Working with us

Location: Glasgow/Hybrid

Salary: £74,480 – £85,964  (Grade C2 – Max 3)

Contract Type: Permanent

Reporting Line: Finance Director

Scottish Rail Holdings (SRH) is a limited company and public body in Scotland with accountability to Scottish Government Ministers for the delivery of rail passenger services in support of the Scottish Government’s objectives as set out in the National Transport Strategy. We are focused on delivering a safe, reliable, and green railway for our passengers and guests, while providing value for money for the taxpayer.

SRH has oversight of the governance and performance of two subsidiary train operating companies: ScotRail Trains Limited (ScotRail) and Caledonian Sleeper Limited (CSL). We are also part of a group of stakeholders known as Scotland’s Railway, which includes infrastructure manager Network Rail Scotland, cross border train operating companies, statutory bodies, and suppliers. SRH commenced operations in April 2022, when ScotRail was taken into public ownership.

An excellent opportunity has now arisen for a Financial Controller.

Overall Accountability

To support the management of all aspects of the finances for Scottish Rail Holdings, including the preparation of management and financial statements, budgeting, and financial business planning. To support the oversight of the finances of all Scottish Rail Holdings subsidiaries, ensuring that any variances to the financial plans are managed with appropriate remedial actions.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

In this post you will be responsible for Strategic, Leadership, Oversight, Board and Governance Responsibilities as detailed within your key duties.

The Financial Controller will provide leadership and day to day management to the SRH Finance Manager and Capital Finance Lead.

Strategic Responsibilities:

• To support the Finance Director in the inputs for the long and short-term business planning at Scottish Rail Holdings and its subsidiaries, ensuring that all business plans are aligned to the Grant Agreement Commitments and the Framework Agreement, with a clear set of financial Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that the subsidiaries will be held to account to deliver.
• Support the Finance Director in the financial direction of Scottish Rail Holdings to ensure the delivery of value for the taxpayer with a focus on continuous improvement across Scotland’s Railway.
• The Financial Controller will work closely with sponsor and subsidiaries to lead on and identify improved process and opportunities to influence future policy development or change
• Ensure that all decisions and plans are in line with the Scottish Public Finance Manual.

Leadership Responsibilities:

• To lead on the provision of the day-to-day management of finance ensuring a high-quality output, with strong financial control, responsive to change and driving continuous improvement.
• The Financial Controller will provide leadership and day to day management to a Finance team including Finance Manager and Capital Projects Lead. The Financial Controller will lead the team and manage performance to ensure support for wider Finance directorate objectives.
• Lead the delivery of a finance business partnering approach to provide impartial advice and guidance to management on all financial matters relating to Scottish Rail Holdings.
• Development and implement a financial control framework which sets out the key financial processes and ensures that the necessary financial controls are in place to ensure that spend is managed appropriately and in line with the Scottish Public Finance Manual and Framework Agreement.

Oversight Responsibilities:

• To ensure that all subsidiaries deliver the financial commitments outlined in the Grant Agreement and the Framework Agreement, and that there is regular reporting in place to the Board of Scottish Rail Holdings on actual financial performance.
• To ensure early warning of any adverse variance of financial performance by Scottish Rail Holdings and its subsidiaries is reported to the Scottish Railway Holdings board, and that required remedial action plans are in place.
• Through leadership and collaborative working, whilst managing at times complex and sensitive relationships, the Financial Controller ensures that Scottish Rail Holdings and its subsidiaries work in line with their laid down business processes particularly those around delegated financial authorities.
• Liaise with the Transport Scotland Sponsor Team to ensure the appropriate cash management and budgeting processes are in place in line with any laid down processes and procedures.
• Provide oversight of the production of annual accounts on behalf of the Accountable Officer, in line with the requirements of the Scottish Public Finance Manual and the Scottish Government Financial Reporting Manual.
• Provide oversight of the effective and efficient production of monthly management accounts, cashflow forecasts and other financial reports for SRH.
• Ensure compliance with Internal Audit recommendations, and relevant Transport Scotland or government guidance and controls.

