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Job summary

We are currently looking for a Programme Finance Lead to join our Strategic Finance Function within the Corporate group.

This is a full-time opportunity, on a permanent basis. The role will be based in 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf London, E14 4PU.

Government departments and agencies are working towards implementing a minimum 60% attendance in office sites.

We are currently implementing a flexible, hybrid way of working, with a minimum of 8 days per month working on site to enable the collaboration and contact with partners and stakeholders needed to deliver MHRA business. Attendance on site is driven by business needs so depending on the nature of the role, this can flex up to 12 days a month, with the remainder of time worked either remotely or in the office. Some roles will need to be on site more regularly. Please discuss this with the recruiting manager before accepting an appointment.

Who are we?

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency enhance and improve the health of millions of people every day through the effective regulation of medicines and medical devices, underpinned by science and research.

Strategic Finance sits at the heart of MHRA’s decision making process and advises senior leaders on the Agency's medium and long term planning. The team provides financial insight and analysis that supports evidence-based policy and operational decisions.

Job description

What’s the role?

As Programme Finance Lead, you will be responsible for driving strong financial planning, forecasting and performance management, helping to shape decisions and ensure resources are used effectively. It is an excellent opportunity for a motivated finance professional to broaden their experience in a fast-moving and complex environment.

This is a demanding role at times, and this role requires resilience, strong stakeholder engagement skills, and the ability to manage competing priorities. However, you will be supported by an experienced and collaborative Finance team, alongside a strong network of colleagues across the Agency.

The Programme Finance Lead role provides financial leadership and oversight across complex programmes, ensuring robust financial planning, monitoring, and reporting. You will be responsible for business case development, programme financial planning and forecasting, financial control and reporting, and acting as a business partner to Programme Managers and senior stakeholders. You will report into the Head of Strategic Finance.

The post holder will be required to develop a good understanding of the work of DTG within the Agency and may be required at times of peak demand to take on grade appropriate work from that wider team, including out of hours work on occasions.

Key responsibilities:

• Business Case Development: contribute to the creation and drafting of clear, well-structured business case documentation ensuring alignment with HM Treasury Green Book principles and HM Treasury Business Case Guidance for Projects and Programmes.
• Programme Financial Planning & Forecasting: leading the budget preparation, long-range planning, and multi-year forecasting for complex programmes, ensuring alignment with the MHRA’s strategic priorities and HM Treasury guidance.
• Financial Control & Reporting: establishing and maintaining rigorous financial controls and governance frameworks, preparing high-quality financial reports, statements, and analyses for senior leaders, the Executive Committee, and Ministers.
• Business Partnering & Advice: acting as a trusted financial advisor to Programme Managers and senior stakeholders, using data and analysis to challenge and support decision-making, manage risks, and ensure the programme remains on track.
• Risk Management & Assurance: Identifying potential financial risks and issues, developing mitigation strategies, and leading on internal and external audit processes to ensure compliance with government financial regulations, such as "Managing Public Money".
• Stakeholder Management: Building and maintaining strong, collaborative relationships across different functions (e.g. Commercial, Policy, Operations) and with external sponsor organisations).
• Process and System Improvement: Championing continuous improvement initiatives, including the use of new technologies and data analytics, to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in financial systems and processes.
• Leadership and Team Management: Leading, motivating, and developing multi-disciplinary finance teams, promoting professional standards and a culture of finance-based decision-making.

Person specification

Method of assessment: A=Application, T=Test, I=Interview, P=Presentation

Behaviour Criteria:

• Delivering at Pace (A, I)
• Making Effective Decisions (A, I)
• Working Together (I)
• Communicating and Influencing (I)

Experience Criteria:

• Significant experience in previous Programme Finance roles and able to demonstrate how they have driven programme engagement, budgeting and medium to long-term planning. (A, I)
• Experience of designing, maintaining and amending as appropriate programme finance and control systems to ensure the integrity, quality and timeliness of financial information. (A, I)
• Extensive experience of collaborating with Programme teams with a demonstrable track record of managing change and improving performance through technical know-how and analytical skills. (A, I)
• Significant experience of engaging and challenging senior stakeholders in arriving at the right financial decisions. (A, I)
• Strong decision-making skills and able to demonstrate when and how to change or alter procedures and processes to achieve greater efficiencies and effectiveness. (A, I)

Technical Criteria:

• Qualification: Professional qualification (CIPFA, ACCA, CIMA, CFA) (A, I)
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Excel – Intermediate level (A, I)
• Knowledge of Managing Public Money (A, I)
• Knowledge of Value for Money (A, I)
• Knowledge of HMT Green Book (A, I)

If you would like to find out more about this fantastic opportunity, please click here for further details.

