Head of Finance, Government Security Group

The Cabinet Office supports the Prime Minister and ensures the effective running of government. We are also the corporate headquarters for government, in partnership with HM Treasury, and we take the lead in certain critical policy areas. Our main offices are in London, but we have staff based around the country.

The Government Security Group’s ability to deliver its priorities depends on strong financial planning, effective governance and clear decision-making. In this role, you’ll lead the development of the Group’s multi-year business planning approach, working with colleagues across the organisation to bring together a coherent and credible financial plan that is fully aligned to the functional business plan and agreed at a senior level.

You’ll manage the annual budget-setting process, ensuring robust budgets are developed that withstand scrutiny from the Senior Management Team. Throughout the year, you’ll oversee in-year financial management, testing compliance with financial controls, ensuring business cases receive appropriate challenge, and supporting the effective management of a significant and evolving programme portfolio.

Alongside this, you’ll provide strategic financial advice to senior stakeholders across Government Security, helping them understand the financial implications and risks of key decisions. Building trusted relationships with leaders and practitioners will be central to your success, as will developing and growing the team to ensure it has the capability, capacity and culture needed to meet changing priorities.

You’re a qualified finance professional with a solid understanding of how government finance works and how public spending is controlled. You’re comfortable working with complex information, weighing up different funding options and turning analysis into advice that helps people make confident decisions.

You enjoy working with people and building strong relationships naturally, whether that’s with finance colleagues, operational teams or senior leaders. You communicate clearly, adapt your style to your audience and can juggle competing priorities without losing sight of what needs to move forward. You’re good at cutting through detail, spotting what really matters and explaining it in a way others can easily act on.

You’re also a credible and resilient leader who’s comfortable operating at senior levels. You bring energy, good judgement and a strong sense of ownership to your work, and you care about developing others – creating an environment where teams feel supported and able to do their best work.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. With this in mind, we run a Disability Confident Scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. Also, please note that successful candidates must meet our security requirements before they can be appointed, and will also undergo a criminal record check.

Closing date: 19 February 2026.