Financial Controller

JOB PURPOSE

The Financial Controller will be accountable to the Chief Financial Officer for the effective delivery of the Finance Service Strategy as set by the Chief Financial Officer and agreed with the Police Scotland Executive and Scottish Police Authority.

The Financial Controller will deputise for the Chief Financial Officer on an ongoing basis across a number of strategic relationships and projects and represent the Finance Service internally and externally as deputy to the Chief Financial Officer.

The Financial Controller will be the operational lead for the Finance Senior Management Team of six qualified and experienced finance professionals to deliver all core finance requirements such that the Chief Financial Officer is able to suitably prioritise strategic activities and relationships.

Whilst, under the Finance Senior Management Team structure, the Finance Business Partnering Lead, Strategic Financial Planning & Budgeting Lead and the Business Investment Lead will report directly to the Chief Financial Officer in relation to the delivery of relevant strategic priorities, the Financial Controller will lead the day to day management of these personnel as part of the Finance Senior Management Team and in relation to their ongoing delivery of agreed strategic priorities.

ACCOUNTABILITIES AND MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Lead the Finance Senior Management Team of six qualified and experienced professionals to support the Chief Financial Officer's strategy for the Finance Function, ensuing overall function performance contributes to the strategic aims of the Finance Service and the Wider Organisation.

2. Deputise for the Chief Financial Officer in effective engagement with Police Scotland Executive, Scottish Police Authority, Scottish Government, Internal and External Audit and other stakeholders as appropriate.

3. Be accountable for fully supporting the Chief Financial Officer in delivery of the following Finance Service priorities:

a. Contribution to the effective leadership of Police Scotland, maintaining a focus on its purpose and vision through rigorous analysis and challenge and the provision of professional advice, enabling decision-makers to take timely and informed business decisions.

b. Promotion of financial literacy throughout the organisation such that the Leadership Team and budget holders can suitably discharge their financial management responsibilities.

c. Exercising of strong stewardship over the organisation’s resources through systems of internal control, risk management and assurance, and the application of discipline and excellence in financial management processes and procedures.

d. Contribution to the effective corporate management of Police Scotland, including strategy implementation, cross organisational issues, resource planning, risk management and performance management.

e. Ownership of the development, delivery and maintenance of a long term financial strategy aligned to organisational objectives, stakeholder requirements, relevant legislation and accounting practice.

f. Ownership of the development and delivery of the annual budgeting process to ensure development and maintenance of an effective resource allocation model to deliver agreed priorities.

g. Delivery of the Annual Report & Accounts on a timely basis and to the requisite quality standard and ownership of monitoring and reporting of financial performance including the identification of corrective courses of action as applicable.

h. Ownership of relevant areas of business change and transformation.

i. Supporting and responding positively to those responsible for scrutiny including Internal Audit, External Audit, Scottish Police Authority Board and relevant committees.

j.Promoting high standards of ethical behaviour, probity, integrity and honesty.

k. Promoting effective communication and engagement within the Finance Service, across the organisation and with stakeholders.

l. Engaging with external organisations and professional networks to share and adopt good practice, and to remain aware of emerging trends and legislative change.

4. Pro-actively maintain a Professional Working Knowledge of internal and external changes to relevant Professional and Industry Standards and the Legislative landscape as it impacts on the Financial Service. Lead the Finance Senior Management Team in their interpretation of any changes, ensuring required changes are implemented via a controlled change programme and in a timely manner.

5. Monitor the development and implementation of each Finance Senior Management Team Members’ Continuous Improvement Plan for their area of accountability.

6. Lead a strong and accountable performance management culture within the Finance Service that places emphasis on the economic, efficient and effective use of public money.

7. Lead a focus on successful outcomes and delivery of planned objectives, by overseeing the Finance Service delivery of appropriate technical and personal development training programmes.

8. Initiate, lead, monitor and manage improvement and change projects as agreed with the Chief Financial Officer.

9. Be accountable for the implementation and monitoring of all applicable Standard Operating Practices and Policies including Health, Safety & Wellbeing policies.

10. Continually re-evaluate priorities and work in an agile manner to address emerging requirements as applicable.

The above list is illustrative, not exhaustive. Accordingly, there may be a requirement to undertake additional duties, consistent with the grade of the post, as directed by management.

Skills/Knowledge/Qualifications

• Consultative Committee of Accounting Bodies (CCAB) Qualified Accountant.
• Specialist knowledge of relevant financial regulations, processes and systems.
• Excellent leadership, communication and organisational skills.
• Considerable post-qualification experience at Senior FC, FD or CFO level in a complex organisation.
• Considerable experience of delivering against strategically linked financial objectives and delivering programmes of change.
• Considerable experience of effectively building partnerships and working with internal and external stakeholders.
• Sound knowledge of risk management approaches in a Finance Service environment.
• Understanding of equality and diversity and legislative requirements in relation to service delivery.

