Financial Accountant

Are you a detail-driven Financial Accountant ready to make a real impact on business performance and decision-making? FSS is seeking a qualified accountant looking to take the next step in their accounting career where your expertise will help shape our success.

The post holder will lead the Financial Accounting team in providing and implementing robust financial internal controls and you will act as the primary source of financial accounting advice and expertise for the organisation.

The post holder is also responsible for key areas of the business including the preparation of the annual accounts, charging model, treasury functions (cash and banking) and accounts payable/receivable.

Responsibilities

• Manage the Financial Accounting team, ensuring that objectives are set, tasks are prioritised and capabilities within the team continue to be developed. Contribute to the annual branch business plan.
• Work with the Head of Finance & Procurement to develop and implement robust internal controls in line with the Scottish Public Finance Manual to deliver appropriate elements of the FSS scheme of delegation relating to use of finance systems (Oracle) and procurement cards.
• Manage the Accounts Payable & Receivable functions (including debt management), ensuring payments to suppliers within the Scottish Government (SG) 10 payment target and the invoicing service to customers are completed whilst ensuring the appropriate controls and reconciliations are in place.
• Manage the work for VAT returns, FSS fixed asset register, bank reconciliations, cash forecasting and drawdowns, ensuring all tasks are completed in a timely manner and that internal processes are fit for purpose.
• Oversee the production and publication of the quarterly disclosures under the Public Services Reform Act (PSRA) including the report for electronic procurement cards (ePC) Expenditure (over £500).
• Complete monthly account checks and balance sheet reconciliations to provide accurate and timely advice as well as reporting the financial reviews to the branch head.
• Prepare the Annual Accounts in line with the Government Financial Reporting Manual (FReM) and relevant Internal Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) and ensure that they are signed off by the FSS Accounting Officer with subsequent unqualified audit opinion. Ensure that all disclosures are updated and produced in line with existing, updated and new standards. Produce FSS return for the Whole of Government Accounts.
• Work closely with the Finance Manager to review internal controls, systems and processes across both teams as well as capacity and capability of the finance function in FSS.
• Liaise with Audit Scotland to manage the completion of internal and external audits, and the subsequent implementation of any recommendations.

Qualifications
Qualified accountant from a member of CCAB and with the relevant practical experience for the role.

Proof of qualifications will be checked at the assessment stage.

Success Profiles
Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of behaviours, experience and technical criteria (if applicable) that candidates will be assessed on. The Success Profile will include the Professional / Technical skills, Experience and Behaviours.

Technical / Professional Skills:

1. Understanding of International Accounting Standards - Expert
2. Understanding the role of Audit - Expert
   

You can find out more about the skills required, here: Finance Profession Capability Framework

Experience:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills including the ability to write concise papers which inform and influence senior management decision making and present to stakeholders.
• Proven leadership skills – ability to lead a team and empower, value, develop and motivate people.
• Strong organisational and planning skills with the ability to prioritise your own workload and competing demands.
  

Behaviours:

1. Making Effective Decisions - Level 3
2. Developing Self and Others - Level 3
3. Communicating and Influencing - Level 3
   

You can find out more about Success Profiles here.

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.

Candidates will have their applications assessed against all Success Profile criteria listed above unless there is a large number of applications, in which case, an initial sift will be conducted on the first Technical skill - Understanding of International Accounting Standards. Candidates who pass the initial sift will have their applications fully assessed against the remaining behaviours.

Expected Timeline (Subject to change)
Sift - week commencing 19th October 2026
Interview - Start of November
Location - Interview via MS Teams

Skilled Worker Sponsorship
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.

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.

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, observing the Civil Service Code and 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.

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.

Working Pattern
This post is based in Pilgrim House, Aberdeen but the post holder can be based at another SG Building. Our standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options depending on the needs of the role, including Flexi-leave. In line with our current ways of working, our team follows a hybrid working approach, where colleagues use a mix of office based and remote working (working from home) depending on the requirements of the role and personal circumstances.

The post is a full-time role, but staff with different working patterns are invited to apply, and we will assess proposed working patterns against the business requirements for this post.

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, and read about the Government Vetting Charter, or about all the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide.

Internal candidates may need to gain higher security clearance than they currently hold if successful in their application.

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.

If you experience any difficulties accessing our website or completing the online application form, please contact the Resourcing Team via recruitment@socialsecurity.gov.scot

Apply before 23:55 pm on Friday 16th October 2026