At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead commercial finance, pricing strategies, and accurate costing for new products.
- Company: Join the College of Policing, a key player in enhancing policing standards.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, flexible working, and a supportive environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on policing while shaping financial strategies.
- Qualifications: Qualified Accountant with strong financial analysis and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Other info: Fully remote options available, with excellent career growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 49000 - 57000 £ per year.
Finance lead for pricing, accurate costing of new products and services.
This is an exciting opportunity to lead on commercial finance for the College of Policing. The College's expenditure is c. £90m per annum, of which c. £30m is currently funded by trading and commercial income.
As the finance lead for all aspects of the College's commercial activity, your responsibilities will include pricing and charging strategy and accurate costing of new products and services. In addition, you will also lead on income analysis by identifying trends and supporting accurate forecasting and ensuring alignment with Home Office and HMT guidance.
The role will allow you to help shape the College's overall commercial strategy, including for international business and play a key role in turning the College into a more commercially minded organisation. As the Commercial Finance Lead you will be responsible for:
- Overseeing the College's costing and pricing model ensuring the costing and pricing strategy of new products or services is transparent, accurate and developed with a clear understanding of key guidance such as Managing Public Money. The role will also oversee the College's charging policy and core customer list.
- Influencing the reporting of regular financial and commercial analysis to the College's Executive Team and Board, demonstrating strong analytical and leadership skills to enable accurate and insightful financial forecasting.
- Contributing to medium-term financial planning and fiscal events, such as cross government spending reviews within the College, working closely with corporate development and training delivery colleagues to demonstrate the value of the College.
To be successful in this role you'll need:
- To be a Qualified Accountant (CCAB or equivalent).
- Experience of providing financial analysis and insight to support decision-making.
- A solid understanding of accounting principles.
- Experience of influencing and advising senior managers on financial issues.
- An ability to develop financial proposals and business cases and deliver value for money.
- To be effective at building working relationships with internal and external stakeholders at all levels and work collaboratively to achieve objectives.
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Delivering at Pace
- Seeing the Big Picture
As part of the application process, you will be required to provide:
- A personal statement of no more than 1000 words attached to your CV that explains how your skills and experience meet each of the criteria below:
- Experience of providing financial analysis and insight to support decision-making, and a solid understanding of accounting principles and experience of applying this knowledge to a complex operational environment.
- Ability to build effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders at all levels and work collaboratively to achieve business and commercial objectives.
- Ability to analyse, summarise and communicate financial data and information clearly and accurately to a wide range of audiences including non-financial and senior colleagues.
A supporting CV outlining your job history and qualifications (including how you meet the essential criteria for the role).
Closing Date is 11:55pm on the 20th February 2026. Interviews are expected to take place w/c 9th March 2026. All dates are indicative and subject to change.
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.
Location: This post can be fully remote or based at our sites in either Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Durham, Harrogate or London. Hybrid working opportunities can also be discussed prior to you taking up your post.
Commercial Finance Lead in London employer: College of Policing
Contact Detail:
College of Policing Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Commercial Finance Lead in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the finance sector, especially those who have experience with commercial roles. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings or even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the College of Policing and its financial strategies. Show them you’re not just another candidate; demonstrate your understanding of their mission and how you can contribute to their commercial success.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your skills in financial analysis and stakeholder management align with the role. Keep it concise and impactful—think of it as your personal brand statement.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Commercial Finance Lead in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before you start writing, make sure you fully grasp what the Commercial Finance Lead role entails. Dive into the job description and highlight key responsibilities that resonate with your experience.
Craft a Compelling Personal Statement: Your personal statement is your chance to shine! Keep it under 1000 words and clearly link your skills and experiences to the criteria mentioned in the job description. Be specific and use examples to illustrate your points.
Tailor Your CV: Don’t just send a generic CV! Tailor it to reflect how your job history and qualifications align with the role. Highlight relevant experiences that showcase your financial analysis skills and ability to build relationships.
Be Honest and Authentic: While AI can help, make sure all your statements are genuine and come from your own experiences. Plagiarism can lead to your application being withdrawn, so keep it real and true to yourself!
How to prepare for a job interview at College of Policing
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Commercial Finance Lead, you'll need to demonstrate your financial acumen. Brush up on key financial metrics and be ready to discuss how you've used financial analysis to support decision-making in the past. Prepare examples that showcase your understanding of costing and pricing strategies.
✨Build Relationships
This role requires collaboration with various stakeholders. Think about times when you've successfully built relationships with senior managers or external partners. Be prepared to share these experiences and highlight your communication skills during the interview.
✨Understand the Bigger Picture
The College of Policing is focused on improving leadership and professionalism. Familiarise yourself with their mission and values, and think about how your role as a finance lead can contribute to these goals. Show that you can align financial strategies with broader organisational objectives.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
Expect questions that assess your behaviours, such as 'Delivering at Pace' and 'Seeing the Big Picture'. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers. Have specific examples ready that demonstrate how you've delivered results under pressure and maintained a strategic outlook.
