Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Veterinary Medicines Directorate; Addlestone; On-site; GBP 74,000; Full time

Job summary

A government executive agency in the UK is seeking a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to oversee financial operations, strategic financial planning, and reporting. The ideal candidate will have extensive financial leadership experience, be a fully qualified accountant with memberships in recognized accounting bodies, and possess strong IT skills. This full-time role offers a salary of £73,165 annually and requires in-person work.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading financial teams in complex organizations.
• Strong ability to engage at board level.
• Experience with external audit processes.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all financial operations as CFO.
• Strategic financial planning and risk management.
• Act as key partner to CEO and report to COO.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Financial reporting

Risk management

Effective communication

Technical accounting skills

IT proficiency (Microsoft Office 365)

Education

Fully qualified accountant

CIMA

ICAEW

ICAI

ACCA

CIPFA

Job description

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is an Executive Agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and is responsible for ensuring the safety, quality, and efficacy of veterinary medicines in the UK.

We have a vacancy for Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

This is a key role in the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), reporting to Chief Operating Officer (COO) and being accountable to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the VMD.

Your role will be to take responsibility for all financial operations as CFO, including strategic financial planning, risk management, budgeting, and reporting. Additionally, you will provide financial advice for decision making and act as key partner to the CEO and others to achieve business goals.

Experience

• experience of leading a team strategically and operationally
• have broad senior level finance experience of working in a complex organisation have experience of producing the annual accounts, requiring strong technical accounting skills, with up-to-date knowledge of accounting standards, able to engage with external audit (NAO) to achieve unqualified audit opinion
• have a proven track record of creating a common purpose and instilling organisational values and behaviours that promote a corporate vision, are positive about change and committed to the delivery of the strategic vision
• be able to brief and engage at board level
• be skilled at evaluating complex financial issues
• have experience of presenting to non-finance colleagues
• be an effective communicator, capable of working with a range of staff from other disciplines in a highly collaborative manner
• have experience of risk management, audit and other relevant organisational governance.
• IT skills: proficient in the use of Microsoft Office 365 packages, particularly Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Able to navigate the internet and learn to use the VMD’s bespoke IT systems.

Qualifications

A fully qualified accountant and a member of one of:

• CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants)
• ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales)
• ICAI (Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland)
• ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants)
• CIPFA (Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy)

How to Apply

We are excited to hear from you! To apply for this position, please submit your application through the Civil Service Jobs website. You can find the full job description, including details on salary and location, by clicking apply.

The closing date for applications is 15 December 2025.

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate is an Equal Opportunity employer.

No Recruitment Agency, Newspaper or Publication calls please.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Permanent

Pay: £73,165.00 per year

Work Location: In person

C1FO