Job Description

The Director of Finance, Performance, Risk and Assurance will provide financial leadership to c.6000 people, with core organisational spend of over 0.5bn and expenditure on vaccines and countermeasures of over 1bn coupled with overall accountability and leadership at Executive Committee level.



The post holder will drive our newly established functions to better harness digitalisation opportunities and target operational excellence.



They will lead the finance team and be accountable for business planning, fiscal events, and corporate reporting on financial and operational performance.



They will ensure corporate guardianship of budgets and protection of the accounting officer, driving sustainable improvements in financial management, controls, and accounts.



They will be accountable for leading a clear financial strategy supported by optimal resource allocations, investment choices, and maintaining aggregated financial and operational performance reporting for informed decision-making and providing in depth analysis of trends and relevant insights to inform decision making.



They will provide strategic leadership for risk management, assurance, compliance, and audit, escalating risks to the Executive Committee as necessary.



They will need to demonstrate strategic engagement across the Agency, Department and wider government. Building and maintaining relationships with stakeholders, including DHSC Finance, HMT, Ministers, and other internal functions, will be key.



They should look to drive continuous improvement in financial management, ensuring value for money and alignment with UKHSA's strategic vision.



They will collaborate with key stakeholders including technical experts in our Science and Commercial areas on growth and business



We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.



UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.



Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers



Lead on all aspects of financial management and oversight for the UKHSA while maintaining strong control of the strategic financial position.

Be a fully participative member of all relevant boards offering sound and robust advice and assurance

Lead the management account production and reporting the financial position at strategic level to provide insight and highlight the key issues, risks and opportunities to senior budget holders and leadership teams in the context of both the business areas supported and the overall financial position of UKHSA.

Lead the production of the interim, statutory and whole of government accounts, accurately, on time and in line with the requirements of HM Treasury and the NAO ensuring compliance with financial accounting updates.

Lead on UKHSA's financial planning at single year and multiyear Spending Reviews and Fiscal Events and be responsible for building and maintaining the relationship with HM Treasury.

Be responsible for reporting and advice. You will have a good understanding of operations of UKHSA and be able to provide sound and robust insight on complex or high-risk issues as well as updating and the development of all financial policies and training staff to ensure full compliance with finance procedures and processes.

Drive forward continuous improvements in analysis and insights and drawing forecasting improvements and enhancing the understanding of cost drivers.

Lead the team to continuously improve UKHSA's finance and governance activity's engaging with Non-Executive Directors, Board members and colleagues to seek feedback as appropriate.

Champion Diversity and Inclusion across the directorate and the wider organisation. As an organisation we are committed to creating, nurturing, and sustaining an inclusive and respectful culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of out workforce and wider communities.

Identify the strategic risks facing the organisation and ensure that appropriate controls and mitigations are in place.

Lead the delivery of an organisation-wide incident and risk reporting system, ensuring trends and themes are identified are acted on and lessons learnt disseminated to avoid future problems.

Manage the relationship with UKHSA Internal Auditors and ensure delivery of an annual internal audit programme that provides the Chief Executive as Accounting Officer and the Audit and Risk Committee with an appropriate and balanced view of the adequacy of the system of internal control, for which the post holder is responsible.

Lead cross-organisational regulatory compliance and assurance activities, ensuring that the requirements of regulators are met.



Location.



This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQ's. We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's core HQ's (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London)



Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport link and benefit from benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).



It is important through your Application Form and Statement of Suitability that you provide evidence and examples of proven experience of these selection criteria.

Essential criteria:

Outstanding finance leader who delivers results by building highly effective teams and working collaboratively to deliver results across the Health system and wider Government. Experience of successfully building and maintaining broad networks and relationships with organisation senior leaders, using communication and influencing skills to challenge assumptions and negotiate ways forward in complex, ambiguous and regulated environments.

Board level or equivalent experience of developing and delivering the strategic direction of a complex organisation, with demonstrable experience operating as a Finance Director, Chief Financial Officer or equivalent. The successful candidate will demonstrate an ability to confidently, clearly and credibly influence strategic planning with experience of working at Board level with both Executive and Non-Executive Directors to shape the financial narrative.

A proven track record in leading strong financial management and delivering value for money as well as managing the legal and technical aspects of complex projects. Knowledge and experience across all finance areas including financial control, reporting, risk, assurance, performance in a complex and / or regulated business; with a high level of relevant professional, technical skills.

Strong leadership skills, and the ability to motivate and develop a variety of teams and professions, promoting operational excellence whilst leading teams through a period of organisational change. Committed to fostering an inclusive and values-driven workplace, ensuring that diverse perspectives are embraced and contribute to meaningful progress.

A strategic problem-solver with a strong ability to leverage business insights and analysis to tackle complex financial and operational challenges. Experienced in driving innovative solutions to enhance efficiency while ensuring organisational compliance in highly regulated environments through effective monitoring, audit, and assurance frameworks. Adept at utilising audit and assurance principles to identify risks, strengthen internal controls, and promote corporate transparency and accountability



Requirements of the role (e.g. qualifications, licenses and registrations)

Essential:

A strong understanding of business management functions and/or corporate governance / risk management.

Qualified with CCAB, CIMA or equivalent professional qualification. (The successful candidate could be in process of completing essential qualification on the understanding that the qualification standard would be met within 1year of appointment)



Security Clearance Level Requirement



Successful candidates must pass a Security Clearance (SC)

Successful candidates must also meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard.

Desirable:

Knowledge or understanding of the public health sector.

Stage 1:

Application & Sift



This vacancy will use Success Profiles .



At sift stage you will be assessed against the essential criteria within the Person Specification section listed.

You will be required to complete the following:

An Application form setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements and relevant professional qualifications. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years. The application form needs the same information as a standard CV.

A Statement of Suitability (up to 1500 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria in the person specification.



You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement.



If we receive a large number of applications an initial sift against the lead behaviour (Leadership) will be conducted.



Please note feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2:

Assessments



If you are shortlisted, you will be asked to take part in an Independent Leadership Assessment (ILA) which will include psychometric tests. An ILA is a 90-minute session with an occupational psychologist aimed at gaining an understanding of your preferred behavioural style in the workplace. The assessment will be informed by online psychometric assessments you will have completed beforehand, the results of which will be explored as a part of the discussion during the session. After the ILA is completed, the assessor will formulate a narrative report which is given to the panel prior to your formal interview. The assessment will take place online between the sift stage and interview. These assessments will not result in a pass or fail decision. Rather, they are designed to support the panel's decision making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview.

Stage 3:

Interview (Success Profiles)



You will be invited to a face-to-face interview.



Interviews to be held in person at UK Health Security Agency, 10 South Colonnade, London E14 4PU.



In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.



Interviews will be held week commencing the 9 July 2025 or the 16 July 2025, please note these dates are subject to change.



This vacancy is being assessed using Success Profiles . During the interview we will assess you against the below:

Behaviours:

Leadership

Seeing the Bigger Picture

Changing and Improving

Communicating and Influencing

Managing a Quality Service



Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.



External



Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).



Security Clearance Level Requirement



For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 5 years as the role requires Security Check (SC) clearance. UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder / Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.