Director, Finance & Corporate Services - Transport Scotland

The Scottish Government; Scotland; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A public service organization is seeking a Director of Finance & Corporate Services in Glasgow. This pivotal role focuses on shaping financial strategies for a £4 billion portfolio while ensuring compliance with governance frameworks. Ideal candidates are qualified accountants with extensive experience in public sector finance and demonstrated leadership skills. You will provide assurance for robust decision-making to the Chief Executive and Ministers. This role offers a unique opportunity to drive Scotland’s transport agenda forward.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant, member of a recognized accountancy body.
• Experience managing large budgets of at least £50 million.
• Proven track record in high-pressure leadership roles.

Responsibilities

• Shape and deliver financial strategy for a £4bn transport portfolio.
• Ensure strong governance and compliance with statutory responsibilities.
• Oversee financial and corporate services functions.

Skills

Financial and commercial acumen

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder management

Governance frameworks

Education

Qualified accountant with a relevant body

Job description

Location

Glasgow

About the job

Job summary

Transport Scotland is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government, and Scotland’s national transport agency, we focus our activities on delivering, through our National Transport Strategy (NTS2) - National Transport Strategy 2 , Transport Scotland, , the transport driven National Outcomes within the National Performance Framework (NPF) - National Performance Framework - gov.scotand the Programme for Government (PfG) - Programme for Government - gov.scot

Our purpose is to deliver the Scottish Government’s vision for transport which is set out in the National Transport Strategy 2.

Our vision is outlined within the National Transport Strategy (NTS2), to have a sustainable, inclusive, safe and accessible transport system, helping deliver a healthier, fairer and more prosperous Scotland for communities, businesses and visitors. The National Transport Strategy sets out our vision for Scotland’s transport system to 2040. The vision is underpinned by four interconnected priorities: Reduces Inequalities, Takes Climate Action, Helps Deliver Inclusive Economic Growth and Improves our Health and Wellbeing.

Director, Finance & Corporate Services is a unique opportunity to join Transport Scotland’s Senior Management Team in what is a pivotal role to help shape the future of Scotland’s transport system. This high-profile role leads the development and delivery of a finance vision and strategy for a £4 billion portfolio, ensuring alignment with Transport Scotland’s purpose and Scottish Government priorities. You will provide assurance to the Chief Executive and Ministers that statutory responsibilities are met and that financial decision-making is robust, enabling resilient, value-for-money transport services. You will work closely with the Chief Executive to provide strategic input on major decisions.

In addition to finance, you will oversee corporate services, ensuring compliance with legislation and best practice across functions including HR, IT, information governance, communications, facilities, risk management, and health and safety. This role also encompasses the oversight of sponsorship of the transport public bodies and the contribution of the transport sector to Public Service Reform - Scotland's Public Service Reform Strategy: Delivering for Scotland - gov.scot. The directorate comprises approximately 86 staff, including senior leaders.

Responsibilities

• Shape and deliver financial strategy for a £4bn transport portfolio, aligning with Transport Scotland’s vision and government priorities while addressing future risks and opportunities.
• Ensure strong governance and provide assurance to the Chief Executive and Ministers, ensuring statutory responsibilities, robust financial decision-making, and value-for-money transport and TS corporate services.
• Lead strategic planning for capital investment and infrastructure, prioritising projects and programmes to support long‑term transport needs.
• Oversee governance and sponsorship arrangements for Transport Scotland and its sponsored bodies, embedding best practice and driving efficiency improvements aligned with the Public Service Reform Strategy.
• Direct financial and corporate services functions, including finance, HR, ICT, information governance, communications, and facilities, ensuring compliance and high‑quality service delivery.
• Contributing at a corporate level to the TS Transformation Programme with a focus on our Workforce Strategy.
• Champion risk and audit assurance, maintaining strong financial controls, reporting systems, and engagement with Audit Scotland, while supporting organisational resilience and transformation.
• Play an active role in supporting Transport Scotland’s response to major planned and unplanned events.

Person specification

Success Profile

It is essential that you can provide evidence in your application of the professional experience and skills required for this role. In addition, candidates applying for roles with the government agencies and public bodies in Scotland are assessed in line with the Success Profiles framework that is used across the Civil Service. This means that as well as evidencing the professional experience and skills you will also be expected to evidence behaviours at the level required for this Senior Civil Service role.

Qualifications

You must be a qualified accountant, and a member of a Consultative Committee of Accountancy Body, with up-to-date CPD:

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

Technical / Professional Skills

1. A strong track record of success as a financially and commercially astute Finance Professional in a senior finance leadership role. With extensive knowledge of UK accounting and financial reporting frameworks and experience of managing large & complex budgets of at least £50 million in the public sector and leading multiple functions in a complex organisational setting.
2. Significant experience of managing and developing governance and accountability frameworks with a strong track record of securing quality, efficiency and value for money in the management of budgets.

Experience

1. Shaping and leading cross‑team strategies to improve overall operational delivery effectiveness, capability and service outcomes including in high‑pressure situations and under challenging deadlines.
2. Demonstrate political acuity and highly effective leadership, communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence, negotiate and collaborate with Ministers and a range of staff and stakeholders, embedding a strong performance and improvement culture and inclusive behaviours and practices.
3. Taking an effective whole system approach to complex, dynamic issues; actively developing wide networks internally and externally, breaking down and collaborating across barriers to deliver strategic outcomes.

Behaviours

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, including descriptors for each level here: Behaviours - Success profiles: candidate guide - gov.scot.

You are required to demonstrate the following behaviours at level 6 for this role:

• Leadership
• Working Together
• Developing Self and Others
• Managing a Quality Service

For more information and to apply, please visit our website via the apply button below.