Assistant Director Strategic Finance

Maritime and Coastguard Agency; Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension contribution

Annual leave 25 days

Bank holidays + Privilege Day

Staff discount portal

Career development opportunities

Diversity & inclusion

Employee assistance programme

Flexible working

Job summary

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency in Southampton is seeking an Assistant Director Strategic Finance to provide strategic focus and oversight of the Agency’s finances, managing a c.£500m total budget and leading the Strategic Finance function.

This senior role reports to the Director of Finance and Analysis, shapes financial strategy, and supports investment decisions while promoting a high-performing, continuously improving finance culture.

Qualifications

• Significant senior financial management or financial strategy experience.
• Qualified CCAB/ CIMA with post-qualification experience.

Responsibilities

• Leading MCA’s Financial Strategy and Finance Business Partner teams, embedding a high-performance culture.
• Providing strategic financial advice and analysis to senior stakeholders to support effective decision making.
• Negotiating and securing investment and resource funding for key Agency activities and major change programmes.
• Ensuring robust resource and capital financial plans are aligned to organisational priorities and HM Treasury guidance.
• Overseeing the reporting of accurate and timely financial management information and analysis to drive efficiency and value-added insight.

Skills

Strategic Finance leadership

Budget control

Finance business partnering

Stakeholder advisory

Team leadership

Education

CCAB/CIMA qualification

Job description

Assistant Director Strategic Finance

Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Apply before 11:55 pm on Friday 16th October 2026

Location: Southampton (This role is suitable for hybrid working)

Salary: £69,501

This role comes with a £5,000 allowance. A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Contract Type: Permanent – Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

Available Positions: 1

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is seeking an Assistant Director Strategic Finance to provide strategic focus and oversight of the Agency’s finances. Working within the Finance and Analysis Directorate, you will help ensure MCA’s c.£500m total budget is deployed efficiently, robust budget control is maintained and value for money is achieved. This is a senior leadership role, reporting to the Director of Finance and Analysis and leading teams responsible for financial strategy and finance business partnering.

As Assistant Director Strategic Finance, you will provide strategic leadership and oversight of MCA’s financial plans, ensuring strong budget control, high-quality financial analysis and effective advice to senior stakeholders. You will lead the Strategic Finance function, support investment and funding decisions, and help shape a high-performing, continuously improving finance culture.

Top Responsibilities

• Leading MCA’s Financial Strategy and Finance Business Partner teams, embedding a high-performance culture.
• Providing strategic financial advice and analysis to senior stakeholders to support effective decision making.
• Negotiating and secure investment and resource funding for key Agency activities and major change programmes.
• Ensuring robust resource and capital financial plans are aligned to organisational priorities and HM Treasury guidance.
• Overseeing the reporting of accurate and timely financial management information and analysis to drive efficiency and value-added insight.

Benefits

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave).
• 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday.
• Access to the staff discount portal.
• Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc.
• Joining a diverse and inclusive workforce with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues.
• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

About You

• Significant relevant experience in a senior financial management or financial strategy role

Essential qualifications

• Qualified CCAB/ CIMA with significant post-qualification experience

This vacancy closes at 23:55 on Friday 16th October 2026