Finance Manager

Working Hours: 21 to35 hours per week – we are happy to talk part time and flexible working.

Join us now to be part of the vital force in protecting and enhancing our National Park. As a National Park Authority we play a crucial role in tackling the twin challenges of the Global Climate Emergency and Nature Crisis.

The Role:

The purpose of this role is to lead the finance service for the National Park Authority in producing high quality financial outcomes for the organisation. By maximising the value we get from our limited finances, ensuring public trust in our use of funds, and supporting timely delivery across all parts of the organisation, our finance service is crucial to achieving the strategic outcomes of the National Park.

As a qualified accountant with current professional membership of a CCAB accountancy body, you will have a proven track record in budget management, establishing management information reporting systems and preparing end of year statutory accounts.

With strong written and oral communication skills, you will translate complicated technical information for a variety of audiences. You will demonstrate sound independent judgement and understand how to approach, advise and influence key stakeholders.

The Finance Manager is our key advisor and point of contact for the Board, Chief Executive, Executive Team and Scottish Government on financial management and information. The role leads and inspires the team and implements continual improvement in the operation of financial processes, systems, budgeting, and reporting.

Responsibilities:

• Provide effective leadership and management of Finance and Procurement.
• Provide financial advice and guidance to the Chief Executive (Accountable Officer) and Executive, Operational Managers and Board Members on all aspects of financial management.
• Review, interpret and advise on statutory and regulatory changes in public body financial management and determine appropriate changes in internal regulations and controls to ensure the National Park Authority complies with statutory requirements and good practice.
• Work with the Executive Team on the development of long-term financial strategies.
• Lead on the annual budget setting and review process, working effectively with budget holders to identify opportunities to generate efficiencies and additional sources of income.
• Ensure provision of effective financial control, monitoring and reporting systems for the National Park Authority: including finance & budgetary control; procurement; and financial delegation.
• Review the existing systems for: data and information; processing and workflow; budgeting and reporting; implementing changes that realise efficiencies and better support the organisation’s ability to deliver.
• Ensure delivery of statutory reports (including the Annual Accounts) in line with Scottish Government and External Audit requirements and within agreed timetables.
• Act as the main point of contact between the National Park Authority and external auditors.
• Lead, motivate and support the Finance team to deliver a user friendly, creative, supportive high performing and proactive service.
• Undertake any other duties appropriate to the grade as required.

Who we are looking for:

Your skills, abilities and experience should include:

• Experience in leading a team and developing staff
• Experience of developing financial strategies and policies.
• Experience of budget setting, management, monitoring and reporting.
• Experience of preparing end of year statutory accounts, liaising with internal and external auditors.
• Experience of overseeing financial transactions, accounting, controls, monitoring and reporting systems.
• Ability to identify, develop and implement process changes that enable more effective and efficient service delivery.
• Leadership and management skills and ability to flexibly deploy own and team’s efforts.
• Strong excel skills, and ability to work with source data to create tactical reports and produce requirements documents to facilitate automation of key processes.
• Qualified Accountant with current full professional membership of a CCAB accountancy body.
• Ideally, but not essential, you’ll also have:
• Experience in procuring and managing external services and contracts.
• Experience of managing finance within an NDPB environment.
• Knowledge and understanding of Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM).

How to apply:

If you are interested in this role, complete your application by 17th March 2025 @ 9am .

• Access our application form on our job portal
• Interviews will be virtual
• Interview dates are set for: 7th & 8th April 2025

Who we are and our values:

Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park is more than just an idyllic place to work, the Park Authority is one of the UK’s Top 100 best not for profit companies to work for. Our Balloch headquarters is within easy reach of both Glasgow and Stirling with a train station at easy walking distance, a cycle to work scheme, although also ample car parking onsite.

We offer flexible and remote working, with a generous pension scheme, annual leave allowance and access to wellbeing services and strong focus on wellbeing throughout the organisation.

Being part of Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park means being passionate about what you do, working hard to inspire and lead the way for others. We care about each other and are accessible and friendly treating each other with respect and understanding, we think about our planet with each decision we make. Together, we are the difference.

Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park are proud to celebrate difference. Diversity of experience is vital in our success we want our business to be representative to the communities we work alongside. As an equal opportunity employer, we actively encourage applicants from a wide range of individuals, irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, gender identity and expression, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.