Board Responsibilities:

• To ensure that appropriate financial decisions are taken at Board level with the appropriate level of financial appraisal/evaluation and are in line with the Scottish Public Finance Manual.
• Ensure effective relationships are in place with senior Finance personnel at Scottish Government, particularly the sponsoring Directorate, Transport Scotland.
• Manage the provision of effective reporting on financials performance of Scottish Rail Holdings and its subsidiaries to the Scottish Government, ensuring that any variances are highlighted with corrective actions clearly outlined.
• To ensure all financial reporting is done in line with all regulatory reporting requirements.
• Support the management of financial group risks and issues at a high level for Scottish Rail Holdings in line with the Scottish Public Finance Manual with regular reporting in place to the Board. Financial risk management should have a full consideration of organisational resilience to physical, personnel and cyber risks/threats/hazards.
• Provide reports to the Finance Director which supports their attendance at the Audit and Risk Committee.
• Ensure that adequate systems of internal control are in place at Scottish Rail Holdings including effective measures against fraud and theft in line with the Scottish Public Finance Manual.
• Ensure that the Board levels of financial delegated authority are adhered to.

Governance Responsibilities:

• The role holder will attend the following Boards and Committees only on behalf of the FD when they are unable to attend: Scottish Rail Holdings Board, Scottish Rail Holdings Limited Audit and Risk Committee, ScotRail Trains Limited Board.

Essential Criteria

Specialist Expertise

The role holder must hold a recognised accountancy qualification from CIMA, ICAS, ICAEW, ACCA or CIPFA. They will have operated at a senior level both technically and professionally, with Board level exposure. Appreciation of lease accounting rules specifically is required. Exposure to both private and public sector accounting and governance is also desirable, along with a strong understanding of the UK rail industry and the political, commercial, and legal complexities.

Person Specification

A strong, collaborative, and inclusive leader with a high level of gravitas, the role holder will have the ability to provide highly effective financial leadership and governance, with a strong commercial focus. Able to build effective working relationships at all levels, they will have strong analytical skills, with excellent planning and forward-thinking capability. Highly organised, output focused disciplined and diligent, they will bring a strong track record in the delivery of complex financial management, along with demonstrable continuous improvement skills.

Core Skills and Competencies

Managing and Leading

1. Leading Change

• Communicates a clear vision which supports and engages others.
• Sets a standard by taking responsibility for delivery. Managing risk and resources to drive continuous improvement
• Leads a way through complex issues and conflicting perspectives.
• Leads and manages the authorising environment, making connections across boundaries to build strong networks and partnerships.

2. Strategic Thinking

• Understands, influences, and translates strategy into outcome focused solutions.
• Reframes issues and problems to create opportunities for creative thinking to deliver new ways of working.
• Accountable for developing and delivering strategic Directorate Plans that continuously raise expectations.
• Works collaboratively in the wider system to improve outcomes and deliver high quality public services.

3. People Management

• Shapes the SRH Plan to engage and align staff, manage workloads, and ensure capacity to deliver.
• Credible with staff, creating conditions to build confidence and effective teams that empower, value, recognise, inspire, and motivate people.
• Raises performance using constructive challenge, feedback and coaching skills using advice from HR when needed.
• A resilient and self-aware role model. Recognises impact on others, creating an environment which supports diversity and equality, health, and wellbeing.

Delivering Outcomes

1. Communications and Engagement

• Understands, influences, and translates the wider communications agenda.
• Develops clear and creative communications objectives and measurement criteria.
• Works with specialists to devise communications strategies and shares experience across the wider system.

2. Improving Performance

• Provides a framework to embed continuous improvement, including skills development.
• Uses Portfolio Programme and Project Management effectively and proportionally, including rigorous evaluation of effectiveness.
• Uses skills and resources effectively to meet challenging circumstances and expectations.
• Oversees risks to strategic objectives, influencing others to enhance outcomes and aid continuous improvement.

3. Analysis and Use of Evidence

• Identifies evidence and analysis requirements for short and long-term decision making.
• Works with a wide range of analytical experts to achieve outcomes and goals.
• Links evidence with specific outputs and outcomes to challenge norms and identify new ways of working.
• Ensures knowledge and processes are captured and shared across the wider system through wide range of networks.

4. Financial Management

• Plans and monitors targets. Identifies and implements ways of improving resource and assets efficiently.
• Interprets a wide range of information and options to underpin sound decisions, sharing implications for public expenditure with the wider system.
• Uses a variety of tools and techniques and know when to seek advice form audit, risk, procurement, and finance specialists.
• Assures the highest standards of value for money, internal controls and public sector governance as outlined in the Scottish Public Finance Manual

To apply for this dynamic role, please email your CV and covering letter to:

tc@northstarconsultancy.com

Closing date: 7 April 2025

Interviews will be held on 17 April 2025

Please note: Previous applicants need not apply