Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD); Addlestone; On-site; GBP 62,000 - 74,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK government agency is seeking a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to oversee all financial operations. The role entails strategic financial planning, budgeting, and risk management. Ideal candidates should have significant experience in senior financial leadership and be proficient in accounting standards. The position offers a competitive salary in Addlestone, along with generous leave and pension benefits.

Benefits

25 days Annual Leave

Pension Scheme with employer contribution of 28.97%

Qualifications

• Experience in leading a team strategically and operationally.
• Broad senior-level finance experience in complex organizations.
• Ability to engage at board level and present financial issues.

Responsibilities

• Take responsibility for all financial operations as CFO.
• Provide financial advice for decision making.
• Lead strategic financial planning and risk management.

Skills

Strategic leadership experience

Technical accounting skills

Risk management experience

Effective communication skills

Microsoft Office 365 proficiency

Education

Qualified accountant (CIMA, ICAEW, ICAI, ACCA, CIPFA)

Job description

Veterinary Medicines Directorate

Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Reference number: 436624

Salary: £73,165 + 25 days Annual Leave + Pension Scheme with an average employer contribution of 28.97%

Contract type: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time

Location: Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3LS

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

You must have:

• 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, via the apply button below.

The closing date for applications is 15 December 2025.

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate is an Equal Opportunity employer.