PFI Finance Manager

Job summary

Private Finance Team:

The Private Finance Team is a small, dedicated and specialist team in the Education Estates Directorate. The function of the Private Finance Team is to provide strategic direction, support and solutions where required on private finance related issues across the school estate. DfE’s Private Finance Team is recognised across central Government as a pre-eminent team at the forefront of PFI issues and expiry. There are 167 ‘live’ school sector private finance contracts covering 650 schools. This represents the largest number of private finance contracts across government and third in terms of overall value. Of these contracts, the most recent 5 were directly procured and entered into by DfE and are managed by the Private Finance Team. The remaining contracts are held and managed by individual Local Authorities (LAs).

Contract Expiry Unit:

This is an integral part of the Private Finance Team. It is responsible for the delivery of a successful outcome in relation to the expiry of each PFI contract in the school sector. Key to the successful outcome will be ensuring that the PFI assets are handed back to the public sector in, or as close as possible to, the condition required under the PFI contract. This unit consists of specialists in multiple disciplines possessing legal, financial and technical expertise. It is envisaged that a multi-disciplinary team will be deployed on each PFI contract around 5 years out from its expiry date. That team will work with the contracting public sector parties to ensure that the public sector is, during any negotiations with the private sector, able to secure the most optimal outcome achievable. Save for the 5 most recent PFI projects, the individual PFI contracts are owned and managed by the relevant local authority and hence the Private Finance Team’s level of engagement on each project will depend on the capacity and capability of the public sector parties involved.

Job description

We are looking for an individual with a strong financial background with extensive experience in the PFI sector to be an integral part of the DfE Private Finance Team. The individual will have the ability to strategically assist on the financial aspects on a number of expiry projects within the wider programme, working closely with technical and legal colleagues. Successful candidates will also be able to contribute to the strategic direction of DfE’s Expiry Programme and help to formulate and improve DfE’s approach to the many issues and challenges arising.

Key Responsibilities

Along with colleagues within Private Finance Team your key responsibilities will include:

Expiry projects

• Working alongside members of the finance and governance team to provide financial advice on expiry projects working with legal and technical colleagues as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Taking a lead role in providing strategic financial assistance to local authorities and other public sector stakeholders involved in expiring PFI contracts within the sector.
• Working alongside colleagues in negotiations with the private sector on individual projects and across an equity holder’s portfolio in the education sector.
• Effectively managing issues and risks across a portfolio of expiring PFI projects, escalating where necessary to senior colleagues.
• Working with legal and technical colleagues to consider the condition related items identified in a condition survey and the financial mechanisms available to the local authority to assist the negotiations with the private sector.
• Representing Private Finance Team in engagements with senior colleagues and Ministers within the Department and with senior external parties.

Legacy estate (pre BSF, BSF and PF2)

• Providing ad hoc strategic support in relation to financial matters to contracting authorities, academy trusts/schools, faith bodies, as part of DfE’s mandate to provide advice and support on the DfE’s portfolio of operational projects.
• Providing ad hoc financial support and advice to the contract management unit on DfE’s PF2 projects (46 schools across 5 PF2 contracts).

General

• Maintaining current knowledge and understanding of industry best practice standards and market trends.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with key stakeholders across the DfE and the wider public sector.
• Working with other team members in developing and presenting advice to senior colleagues and Ministers on the financial aspects of PFI.
• Contributing to the development of PFI training, guidance, standards and other contract management tools and products and providing financial input into our regular contract managers forums or similar

