Commercial Finance Business Partner

Scottish Government; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A governmental organization in Edinburgh is seeking a qualified financial expert to provide strategic and commercial financial advice. The successful candidate will support decision-making at senior levels and enhance financial practices across key areas. The role demands experience in strategic finance and a CCAB or CIMA qualification. This position is full-time with flexible working options available.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Career development opportunities

Inclusive working environment

Qualifications

• CCAB or CIMA qualified with relevant post-qualification experience in an accountancy environment.
• Ability to provide strategic and commercial financial advice.

Responsibilities

• Analyse financial proposals and provide strategic input.
• Support value-for-money decision-making.
• Deliver high-quality financial advice to senior leaders.
• Provide professional accounting and budgeting advice.
• Improve financial awareness across Government activities.

Skills

Strategic finance

Commercial finance

Technical accounting

Communication

Planning and prioritization

Education

CCAB or CIMA qualification

Job description

Job Description

Do you have the expertise to provide strategic and commercial financial advice to support the Scottish Government's key commercial activities, including responding to companies in distress or seeking investment?

Based within the Financial Management Directorate, Finance Business Partners provide strategic financial advice across the Scottish Government, supporting the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and portfolio Ministers in delivering key priorities and making informed decisions. The teams promote value for money and build strong relationships to inform spending and policy decisions.

The Commercial team within the Finance Business Partner unit advises on financial support to private sector companies, including those in distress or those seeking support for strategic investment in Scotland, and the Scottish Government's strategic investment portfolio, including Ferguson Marine, Lochaber Smelter and Prestwick Airport. The team works closely with the Strategic Commercial Assets Division and with Enterprise Agencies. This team aims to maximise public value through financial interventions and ensure effective governance and stewardship of the Scottish Government's financial investments.

Responsibilities

• Analyse and scrutinise financial proposals, providing strategic and commercial input to support the effective appraisal of options against key objectives.
• Support value-for-money decision-making, identifying and assessing financial opportunities, risks and mitigations as part of a wider appraisal.
• Deliver high-quality financial advice to the CFO and Cabinet Secretary for Finance, supporting key meetings with senior leaders, Ministers and Parliament.
• Provide professional accounting, budgeting, and wider financial advice to support and enable effective financial stewardship of resources.
• Improve financial awareness and promote effective financial practices across the Government's key commercial activities.

Qualifications

The successful candidate must be fully CCAB or CIMA qualified (or equivalent) with up to date CPD and relevant post qualified experience in an accountancy environment.

Success profile

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

Experience

• Strategic and commercial finance experience, with the ability to interpret financial information as part of a wider strategic options appraisal and provide high quality advice and recommendations.
• Strong technical accounting skills and ability to communicate complex financial information to a range of audiences to influence decision-making.
• Strong planning and prioritisation skills, with the ability to adapt to changing situations and competing priorities.

Behaviours

• Making Effective Decisions - Level 4.
• Communicating and Influencing - Level 4.
• Seeing the bigger picture - Level 4.

You can find out more about Success Profiles here: Success profiles: candidate guide - gov.scot

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 experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profile above.

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.

If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and presentation. Assessments are scheduled for w/c 15 December 2025, 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.

Working pattern

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. From October 2025, the Scottish Government will require staff in hybrid-compatible roles 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).

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.

Apply before: 30 November 2025 (23:59)