Director of Finance and Commercial

Companies House; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A public sector agency in Cardiff is seeking a Director of Finance and Commercial to provide strategic leadership in financial stewardship and commercial activities. This role requires senior leadership experience, strategic planning, and comprehensive knowledge of financial control. The ideal candidate will foster an inclusive culture while working closely with executive teams to achieve organisational objectives. Flexible working and excellent benefits are provided.

Benefits

Flexible working with no core hours

30 days annual leave

8 bank holidays and 1 privilege day

Enrollment into the Civil Service Pension scheme

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in senior leadership of finance in complex organisations.
• Proven track record in delivering strong financial management.
• Ability to lead and motivate multi-disciplinary teams through change.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic financial guidance to the Chief Executive.
• Champion visible and inclusive leadership across the agency.
• Ensure timely delivery of annual report and accounts.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders across government.

Skills

Senior leadership of finance

Strategic planning

Negotiation and influencing

Strong leadership

Excellent communication

Education

Full professional accountancy qualification (CCAB, CIMA or equivalent)

Job description

Location

Cardiff, Wales, CF14 3UZ

Job summary

To provide strategic leadership and management of all financial, commercial, and economic activities within the agency, providing expert advice and support to the business at a time of significant organisational change and transformation. The Director of Finance and Commercial is a key member of the Companies House Executive Team, with shared responsibility for leading and developing the organisation. Additionally, they ensure robust financial stewardship, oversee effective governance, and drive value for money in decision-making, enabling the organisation to achieve its objectives in line with public sector best practices and standards.

Companies House offers a flexible and welcoming culture that promotes a healthy work life balance as well as a proactive approach to wellbeing that allows us to be our best at work. We recognise that people are the key to our success so offer a fantastic benefits package including flexible working with no core hours, 30 days annual leave, 8 bank holidays and 1 privilege day as well as enrolment into the Civil Service Pension scheme with a contribution rate averaging 28%.

Please note - Companies House cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. Additionally, Security Clearance is an essential requirement (minimum residency criteria is in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years). Please see 'Things you need to know' section below for more information.

Job description

• Lead and support the Finance, Commercial, and Economics functions, in their delivery of effective professional services and advice, ensuring organisational compliance with legal requirements, government controls and functional standards, supporting delivery of corporate objectives.
• Be a member of the Companies House Board and Executive Team, with shared accountability for leading the development of the agency and the delivery of its objectives. This involves working in close partnership with other executive and non-executive colleagues, collaborating effectively to set and achieve organisational objectives.
• Champion visible and inclusive leadership across the agency, inspiring high performance and ensuring the functions have the skills, experience, and capacity to support Companies House’s objectives. Serve as: (i) lead Executive for Audit and Risk Assurance Committee, (ii) accountable Executive for risk management and corporate assurance, reporting to the Audit Risk and Assurance Committee, and (iii) Chair of internal committees including Finance and Investment Committee and Commercial Assurance Panel.
• Act as corporate guardian for departmental budgets, efficiency targets, and the protection of the Accounting Officer, ensuring compliance with Managing Public Money.

• Provide strategic financial guidance to the Chief Executive and Executive Team, based on sound financial planning, analysis and business partnering that supports corporate objectives and enables the business to deliver robust spending review bids and fee reviews.
• Promote and sustain effective financial probity, governance, accountability, and internal controls.
• Ensure timely delivery of annual report and accounts and other government and departmental reporting.
• Continuously improve the efficiency, effectiveness and quality of financial operations and finance systems
• Drive value for money (VfM) and evidence-based decision-making across the organisation, ensuring costs, benefits and risks of priority investments and decisions are effectively weighed up.
• Enhance the organisations’ commercial acumen and business focus, embedding effective procurement and commercial strategies aligned with best practice.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders across government to manage risk and ensure sound financial, commercial and investment decision-making, including representing CH and working collaboratively at all levels of Government.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

Experience

• Senior leadership of finance in a complex organisation (ideally public sector)
• Delivering strong financial management and value for money
• Leading and motivating multi-disciplinary professional teams through change
• Strategic planning and influencing at board level
• Building and maintaining broad, diverse stakeholder relationships
• Developing and delivering the strategic direction of a complex organisation.
• Promoting operational and professional excellence

Skills & Abilities

• Strong, visible, and inclusive leadership at board level
• Strategic analytical and critical thinking
• Excellent communication of complex financial concepts
• Pragmatic problem solving and business insight
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a demanding environment
• Negotiation and influencing skills in complex, ambiguous environments
• Sound risk management approaches and judgement.
• Influencing strategic planning confidently, clearly, and credibly.

Knowledge & Understanding

• Comprehensive knowledge of financial control, reporting, assurance, and performance management
• In-depth understanding of Managing Public Money and government functional standards
• Knowledge in managing complex, high value and high-risk procurements across a range of categories/sectors, as well as in new and emerging markets.
• Understanding of commercial, procurement, and economics functions (in a public sector context)

Qualifications & Training

• Full professional accountancy qualification (CCAB, CIMA or equivalent)
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Behaviours

• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service

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