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Extensive PFI Financial Expertise – Experience providing financial advice on PFI projects, preferably within the English schools’ sector, gained in a finance role working with public sector contracting authorities, academy trusts, private sector investors, SPVs, FM companies or senior lenders.
• PFI Financial Modelling Expertise – Demonstrable experience of building, interpreting and challenging PFI financial models including lifecycle forecasting and contract optimisation. Experience of advising on a broad range of PFI financial matters including debt and equity structures, contract compliance, performance and payments, refinancings, restructurings, termination and contract expiry across procurement, operational and expiry phases.
• Stakeholder Management and Negotiation Skills – Proven ability to lead complex communications and negotiations with investors, lenders, developers, contractors and service providers, working effectively across both public and private sector stakeholders.
• Strategic Financial Leadership – Strong capability to think strategically and work with senior leaders to ensure PFI projects are managed efficiently and deliver value for money, with a sound understanding of public sector governance and Central Government environments.
• Communicating – Excellent written and oral communication skills, including high-quality drafting and presentation abilities, with the capacity to work independently, manage competing priorities and demonstrate leadership aligned to Civil Service values.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £70,854, Department for Education contributes £20,526 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department’s transfer / promotion policies.

As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension scheme with an employer contribution of 28.97%, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK.

You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service. In addition, all staff receive the King’s Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days’ bank and public holidays.

We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.

As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.

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

How to Apply

This campaign is being run by Archer Mac on behalf of the Department for Education. To apply for this post, you will need to submit your application no later than 23:55 on Sunday 26th April 2026 providing the three documents outlined below.

Please apply here.

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years;
• A Statement of Suitability (no longer 2 pages) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the person specification criteria on page 10 of the attached candidate pack;
• A Diversity Monitoring Form. If you do not wish to provide a declaration on any of the particular characteristics, you will have the option to select ‘prefer not to say’. All monitoring data will be treated in the strictest confidence and will not be provided to the selection panel. The information you provide when submitting your application will help us monitor our progress towards the Civil Service becoming the most inclusive employer. Click here to complete.

Failure to submit both documents (CV and Statement) will mean the panel has only limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification. Please ensure that both your documents contain your full name.

Should you encounter any issues with submitting your application, please do get in touch with Archer Mac (dfe@archermac.co.uk).

Disabled Candidates

As an employer we are committed to promoting and protecting the physical and mental health and wellbeing of all our colleagues and applicants. The Department for Education uses the Disability Confident scheme (formerly the Guaranteed Interview scheme) to help widen employment opportunities for disabled people. Applicants with disabilities who meet the essential criteria, as stated in the person specification, the Civil Service nationality requirements and indicate they are applying under the Disability Confident scheme will be guaranteed an interview. If you wish to claim a guaranteed interview under the Disability Confident Scheme, you should contact
dfe@archermac.co.uk. It is not necessary to state the nature of your disability.

Employment Scheme for Veterans

The ‘Great Place to Work for Veterans scheme’ makes it easier for veterans to join the Civil Service. If you opt into the scheme and meet the minimum criteria, you’ll progress to the next stage for most roles – whether that’s an interview or an online test.

Selection Panel

• Niala Anderson, Head of Finance and Governance, Private Finance
• Daniel Rudley, Deputy Director, Private Finance

Interview

Shortlisted candidates will be asked to attend a panel interview in order to have a more in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification.

The interview panel may include a 10-15 minute presentation – candidates will be given the topic in advance to allow for preparation ahead of the interview.

Offer and Feedback

The timeline below indicates the date by which decisions are expected to be made – all candidates will be advised of the outcome of their application as soon as possible thereafter.

Expected timescales

We will try and offer as much flexibility as we can, but it may not be possible to offer alternative dates for assessments or interviews. You are therefore asked to note the below timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process, in order to meet the dates given. Please note that these dates may be subject to change.

• Advert Closing Date - 23:55 on Sunday 26th April 2026
• Shortlist Meeting - w/c 4th May 2026
• Interviews - w/c 11th May 2026

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.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

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 : Archer Mac
• Email : dfe@archermac.co.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : dfe@archermac.co.uk

Further information

The Department for Education’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the Civil Service Commissioners Recruitment Principles, which outlines that selection for appointment is made on merit based on fair and open competition. You have the right to complain if you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles. In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly with the department concerned via CentralRecruitment.Operations@education.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages

Attachments

DFE_PFI Finance Manager - Candidate Pack_2026 1 Opens in new window (pdf, 584kB)