Fiscal Analyst (3465)

Job summary

Are you motivated by the opportunity to lead analytical work that upholds transparency, independence, and trust in Scotland’s public finances?

The Scottish Fiscal Commission is a small, independent public body with 28 staff. We produce independent, robust forecasts and assessments to improve the transparency and scrutiny of the Scottish Budget.

We are seeking a motivated leader and analytically minded individual to join our team, contributing to high‑quality economic and fiscal analysis that supports the Scottish Fiscal Commission’s work.

This is a key role within the Scottish Fiscal Commission’s analytical team, offering the opportunity to guide and shape rigorous economic and fiscal analysis that informs Scotland’s public finances. As a senior member of the branch, you will lead analytical work in specific areas, providing direction, oversight and quality assurance while working closely with the Head of Branch to deliver high‑impact outputs.

This role is ideal for someone with strong analytical expertise, a strategic mindset, and the confidence to lead work that supports evidence‑based decision‑making across Scotland’s public sector.

Job description

• Deliver analytical work in specific areas,
• Develop and maintain the SFC’s analytical models.
• Contribute to the work of the Commission’s key publications including forecast reports and fiscal update reports.
• Ensure the work of the Commission is clearly presented and accessible to a wide range of audiences.
• Line management of one analyst.
• Responsible for learning and development of themselves and staff.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with stakeholders such as the Scottish Government, the Office for Budget Responsibility, HM Treasury, and the Northern Ireland Fiscal Council.

Person specification

Qualifications:

You should have a first or upper second class degree or postgraduate qualification in a numerate subject (e.g statistics, economics, actuarial science). Other qualifications or experience equivalent to these may also be acceptable.

If you are in any doubt, please contact Will.Jones@fiscalcommission.scot for more information.

Please confirm in your CV/Personal Statement the qualification you hold. If you do not provide this information, your application will not be considered.

Success profile:

Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on.

Experience:

• Experience leading and undertaking data analysis to solve problems, including applying statistical or analytical models that help you draw conclusions, not just describe data. This should include handling and preparing data, using techniques such as inference, modelling or forecasting, and interpreting findings to support decisions.

Behaviours:

• Changing and improving - Level 3
• Delivering at pace - Level 3
• Communicating and Influencing - Level 3
• Working together - Level 3

Find out more about Success Profiles.

Qualifications

You should have a first or upper second class degree or postgraduate qualification in a numerate subject (e.g statistics, economics, actuarial science). Other qualifications or experience equivalent to these may also be acceptable.
If you are in any doubt, please contact Will.Jones@fiscalcommission.scot for more information.

Behaviours

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

• Changing and Improving
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £49,401, Scottish Government contributes £14,311 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

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 Experience.

If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and written analysis.

In the event of a high volume of applications, candidates will initially have their application assessed against the Experience criteria. Candidates who pass this initial sift will have their application fully assessed against all of the listed criteria.

In the event of a tied score at interview, performance in the Experience criteria will be applied to determine merit order.

Expected Timeline: (subject to change)Sift - April
Interview - May
Location – Microsoft Teams

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

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.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 : Kirsty Andrew
• Email : Kirsty.Andrew@fiscalcommission.scot

Recruitment team

• Email : scottishgovernmentrecruitment@gov.scot