Finance Business Partner - West

The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) is an Agency of the Scottish Government, working in partnership with organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors to deliver safe and secure custodial services that empower offenders to take responsibility and to fulfil their potential. We employ over 4500 people in a diverse range of professions across our 13 prisons, Headquarters and the SPS College.

About the Role

An exciting opportunity has arisen within SPS Headquarters as we recruit for a Finance Business Partner that will cover the West areas to join the Team. Reporting to the Head of Finance, you will be responsible for the finance business partnering with SPS establishment finance managers within your area. The role is to support establishment finance managers and provide financial leadership ensuring the production of relevant, accurate and timely financial advice and supporting information in order that the establishments will achieve their agreed financial position.

You will provide Strategic financial advice and support to the establishments in the development of their operational business plans. A key aspect of this support will be working with the establishments in the development of business cases.

You will work closely with both establishment finance managers and colleagues within finance HQ. You may have line management responsibility for staff within the team, an important part of the role will be the mentoring and coaching of the finance team.

• Establishing and maintaining close effective working relationships with establishment teams providing high quality, reliable, accurate and timely financial information.
• Responsible for the overall preparation and monitoring of the establishment budgets, ensuring the reporting requirements are achieved timely and accurately.
• Support the establishment finance managers in the development of strategies and preparation, delivery and performance monitoring of Business Cases.
• Manage and support the establishment finance managers, ensuring the training and development of the team to attain the best achievable performance
• Responsibility for providing the assurance on the integrity of financial information, ensuring the compliance of SPS controls, financial policies, and procedures.

About you

• Full membership of a CCAB recognised body e.g. CIPFA, CIMA, ACCA or ICAS/ICAEW. (Essential)
• Experience of delivering finance business partnering in a large, complex organisation; with extensive experience of financial reporting, planning, budgeting, and forecasting processes.(Essential)
• You will have proven experience of effectively and constructively negotiating with non-finance stakeholders, and challenging financial information to secure optimal value for money from services; and experience of delivering high quality results and being able to manage competing priorities in an effective and resilient manner.(Essential)
• Experience in the preparation of business cases, and provision of analysis and insight to support investment decision making; in the development and monitoring of savings and efficiency plans; and in the improvement of financial processes and financial management information.(Essential)

Benefits on offer include (but are not limited to):

• An attractive Civil Service Pension – employer contributions of 27.1% to 27.9%
• Hybrid working policy – supporting flexibility in work arrangements
• Ongoing professional development
• Opportunity for progression
• Annual Leave – 37days rising to 42days
• Sick Pay
• Discounts on High Street stores, supermarkets and restaurants through our partners at Blue Light Card, Edenred and Civil Service Sports Council

For further information on this opportunity, including full job description, person specification, assessment process and to apply, please visit www.sps.gov.uk/careers.