Finance Director

ACCA Careers; Bristol; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A governmental body based in the United Kingdom is looking for a Director of Finance to provide strategic leadership on financial matters. Key responsibilities include advising senior leaders, managing financial risks, and ensuring the alignment of financial strategy with departmental priorities. The successful candidate will possess significant experience in leading complex finance functions and will be fully finance qualified. This role offers a unique opportunity to influence financial management and decision-making at the most senior government levels.

Qualifications

• Significant senior-level experience leading a finance function.
• Proven ability to act as a trusted adviser to senior leaders.
• Experience leading finance through systems transformation.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Department’s overall financial strategy.
• Advise on funding negotiations with HM Treasury.
• Ensure compliance with Managing Public Money.

Skills

Strategic financial leadership

Financial analysis

Decision-making under pressure

Risk management

Team management

Education

Fully finance qualified with CCAB, CIMA or equivalent

Job description

Location

Bristol, Darlington, London, Manchester, Wolverhampton

Job Summary

The Director of Finance provides strategic leadership and authoritative advice on all financial matters across MHCLG, shaping financial strategy and supporting effective decision-making at the most senior levels. The role advises on the financial sustainability and affordability of departmental priorities and is a formal member of the Executive Team. The Finance Director is also the Deputy Chair of the Investment Sub-Committee and the Finance Sub-Committee. The role is the Department’s principal interface with HM Treasury, leading negotiations on funding, estimates, fiscal events and in-year financial management. The Director of Finance ensures ministerial priorities are deliverable within fiscal constraints and that strategic financial choices are clearly understood. The Director of Finance provides authoritative advice to Ministers and the Permanent Secretary on financial performance, risks, opportunities and trade-offs, using deep financial insight to shape strategic choices and support effective delivery across the Department’s portfolio. The postholder leads the Finance Directorate and is accountable for robust, transparent financial management aligned to ministerial and organisational priorities, and for building a high-performing, inclusive and professional finance function with strong capability in business partnering, analysis and assurance. The Director of Finance leads the Department’s risk function, ensuring risk is embedded in strategic planning, governance and delivery, and supports informed decision-making. The role manages senior relationships with HM Treasury, the National Audit Office, the Government Finance Function and other central government stakeholders, ensuring compliance with Managing Public Money and wider cross-government financial frameworks. As a senior leader within MHCLG, the Director of Finance is expected to role‑model Civil Service values and leadership behaviours, contribute corporately beyond finance, and promote a strong value for money and continuous improvement culture.

Job Description

• Lead the Department’s overall financial strategy, working closely with the Strategy Director to align policy priorities, fiscal events and long-term affordability.
• Lead the Department’s relationship with HM Treasury, including funding negotiations, estimates, fiscal events and ad-hoc discussions on policy affordability and delivery.
• Provide authoritative financial advice to Ministers and the Permanent Secretary, including on fiscal events and ensuring a clear understanding of financial implications and trade-offs.
• Ensure efficiency, affordability and value for money across the Department’s activities, including through membership of key investment and governance committees.
• Ensure compliance with Managing Public Money, maintaining robust systems of internal control, assurance and accountability, and supporting the Accounting Officer in discharging their responsibilities.
• Oversee financial reporting, systems and shared services to ensure accurate, timely and reliable financial information.
• Provide leadership of the Department’s risk function, ensuring alignment between financial management, delivery, risk appetite and assurance, and that departmental risks are effectively managed, escalated and mitigated.
• Manage senior external relationships, including with the National Audit Office, Government Finance Function and other departments.
• Contribute as a senior leader within the Corporate Group and the wider Department, supporting organisational change, effective delivery and strong leadership culture.

Person specification

This role requires an experienced and credible senior finance leader, capable of operating with confidence at the most senior levels of government. You will bring a strong track record of leading complex finance functions, providing trusted advice to senior decision-makers and influencing outcomes in challenging, fast-moving environments. You will be a strategic thinker with the ability to see the wider organisational and policy context, translating complex financial information into clear, actionable insight. You will be comfortable balancing long-term financial sustainability with short-term delivery pressures, and able to make sound judgements in situations of ambiguity and risk. As a leader, you will inspire high standards of professionalism, integrity and collaboration. You will be committed to developing people and building inclusive, high-performing teams, with a strong focus on capability, talent and succession within the finance profession. You will value partnership working and be effective at working across organisational boundaries, including with other corporate functions and delivery partners. You will bring strong political and organisational awareness, with the confidence and credibility to engage constructively with Ministers, HMTreasury and senior stakeholders across government. You will be resilient, adaptable and comfortable operating in a complex public sector environment, with a clear commitment to public service and stewardship of public money. Above all, you will combine technical financial expertise with leadership, judgement and influence, enabling MHCLG to deliver its priorities effectively and with confidence in its financial management.

Essential Criteria

• Significant senior-level experience leading a finance function in a large, complex organisation, with clear evidence of impact and delivery. The department has a SR Settlement of £50b.
• Proven ability to act as a senior trusted adviser, providing high-quality financial insight and challenge to senior leaders, Boards and Ministers (or equivalent), and influencing strategic choices in complex and high-risk contexts.
• Experience of leading finance through organisational change and systems transformation, including the implementation of new or significantly enhanced financial systems, operating models or shared services, while maintaining effective control, assurance and business continuity.
• Strong experience of financial strategy, planning, control, reporting and assurance, including operating within robust governance frameworks.
• Demonstrated ability to build, lead and develop high-performing, inclusive teams and professional capability.
• Fully finance qualified with CCAB, CIMA or equivalent, or able to gain full accountancy qualification within 3 months.