1. WORKING ENVIRONMENT

This post involves working indoors and includes travelling between different locations or premises across Scotland in the course of normal duties.

2. PHYSICAL COORDINATION

The role-holder will require physical co-ordination to undertake computing activities. This will require the use of general keyboarding skills when accessing and manipulating a range of computer applications.

3. PHYSICAL EFFORT

This post is office based and there is minimum physical effort associated with this role.

4. MENTAL SKILLS

The role-holder will require to resolve problems or situations by applying analytical skills and advanced problem-solving techniques. A high level of skill will be required for analysis of complex financial information and strategic planning. This will require the analysis of information, some of which may be conflicting and will require excellent and logical judgement. The role-holder will be required to implement complex strategies, policies and procedures.

5. CONCENTRATION

The role-holder will require focused levels of concentration, in order to undertake complex tasks, including careful analysis of detailed financial data, report-writing, development of strategies. These levels of concentration can be sustained for periods of up to an hour, without interruptions. In addition, work related pressure can be caused by conflicting or simultaneous demands, some of which the role-holder may have to undertake immediately.

6. COMMUNICATION SKILLS

The role-holder's communications in the course of normal working can be spoken or written. Demanding aspects to this role will include presenting to, advising, guiding and persuading others. Particular skills are required to present, advise, guide and persuade out with the Police Scotland Finance Department, such as Scottish Government Executive Leads, Police Scotland Executive Team, SPA Board and Committee members, in order to influence and encourage others to adopt a particular course of action.

7. DEALING WITH RELATIONSHIPS

• · Police Scotland Executive Team
• · Scottish Police Authority Senior Management Team
• · Internal Auditors
• · Audit Scotland
• · HMRC

The role-holder does not generally come into contact with people who are disadvantaged, abusive, threatening in the course of normal working.

Dealing with others is primarily concerned with presenting, advising, guiding and persuading, requesting and providing information. The post holder may have contact with a wide range of internal and external customers. Courtesy, professionalism, tact and effectiveness are required. The post-holder may come into contact with individuals who could be of a demanding nature but this is incidental to the role-holder’s work.

8. RESPONSIBILITY FOR EMPLOYEES

Direct line management of a team of six qualified and experienced finance professionals and a team of over 100 finance personnel.

9. RESPONSIBILITY FOR SERVICES TO OTHERS

The role-holder will require to undertake the assessment of complex service requirements, and is accountable for the quality and provision of service requirements.

10. RESPONSIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL RESOURCES

The role-holder will hold responsibility for the resource budget for the Finance Service and will be accountable for considerable advice in relation to budgetary spend across the Organisation in terms of both revenue and reform spending.

11. RESPONSIBILITY FOR PHYSICAL AND INFORMATION RESOURCES

The role-holder's primary responsibility for physical resources is for manual and/or computerised data or information, and so knowledge of Data Protection is required.

The role-holder’s main role in this is responsibility for planning the development of departmental/functional information systems. This refers to identifying and anticipating strategic information requirements in both the short and long term, and determining the related resource implications. The role-holder also has responsibility for plant, vehicles, equipment and/or tools which they have to manage. This responsibility is primarily for identifying resource requirements.

12. INITIATIVE AND INDEPENDENCE

The role-holder will require to work at a strategic level, and will have scope to exercise discretion at a service level. They will be expected to lead on the implementation of relevant strategy & policy, and make recommendations across the entire finance service.

ESSENTIAL

• CCAB qualified.
• Significant experience of operating within a senior and strategic level role within a complex finance environment incorporating the design and delivery of strategies and work plans and leading a team through times of change.
• A demonstrable track record of delivering results under pressure and being able to manage competing priorities in an effective and resilient manner.
• Excellent Technical Accounting Knowledge.
• Extremely strong interpersonal skills and experience of working to achieve results within a complex matrix environment, comprising internal and external stakeholders and working with colleagues from a variety of operational and support-based service lines.
• Extremely strong team management capability. With demonstrable experience of leading and motivating teams.
• Ability to appraise options for change and translate problems and ideas into implementable plans.
• Political astuteness with an ability to develop networks and to deliver challenge in a constructive manner.

Proven ability to solve complex problems, capable of operating both as a strategic lead, coordinating and leading a team, whilst also being able to get into detail to understand the route-cause of problems when appropriate.

• Ability to develop strong and positive business partnering arrangements.
• High level of professionalism.
• Resilient & Adaptable.
• Enthusiastic.
• Experience of change/transformation.

DESIRABLE

• Public sector experience.
• Coaching and mentoring skills.
• Direct experience of managing projects.