health and wellbeing, including generous occupational sick pay, free access to confidential advice and support through our 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme, Special Leave (paid and unpaid), a contribution to learning outside work through our Lifelong Learning Fund, free winter flu vaccination, and access to occupational health support.

· We provide support to SFC employees with Volunteering Days.

· Support for travel to and from work, including a salary sacrifice cycle loan scheme, cycle storage and shower facilities, an interest-free loan for bus or rail season tickets and free office car parking for employees on a first-come basis.

Although most salaried roles are advertised as full time positions (35 hours a week), we are happy to discuss part-time or compressed hours to suit a candidates circumstances. We also operate a flexible working scheme to work around a candidate's other commitments such as caring responsibilities.We will consider secondment applications for most salaried fixed-term or temporary positions and in many cases also for salaried permanent positions. If you are interested in applying on a secondment basis and this option is not explicitly mentioned in the job advert, please contact [emailprotected] for further information.

We are the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council, more commonly known as the Scottish Funding Council (SFC).

We are Scotland’s tertiary education and research authority and our purpose is to sustain a world-leading system of tertiary education, research and innovation that enables students to flourish, changes lives for the better, and supports social, economic and environmental wellbeing and prosperity.

We do this by investing around £2 billion of public money to deliver:

• Tertiary learning and teaching.
• Skills and apprenticeships.
• Student support and participation.
• Research, innovation and knowledge exchange.
• Data collection and dissemination.
• National quality assurance and enhancement processes.
• Capital and digital infrastructure for the sector.
• Strategic change, responsive provision and research priorities.

As a non-departmental public body established by the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 2005, we are directly accountable to Scottish Government Ministers and the Scottish Parliament. We work across many government portfolios and are sponsored by the Lifelong Learning Directorate.

We hold colleges, universities and other funded bodies to account for their delivery of required outcomes. We are also the statistical authority for colleges, and work closely with the UK-wide Higher Education Statistical Authority (HESA), to provide data and statistics for government, decision-makers, and the wider public.

We work in partnership with a wide range of partners and bodies, including those we fund, across all aspects of our remit.

General information for applicants for SFC roles

You must already be eligible to work in the UK to apply for these roles. SFC do not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skills Worker License and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.

We are pleased to support applications from everyone regardless of age, disability, race and ethnicity, socio-economic background, gender, sexual orientation, sex, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief, as well as those who have skills in Scottish Gaelic or British Sign Language, who have the right skills for the job.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and actively encourage interviews through the scheme.

Further information about SFC is available on our website Scottish Funding Council home page (sfc.ac.uk). Additional information about our recruitment process can be found at Recruitment FAQs | Scottish Funding Council Careers (sfc.ac.uk).