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Benefits

Alongside your salary of £60,778, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency contributes £17,607 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Annual Leave: 25 days annual leave on entry, rising by one day for each completed year of service to a maximum of 30 days and pro-rata for part-time staff. PLUS 8 bank holidays
• Privilege Leave: 1 day
• Hours of Work: 37 hours (net) per week for full time staff in all geographical locations, including London and pro rata for part-time staff
• Occupational Sick Pay (OSP): One month full pay/one month half pay on entry, rising by one month for each completed year of service to a maximum of five months full pay/five months half pay
• Mobility: Mobility clause in contracts allowing staff to be mobile across the Civil Service
• Civil Service Pension Scheme. Please see the link for further information http://www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk/ For enquiries relating to the Civil Service Pension Schemes please contact MyCSP's Pension Service Centre directly on 0300 123 6666
• Flexible working to ensure staff maintain a healthy work-life balance
• Interest free season ticket loan or bike loan
• Employee Assistance Services and access to the Civil Service Benevolent Fund
• Eligibility to join Motoring , Boundless by CSMA
• Variety of staff and Civil Service clubs
• On-going learning and development

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

We use the Civil Service Success Profiles to assess our candidates, find out more here.

• CV and a statement of suitability (of no more than 1000 words), explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the criteria and Success Profiles in the person specification.
• Interview, which can include questions based on the Behaviour, Experience, Technical and Strengths Success Profiles.

If you require any disability related adjustments at any point during the process, please contact careers@mhra.gov.uk as soon as possible.

Closing date: 03 August 2026

Shortlisting date: w/c 10 August 2026

Interview date: w/c 17 August 2026

If you need assistance applying for this role or have any other questions, please contact careers@mhra.gov.uk

Candidates will be subject to UK immigration requirements as well as Civil Service nationality rules. Further information on whether you are able to apply is available here.

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check as well as animal rights and pro-life activism checks. People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

Certain roles within the MHRA will require post holders to have vaccinations, and in some circumstances, routine health surveillance. These roles include:

• Laboratory-based roles working directly with known pathogens
• Maintenance roles, particularly those required to work in laboratory settings
• Roles that involve visiting other establishments where vaccination is required
• Roles required to travel overseas where specific vaccination may be required.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Any move to the MHRA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility here.

Individuals appointed on level transfer will retain their existing salary and are responsible for ensuring they fully understand the financial implications of any potential move and the impact (if any) on their terms. If an individual is in any doubt, they should seek clarification before accepting a job offer.

Staff joining on promotion will receive up to a 10% increase of their current basic salary, or the pay band minimum, whichever is the greater.

The individual will not retain any allowances paid by the former department/Agency, unless there are special circumstances, such as a reserved right to those allowances on transfer.

Successful candidates may be subject to annual Occupational Health reviews dependent on role requirements. If you have any queries, please contact careers@mhra.gov.uk.

In accordance with the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles our recruitment and selection processes are underpinned by the requirement of selection for appointment on the basis of merit by a fair and open competition. 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 MHRA Recruitment Team at careers@mhra.gov.uk.

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk

info@csc.gov.uk

Civil Service Commission

Room G/8

1 Horse Guards Road

London

SW1A 2HQ

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

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 : Ed Stroud
• Email : EdStroud@allenlane.co.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : Careers@mhra.gov.uk

Further information

In accordance with the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles our recruitment and selection processes are underpinned by the requirement of selection for appointment on the basis of merit by a fair and open competition. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact the Resourcing Team at Careers@mhra.gov.uk, in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk - info@csc.gov.uk - Civil Service Commission Room G/8 1 Horse Guards Road London SW1A 2HQ