Chief Financial Officer & Director of Corporate Functions

We employ a diverse team of talented, committed individuals and aim to be a Great Place to Work, where colleagues are supported to develop their capability in a dynamic, busy organisation whilst promoting a positive work life balance. Employee wellbeing is high on our agenda and we promote a socially friendly, welcoming work atmosphere. Flexible working is a key element for many, if not all, of our colleagues. Examples include flexible working hours and hybrid working. For this role, consideration will be given to requests to work on a job share basis. Flexible working hours can also be considered. Staff have the opportunity to join the Civil Service Pension Scheme, with an employer contribution of 28.97%. The NSTA’s hybrid working includes an expectation for staff to spend 40% of their time in the office.

About the NSTA: The NSTA regulates the oil and gas, offshore hydrogen and carbon storage industries. We work closely with central government and with industry through the “tripartite” model to support energy security, drive emissions reduction and accelerate the energy transition. The NSTA has a critical role in driving the North Sea energy transition, realising the significant potential of the UK Continental Shelf as a critical energy and carbon abatement resource. The NSTA holds industry to account on reducing emissions and works as an enabling regulator including, as appropriate, with the supply chain.

This is an exciting time to join the NSTA, the government has signalled their intention to legislate for an expanded NSTA role including enhanced powers and wider responsibilities – including three new overarching objectives for our work:

• To maximise societal economic value of offshore activities
• Assist the Secretary of State in meeting the net zero target and carbon budgets
• To enhance the long-term benefits of the transition to clean energy technologies in the UKCS by considering workers, communities and supply chains.

In response to these planned changes, the NSTA is actively reviewing our organisation and priorities to be ready for the next chapter. There will be discussions with the successful candidate to explore their views of how this role and the directorate it leads can continue to evolve and develop.

Brief overview of role: The NSTA is recruiting a new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) & Director of Corporate Functions to provide strategic leadership and oversight of financial management and of several established vital corporate functions including digital and data. The postholder will ensure robust financial stewardship, modern and efficient corporate services, and contribute as a key member of the NSTA Board and Leadership Team including providing the principal advice and support to the Chief Executive in their role as the Accounting Officer, responsible to Parliament, and acting when needed as the Deputy Accounting Officer.

As the CFO, a key priority for the successful candidate will be to ensure the NSTA continues to have a clear financial strategy and sound financial structure. You will ensure the integrity of all financial services including delivery, analysis, controls and internal and external reporting is of the highest quality and robust. Additional responsibilities with regards to fraud prevention and financial auditing fall within your remit. The role has direct line management responsibilities for the Head of Finance, Chief Digital Officer, Chief Data Officer and Head of Corporate Services and Programme Delivery. The Directorate currently comprises of approximately 50 staff.

Financial Leadership:

• Lead long‑term financial strategy, ensuring robust controls, transparency, and compliance.
• Ensure the NSTA remains compliant with government and company financial management, spending controls and obligations.
• Ensure all duties of the Chief Financial Officer are conducted in accordance with our obligations, including planning, forecasting, budgeting, and financial reporting.
• Manage financial risk, audit oversight, fraud prevention, and financial governance.
• Provide authoritative financial advice to the Board and senior leadership and act as Deputy Accounting Officer to Parliament as required.

Corporate Functions Leadership – including Digital & Data:

• Strategic leadership of the key corporate functions including finance, data and digital services, facilities, procurement and the project management office.
• Ensure corporate functions lead and deliver efficient strategic and modern support to organisational delivery.
• Empowering, motivating and developing both the corporate leadership team and the wider directorate.
• Manage approximately 50 staff via corporate functional heads.
• Work with Chief Executive & Head of HR to consider the further evolution of this successful team as we respond to the North Sea Future Plan.

Leadership & Organisational Contribution:

• Be a full and impactful member of the Board of Directors in their work to provide the overall strategic direction and governance of the NSTA.
• Work collaboratively as a key member of the Leadership Team in their work to execute the organisation’s strategic priorities, shape delivery and maintain the NSTA as a great place to work.
• Play an active role in the NSTA’s ongoing transformation, enable continuous performance improvement, and ensure a clear focus on clarity of purpose, communication and engagement.
• Role model the NSTA behaviours and values.

Person specification:

• Competence 1: Decision Making and Judgement: Create evidence-based strategies, evaluating options, impacts, risks and solutions. Ability to achieve and deliver organisational objectives while minimising risk and balancing a wide range of considerations to drive and deliver outcomes. Ensure involvement and consultation where necessary and take decisive action when required.
• Competence 2: Leading and Communicating: Inclusive, engaging and values-based leader, who is able to collaborate and engage colleagues and stakeholders, deliver a vision, particularly during periods of change, whilst also showing evidence of listening, adapting and being open to change. As a strategic thinker, be able to set a clear direction and vision whilst managing and engaging with people with honesty and integrity. Effectively lead and manage teams through periods of change as the organisation evolves.
• Competence 3: Delivery: Build a culture of strong performance allowing delivery of outcomes with a firm focus on prioritisation and addressing performance resolutely, fairly and promptly. Demonstrate the ability to provide the focus, energy and agility to drive activities forward, often through appropriate delegation and encouraging staff to perform effectively in a challenging and changing environment. Accountability for the delivery of outcomes within the Directorate.
• Competence 4: Planning, Performing and Achieving: Lead the successful delivery of key transformation organisational objectives ensuring the appropriate planning, prioritisation, allocation of resource, cost-efficiency and an agile approach. Demonstrate the ability to translate complex aims into clear and manageable plans and determine resource requirements to support implementation.

Specialist Skills, Qualifications, Experience, Licences, Memberships or Language:

• Essential: Experience of working as a senior finance leader alongside experience of directing other corporate functions. Professional accounting qualification. Demonstrable record of understanding public and/or private finances, experience of best practice financial procedures and the UK regulatory framework for corporate governance. Experience of leading experts from highly skilled functions, driving performance without micromanaging activity. Experience in maintaining and improving services by managing risks to ensure own area and partners deliver against defined outcomes. Experience of successfully managing complex stakeholder relationships.
• Desirable: Experience of directing corporate functions including information technology (digital and data), facilities, procurement and project management. Experience and demonstrable credibility in a Board level role. Able to critically analyse long-term strategic objectives and develop strategies that support achievement of objectives. Experience in, and/or knowledge of, the sectors directly regulated by the NSTA. Experience in, and/or knowledge of, the UK public sector and civil service.