Finance Business Partner

Audit Scotland provides the Auditor General and Accounts Commission with the services they need to carry out their duties. Together we ensure that the Scottish Government and public-sector bodies throughout Scotland are held to account for the proper, efficient and effective use of public money. We employ around 340 staff in a wide variety of roles, working from our main offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Aberdeen.

Are you a qualified accountant who thrives on solving complex financial challenges, enjoys partnering with colleagues across an organisation, and wants your work to genuinely make a difference to public services in Scotland? We’re seeking a Finance Business Partner to support strategic financial planning, reporting and analysis. You’ll lead key budgeting and forecasting processes, produce clear and insightful financial reports, oversee month-end and year-end activity, and contribute to our annual accounts.

If you bring strong analytical skills, clear communication and a collaborative mindset, this is your chance to make a meaningful contribution to the effective use of public money.

What you will be doing

• Assist the Head of Finance to establish, manage and report on Audit Scotland’s budget for:
• The Audit Scotland Board
• The Executive Team
• The Accounts Commission
• The Scottish Commission for Public Audit
• Budget holders
• Support the Head of Finance to prepare a medium-term financial plan to meet the strategic objectives outlined in the corporate plan.
• Produce reports on Audit Scotland’s performance against agreed budgets and liaise with budget holders to prepare in-year financial forecasts.
• Financial modelling and scenario planning of expenditure and fee income budgets.
• Evaluate and assess financial impact of business cases and their long-term affordability implications.
• Work closely with our Audit Services Group and Performance Audit and Best Value Business Managers to develop reporting on the cost of audit delivery.
• Manage the month and year-end processes ensuring all work-in-progress, accruals, prepayments, fixed asset, and other essential journal entries are posted prior to Head of Finance sign off.
• Key contact for managing and developing Audit Scotland’s financial management systems.
• Assist with the design of reporting systems to enable managers throughout Audit Scotland to have appropriate financial management information.
• Assist with the preparation of Audit Scotland’s annual accounts liaising with the external auditor as necessary.
• Responsible for the submission of VAT and Corporation Tax returns to meet HMRC deadlines.
• Support the Auditor General for Scotland with the discharge of the Comptroller function.
• Manage the cash flow of Audit Scotland.
• Key contact for Audit Scotland procurement compliance.
• Ensure the day-to-day operations of the sales and purchase ledgers deliver the timely payment of invoices and collection of all income in respect of chargeable services provided by Audit Scotland.
• Contribute to the enhancement of the reputation and standing of Audit Scotland by demonstrating high professional standards to external and internal audit.
• Contribute to the continuous improvements in the standard of financial management information throughout Audit Scotland through personal reading, personal professional development, meetings with government departments, working parties, conferences, and seminars.

Person specification - specific knowledge and experience

Essential:

• Hold a recognised accountancy qualification (CIPFA, ICAS, other CCAB, CIMA or equivalent).
• Demonstrable experience of financial management, including budgeting, forecasting, financial monitoring and variance analysis in a complex organisation.
• Experience of producing high-quality financial reports, including scenario planning and long-term financial modelling.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, to provide clear advice to all levels of staff.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong working relationships and collaborate effectively across the organisation.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools and financial management systems, including advanced Excel skills.
• Ability to work with integrity, discretion, and sound judgement, demonstrating high professional and ethical standards.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, meet strict deadlines and maintain accuracy under pressure.

Desirable:

• Experience working within the public sector, particularly in an organisation subject to public audit.
• Knowledge of Audit Scotland, its governance structures, and the wider Scottish public-sector landscape.
• Understanding of central government accounting standards, budgeting and financial reporting frameworks.
• Experience managing or developing junior colleagues.

Interested? Next steps: Click the apply button to complete an application form. Please answer the application questions fully, linking examples or experience to the essential and desirable criteria.

We offer a range of benefits, please visit our careers page for more information at http://www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/careers. Our application deadline is Sunday, 17 May at midnight. Interviews are expected to take place week beginning 25 May or 1 June in our Glasgow office.

Audit Scotland’s vision is that public money is well spent to meet the needs of Scotland's people. To achieve this, we support the Auditor General for Scotland and the Accounts Commission to provide clear, independent and objective assurance on how effectively public money is being managed and spent. Our work covers about £59bn of public spending, almost 300 public sector accounts, and the services and projects that affect all people and communities in Scotland.

As well as what we do, how we do it is integral to delivering our vision and critical to our wellbeing and our organisational success. We put our organisational values of equality, independence, innovation, integrity and respect at the heart of everything we do.

We employ around 340 staff in a wide variety of roles, working from our main offices in Edinburgh and Glasgow, and through a network of regional offices across Scotland. There has never been a more interesting or important time to join us. We offer a rewarding place to work, a supportive and open culture and a wide range of professional development opportunities. Benefits include 42 days of annual leave including public holidays, an attractive local government defined benefit pension scheme with 17.6% employer contributions, personal development allowances and flexible working hours.

Diversity and Inclusion

We value the unique perspective a diverse workforce brings to what we do. Therefore, we’re keen to increase representation in our workforce and support progression of minority ethnic groups. We are also a proud disability confident employer.

Reasonable Adjustments

Audit Scotland’s recruitment process may include various stages and activities including application forms, online assessments, and interviews, to assess whether you meet the requirements of the role. As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to providing inclusive and accessible recruitment where everyone is supported to perform at their best. When applying for a job with Audit Scotland, you will be asked in the application form if you need an adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process. Please include the reason you require an adjustment and details of what adjustment/s might help.

Some examples of adjustments that have been given to candidates include changing the time, location or format of interviews and providing additional time in any assessments and interviews. This is not an exhaustive list, and we will consider any adjustments that you might need.

As part of our commitment to equality and diversity, our equality network groups would be delighted to offer an insight into Audit Scotland’s culture of inclusivity. If you consider yourself to have a visible or hidden disability and wish to hear more about life at Audit Scotland or wish to speak with someone about the possibility of any adjustments, please contact Careers@audit-scotland.gov.uk or call 0131 625 1500 for further information and a member of the HR team will be in touch.

How we work

We employ around 340 staff in a wide variety of roles. They work flexibly at home and in the office as well as from audit sites across Scotland. This isn’t your typical work from home or work from office type job. We’re flexible about working patterns and we’ve transformed how we deliver high-quality public audit. We support you to work in the ways that achieve the best results for you, your team and the business, including your physical location and how you manage your hours. Put simply, we trust you to do your job, and want you to have the ability to have a rewarding work-life balance and best support your individual circumstances, be that childcare, adult carer responsibilities or managing disabilities.

Other conditions

Audit Scotland is committed to ensuring that we minimise our impact on the environment in accordance with Government policy affecting public sector organisations. We uphold the principles of equality, fairness & diversity. We all work within a safe environment and adhere to good standards of health & safety. All information is protected and managed appropriately. We maintain independence and political neutrality.