Head of Finance AI and Transformation

Job summary

The Head of Finance AI and Transformation owns the development and implementation of the Finance, Performance, Risk and Assurance (FPRA) technology roadmap to drive digital maturity and accelerate the achievement of organisational digital goals. In this role, you will partner with senior FPRA and business leaders to create a technology strategy for FPRA that aligns with the organisation wide strategy and finance process requirements. You will also be the key translator of this strategy to relevant stakeholders.

As the Head of Finance AI & transformation, you will also own the development, implementation, evaluation and maintenance of FPRA-specific technologies, including cloud-based ERPs, automation tools and Artificial Intelligence /Machine Learning solutions. Additionally, you will monitor emerging technologies and industry trends to provide recommendations for future investment.

As a champion of financial technology solutions, you will provide guidance and training to business teams, ensuring adoption and proficient use of new finance technologies. You will also develop and mentor your team to foster a culture of innovation, collaboration and continuous learning.

Job description

• Manage existing finance-specific technology and systems
• Build and communicate finance’s long-term technology roadmap
• Lead finance technology development and innovation
• Optimise finance technology run costs
• Build a highly effective partnership with corporate IT
• Monitor the performance of finance IT and finance technology investments
• Build self-sufficiency in end users to drive adoption of tools and solutions
• Ensure that financial technology systems comply with governance policies

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Manage existing finance-specific technology and systems – Track and maintain proper functionality of existing financial systems and facilitate timely software updates to ensure compatibility with existing tools and applications.
• Build and communicate finance’s long-term technology roadmap – Develop an iterative multiyear technology roadmap for the function, and test and communicate it with finance and business stakeholders.
• Lead finance technology development and innovation – Pilot and capture end-user feedback on emerging finance technology tools and applications.
• Optimise finance technology run costs – Manage cloud computing costs and maximize business value from technology investments.
• Build a highly effective partnership with corporate IT – Partner with corporate IT to establish a RACI framework, defining consistent interaction points across the technology selection and implementation process.
• Monitor the performance of finance IT and finance technology investments – Establish key management metrics for software delivery and support, setting quality goals and holding the team accountable to meet established KPIs.
• Build self-sufficiency in end users to drive adoption of tools and solutions – Act as a subject matter expert and champion of technology solutions, providing guidance and training to multiple finance and business teams.
• Ensure that financial technology systems comply with governance policies – Enforce data governance policies and procedures to ensure data accuracy, consistency and security within FPRA systems.

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Significant experience in implementing emerging solutions, including AI, ML, data architecture and intelligence.
• Has led end‑to‑end delivery and ongoing optimisation of enterprise finance platforms (e.g. Oracle Fusion ERP) in a complex, multi‑stakeholder environment—covering design, integration, data migration, hypercare, and continuous improvement.
• Deep understanding of data governance across a large organisation (master data, lineage, quality KPIs), and demonstrable compliance with GDPR and cybersecurity controls—especially for cloud ERPs and analytics platforms.
• This role requires deep subject matter expertise, the ability to provide specialist advice, and ongoing updating of knowledge to reflect evolving technologies, policies, and organisational requirements. The post‑holder must proactively maintain up‑to‑date understanding and translate complex information into practical guidance.
• The role holder would need a deep understanding of AI and Machine Learning Technologies and Techniques. This knowledge will need to be constantly kept up to date in a fast-moving technology landscape. As such they will need to be a Subject Matter Expert in the area of AI as there will be limited guidance on a novel and new subject area.
• Experience of building strong working relationships with internal stakeholders, particularly Corporate IT
• Relevant certifications, such as Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), or Project Management Professional (PMP) and/or Academic qualification in information technology, computer science, finance, or a related field

Desirable criteria:

• Track record of managing, enhancing, supporting and running the planning, forecasting and consolidations in software applications and solutions
• History of success managing relationships with technology providers, negotiating contracts and ensuring compliance with procurement regulations
• Familiarity with Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Platform

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £70,797, UK Health Security Agency contributes £20,509 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce. UKHSA's ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

• 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 and will assess your Behaviours, Ability, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

Success profiles Success Profiles - GOV.UK

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 7essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• 1000 word supporting statement.

This should outline how you consider your skills, experience and knowledge provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (The application form is the kind of information you would put into your C.V –please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible). Please do not email us your CV.

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 1000 words. We will not consider any words over 1000words.

Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:

• Meets all essential criteria
• Meets some essential criteria
• Meets no essential criteria

If used, the pile(s) that meet ALL and SOME essential criteria will proceed to shortlisting.

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we may conduct an initial sift, on the lead criteria of

• Significant experience in implementing emerging solutions, including AI, ML, data architecture and intelligence

Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications/large amount of successful candidates.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview - Success profiles

You will be invited to a single face to face interview. When face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

There will be a Presentation. This should be no longer than 10 minutes long and will entail the following:

• An example of your experience in delivering AI tech solutions

More details on the presentation will be shared with those candidates who are invited for interview.

Ability, experience and technical skills will be assessed via a presentation and potential follow up questions. Behaviours and strengths will be assessed through questioning.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

• Lead Behaviour - Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communication and Influencing
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service

Interviews dates to be confirmed.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Eligibility Criteria

External: Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including internal applicants).

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQs. We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's core HQs (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London). Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport links and benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a basic disclosure and barring security check before they can be appointed.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Counter-Terrorist Check.

You will be required to have a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Salary Information

If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms. Please be aware that the salary is based on the office location.

Grade 6

• £70,797-£81,450 (National)
• £72,950- £83,443 (Outer London)
• £75,104- £85,436 (Inner London)

Please note: The Chief Operating Officer (COO) group, where this role sits, is undergoing organisational change over the next 12–18 months. While the process is still in the planning stage, some roles may be affected by future restructuring. We are committed to keeping candidates informed and will share updates as they become available.

Future location

UKHSA is investing in a new state-of-the-art National Biosecurity Centre in Harlow, Essex, which will eventually bring together teams currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale and Porton Down. For more details, please see: Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection - GOV.UK.

The new facilities will start becoming operational in the mid-2030s, with full completion by 2038. Staff will move in phases as facilities become available. If you're appointed to a role currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale or Porton Down, please note that we'll continue investing in these sites for the next decade. As we get closer to the transition, we'll provide full information about relocation support available to staff.

Reasonable Adjustments

The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone. To help you during the recruitment process, we will consider any reasonable adjustments that could help you. An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work. This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme. If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs.

You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/

International Police check

If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period.

Internal Fraud check

If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant’s personal details – name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for External candidates to the Civil Service.

Careers website

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).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

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 : John Inglis
• Email : john.inglis@ukhsa.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk

Further information

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact the UKHSA Complaints team via email at: Complaints@ukhsa.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission. Visit the Civil Service Commission website for further information: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk