Finance Manager

Are you looking for a role where you can play a key role in delivering crucial financial monitoring and reporting to support improved outcomes for the judicial system in Scotland?

The Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland (JABS) is an independent Advisory Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) under the provisions of the Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008. The Board, which is independent of Scottish Government (SG) and the judiciary, has both governance and executive roles and is responsible for recommending individuals to Scottish Ministers for judicial roles. These roles include Senators of the College of Justice, Sheriffs Principal, Sheriffs, Summary Sheriffs, Chamber Presidents and members of the Scottish Tribunals and the Parole Board for Scotland.

JABS is seeing a substantial growth in its workload to meet the requirements of our courts and tribunals. This requires changes to JABS’ operating model as well as its policies, systems and administrative procedures.

JABS requires an enthusiastic individual to join our Business Management Unit currently comprising 10 staff. This role is dedicated to the support of the Chief Executive and Head of Operations in the budgetary planning process for the various recruitment competitions and underpinning corporate work, with a particular focus on the delivery of regular financial monitoring and reporting to the Board.

The role requires a meticulous approach to financial management and compliance with a view to ensuring prudent fiscal management and value for money.

Responsibilities

• Lead the preparation of JABS annual budget and various mid-year budgeting exercises.
• Lead monthly budget monitoring, reporting and analysis for JABS and the Scottish Government.
• Complete budget monitoring returns, reconciliations and journals in accordance with corporate timetables, investigating and resolving discrepancies as required.
• Coordinating the month-end process, including review of outturn and forecasts compared to budget, payroll and fees analysis.
• Provision of high quality monthly financial reports to senior officials, including finance papers for 6 Board meetings per year, influencing and challenging budget holders, assisting them to make informed decisions.
• Engage with colleagues, including the Head of Operations and Digital and Continuous Improvement Manager to work effectively together in planning the financial aspects of competition work including the provision of regular, high quality financial information and analysis including financial modelling forecasts.
• Oversee Business Support Officers and staff who have maintain financial records and processing payments using SG financial systems; liaising with suppliers and Accounts Payable about any disputed/outstanding invoices for the organisation.
• Proactively identify efficiencies in systems and processes by the provision of regular, high quality financial information and analysis, ensuring that financial controls are adequate and continually developing and using knowledge and expertise of local business and policy issues to challenge returns and provide advice to resolve issues.
• Engage with colleagues, including the Head of Operations and Digital and Continuous Improvement Manager to work effectively together in planning the financial aspects of JABS competition work including the provision of regular, high quality financial information and analysis including financial modelling forecasts.
• Complying with the requirements of the Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM), the UK Government Financial Reporting Manual (FReM) and working within the requirements of the Consolidated Budgeting Guidance.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with relevant business areas.

Success Profile

We use an assessment framework called ‘Success Profiles’ which lists the elements we test and provides detailed descriptions of each. Find out more about how we assess the Success Profile elements

Technical / Professional Skills:

• Government Finance - Working
• Budgeting, Forecasting and Costing - Working
• Working with Data in Finance - Practitioner
• Business and Organisation - Awareness

You can find out more about the capability framework here: [Finance Profession Capability Framework.xlsx](https://scotsconnect.sharepoint.com/:x:/r/sites/Saltire/_layouts/15/Doc.aspx?sourcedoc={2D7F4E04-A3B1-4E56-9F4A-8E183A8072EA}&file=Finance Profession Capability Framework.xlsx&action=default&mobileredirect=true&CID=1F4FE74E-608B-401B-9424-A2A15AB12A8C&wdLOR=cC9171B52-9BC2-4973-810B-35EA088C4DD4) (internal candidates only)

Professional Qualifications

Holding an AAT Level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting, or part/fully qualified at Certificate level or above with CIMA or a CCAB-recognised body, plus relevant financial experience.

Behaviours:

• Making Effective Decisions (Level 3)
• Communicating and Influencing (Level 3)
• Delivering at Pace (Level 3)
• Working together (Level 3)

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here: Behaviour levels - Success profiles: candidate guide - gov.scot

How to apply

Apply online, providing a CV and supporting statement (of no more than 1000 words) providing evidence of how you meet the behaviours, experience and technical skills listed in the Success Profile above. Both the CV and the supporting statement provided will be assessed against the criteria for the role.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

Please see our candidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.

If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and presentation.

Assessments are scheduled for 12/10/26, however this may be subject to change.

Skilled Worker Sponsorship not being offered

Skilled Worker sponsorship is not available for this role. As a result, we are unable to appoint candidates who require Skilled Worker sponsorship now or in the future. Applicants must have an existing and ongoing right to work in the UK.

About us

The Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland. We have responsibility for a wide range of key policy areas including: education, health, the economy, justice, housing and transport. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles.

Our staff are part of the UK Civil Service, working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland.

We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer.

As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules.

Working Pattern

This is a part-time opportunity (0.4 FTE, two days per week) with flexible and hybrid working options. While working patterns can be agreed to suit individual circumstances, there is an expectation that one of the two working days will be office-based.

Recruitment Principles

As a government organisation, we adhere to the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles and we investigate any complaints received in relation to recruitment cases.

Security checks

Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre-employment checks – Identity, Right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions).

You can find out more about BPSS on the UK Government website, or read about the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide.

Equality statement

We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.

Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.

Further information

Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website.

Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.

Apply before 23:59 - 23/09/26