Director of Finance and Operations

Job summary

The Director of Finance and Operations is a key member of GAD's Executive Leadership Team, Board and Audit and Risk Assurance Committee, responsible for shaping and delivering the organisation's financial and operational strategy. This high-profile role oversees Finance, Commercial, Estates, and Digital, providing strategic partnership to the Chief Executive and senior leaders.

Job description

The Government Actuary's Department (GAD) is a trusted provider of actuarial and analytical expertise to the UK public sector. We support government decision-making through modelling, risk analysis, and financial advice on areas such as pensions, insurance, social security, and long-term fiscal planning. Combining technical excellence with a strong public service ethos, we help clients manage uncertainty and deliver value for society.

As Director of Finance and Operations, you will provide effective leadership to our Finance and Operations Unit, which brings together Finance, Commercial, Estates, and Digital, whilst leading on cross-organisational initiatives, and shaping our strategic direction.

You will need to be a CCAB qualified accountant, with proven senior leadership experience in finance and operations gained within complex or politically sensitive environments. You will need to be both strategic and hands-on, with the ability to work collaboratively across the organisation, maintain effective stakeholder relationships, and lead a high-performing, multidisciplinary team.

For further information on the role, including details of how to apply, please see the Candidate Information Pack linked below.

Person specification

1. Provide strategic direction as a Board and Executive Committee member, influencing organisational transformation and innovation.
2. Shape and execute financial and operational strategy, aligning with GAD’s long-term goals and priorities.
3. Advise the Chief Executive and senior leaders on financial planning, operational risk, and performance management.
4. Champion innovation, digital transformation, and continuous improvement across finance and corporate services.
5. Lead financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and reporting, ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks.
6. Oversee procurement, contract management, and supplier relationships, supporting commercial and investment decisions.
7. Manage estates and IT services delivered via third-party contracts, ensuring operational needs and sustainability targets are met.
8. Maintain a strategic overview and understanding of commercial landscape and digital roadmap to influence effective financial decision making.
9. Foster a positive, inclusive culture, developing high-performing teams and promoting cross-organisational collaboration.
10. Lead cross-GAD initiatives as an active member of ExCo, driving organisation-wide transformation and continuous improvement.
11. Represent GAD in cross-government and external forums, strengthening strategic partnerships and ensuring GAD’s voice and expertise shape wider policy and functional developments.

This job description is a broad reflection of the current duties. It is not an exhaustive list, and changes may be required, based on GAD’s immediate operational needs which are at the discretion of your line manager and in conjunction with the post holder.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Changing and Improving
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Qualified CCAB accountant (e.g. CIPFA, ACA, ACCA) (Essential)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £80,594, Government Actuary's Department contributes £23,348 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• As well as competitive salaries, we offer a substantial package of benefits:
  

  • Exceptional learning and development opportunities that you can explore alongside your day-to-day work.
  • 25 days annual leave per year, increasing to 30 days after 5 years’ service. In addition, we offer 9 days public and privilege days leave per year (pro rata for part time staff)
  • A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
  • 5 days of paid volunteering leave
  • Up to 9 months maternity leave on full pay + generous paternity and adoption leave
  • Staff reward and recognition bonuses that operate throughout the year.
  • Occupational sick pay
  • Family-friendly policies such as help with caring responsibilities, special leave, generous paid maternity, paternity, and adoption leave.
  • Access to employee assistance programme which offers staff 24/7 confidential support and resources such as counselling, debt guidance and management advice.
  • The opportunity to join a trade union.
  • A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity.
  • Salary advances for travel costs, including annual season tickets and cycle-to-work schemes.
  • Access to the Edenred employee benefits system which offers discounts to popular retailers and access to various useful resources such as financial and savings advice.
  • Complimentary BUPA health check.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements 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, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Technical skills.

How to Apply

Veredus are managing this competition on behalf of GAD.

To apply, please submit through the Veredus website (a link to which can be found in the candidate information pack), navigate to the Opportunities page, and use the reference number 1182, by no later than 23:55 GMT Monday 18th May 2026.

• A CV (no longer than two pages) setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please provide reasons for any gaps within the last five years.

• A Statement of Suitability (no longer than two pages) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the criteria in the Person Specification.

On the Veredus website you will see the following forms that also need completing:

• Diversity Monitoring Form

• Candidate Supporting Information Form

• Disability Confident Scheme Form (if applicable)

On application via the Veredus website you should receive an "on-screen" acknowledgement. If you do not receive this, please contact Veredus.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Veredus
• Email : james.griffin2@veredus.co.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : james.griffin2@veredus.co.uk

Further information

The Government Actuary’s Department’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the recruitment principles of the Civil Service Commissioner, which outline that selection for appointment be made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitm… If you feel at any time your application has not been treated in accordance with the values in the Civil Service Code and/or if you feel the recruitment has been conducted in such a way that conflicts with the Civil Service Commissioner’s Recruitment Principles, you may make a complaint, by contacting the recruitment team at recruitment@gad.gov.uk in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commissioners.

https://gad-gov.pagetiger.com/bjtuldv/1

Attachments

Director of Finance and Operations JD v3 Opens in new window (pdf, 576kB)