Finance Business Partner (Scottish Forestry)

Job summary

Scottish Forestry is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government responsible for forestry policy regulatory and support functions.

The Finance and Business Support Team (FBS) is split into two teams Business Support and Finance. The Finance team is responsible for inputting invoices into the finance system, providing key financial information to the organisation, budget monitoring, procurement and finance systems. As both teams are relatively small there is some cross overs of roles within the teams.

The Finance Business Partner will report directly to the Director of Finance. The post holder will provide professional accounting, budgeting and financial stewardship advice to Senior Management and Directorates across Scottish Forestry. They will also support engagement with Finance colleagues in Scottish Government, including spending review input and general budget management reporting.

Currently the Finance and Business Support team operate a hybrid working pattern with a requirement to attend Saughton House for key meetings and collaborate with others. The role involves working with colleagues across Scotland, so there may be some travel required.

Job description

The role of Finance Business Partner will provide leadership support and specialist expertise to the Agency’s Finance and Business Support Team and be responsible for driving improvements in the provision of services to stakeholders, reporting processes and the working environment.

The post holder will be responsible for providing strategic financial guidance and analysis to drive business performance and contribute to the overall success of our organisation. As a Finance Business Partner, you will work closely with various departments to ensure alignment of financial goals, support decision-making processes, and enhance the financial acumen of stakeholders.

The post holder is also there to support the Director of Finance and Senior Finance Manager, advising them of areas of concern and risk.

Main Duties

You will have specific responsibility for:

Financial Governance

• Actively contribute to the development of the Agency’s annual budget setting process.
• Develop and prepare cost centre budgets aligned to the approved annual strategic budget.
• Provide professional accounting, budgeting, and financial stewardship advice to senior managers, improving financial awareness and overviewing the robustness of financial controls.
• Work with colleagues to develop awareness of drivers of financial performance, supporting the achievement of objectives within available resources.
• Assess projections of future income and expenditure, ensuring regular updates to financial plans to support corporate and Scottish Government budgeting.
• Provide finance expertise and guidance for organisational projects as and when required e.g. Estates relocation projects.

Leadership and Management

• Responsible for delivering an effective, efficient and value-added service, building trust and strong professional reputation for the function.
• Collaborate with Senior Managers and Heads of Functions to manage resources effectively and provide financial advice and guidance.
• Deputise for the Finance Director as and when required.

Liaison with External Bodies

• Liaise with contacts in Scottish Government, particularly the SG Finance Business Partner, to help facilitate alignment with SG finance policy and reporting and to ensure that we are compliant with the Agency Framework document.
• Liaise with audit bodies (SGIAD and Grant Thornton) to review and advise on ad hoc projects.

Person specification

Experience

Essential:

• Proven experience in delivering budgets, managing forecasting cycles, and conducting month-end reporting.
• Previous experience of managing change and continuous improvement.
• Previous experience of successfully developing capabilities in other finance professionals.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively across teams.
• Experience of developing relationships with senior stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to manage personal workload and deliver results with minimal supervision.
• Track record of improving forecasting processes and financial reporting.
• Experience with working in a team and of contributing constructively to the shared outcomes of the team.

Desirable:

• Public sector experience.
• Experience in engaging with internal and external audit processes.

Technical

Essential:

• Full membership of one of the major accountancy professional bodies: ICAEW, ICAS, ICAI, ACCA, CIMA or CIPFA.
• Knowledge of financial regulation, systems, process and legislative requirements, including HMRC.

Desirable:

• Understanding of Civil Service financial regulations.

Behaviours

Behaviour 1 and Lead Criteria: Seeing the Big Picture

Behaviour 2: Communicating and Influencing

Behaviour 3: Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £51,977, Scottish Forestry contributes £15,057 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

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

Complete the online application form on the Scottish Forestry Website.

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 : sfrecruitment@forestry.gov.scot
• Email : sfrecruitment@forestry.gov.scot

Recruitment team

• Email : sfrecruitment@forestry.gov.scot