Department for Education
Director of Strategic Finance
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Job Summary
The Director of Strategic Finance is a critical leadership role.
You will provide strategic financial leadership for one of government's largest spending departments, shaping how more than £100 billion of public funding is invested to deliver better outcomes for children, young people and families.
Working closely with Ministers, HM Treasury and senior leaders, you will lead Spending Reviews, funding strategy and major investment decisions, ensuring resources are targeted effectively and deliver maximum impact and value for money. You'll also lead a high-performing finance directorate and play a key role in the wider leadership of the Department for Education.
We are looking for an outstanding leader, with a strong track record on large scale financial leadership and a passion for ensuring that the money we spend has the greatest impact possible on children and young people’s lives.
Job Description
The Director of Strategic Finance provides strategic financial leadership to the Department for Education, advising Ministers, the Permanent Secretary and the Leadership Team on fiscal strategy, affordability, value for money and funding policy. The role jointly leads the DfE Finance Function alongside the Director of Operational Finance and is accountable for:
- Leading the Strategic Finance Directorate (c.165 staff) and helping shape the direction of the wider DfE Finance Function.
- Securing the department's revenue, capital and administration budgets, leading engagement with HM Treasury through Spending Reviews, fiscal events and funding negotiations.
- Advising Ministers and senior leaders on the allocation of funding, ensuring resources are aligned to strategic priorities and deliver value for money across more than £100 billion of public expenditure.
- Providing strategic oversight of the department's financial position, ensuring strong stewardship of public funds, effective risk management and high-quality financial advice. This includes ensuring the department operates in line with Managing Public Money, maintaining strong governance and protecting the Accounting Officer's position.
- Setting the strategic direction for early years, high needs, schools and capital funding policy, advising on funding reform, affordability and delivery.
- Acting as the department's senior finance lead with HM Treasury, building trusted relationships and influencing funding decisions across government.
- Working to ensure funding settlements and ministerial priorities are translated into delivery, working across policy, finance, digital and operational teams.
- Representing DfE across Whitehall and contributing to the leadership and development of the Government Finance Function.
Person Specification
Essential Criteria
- A strong track record of leading a Finance Function or significant funding operation in a large and complex organisation, providing high-quality advice on funding, affordability, value for money, risk and fiscal strategy. This should include interpreting financial information to help shape and influence organisational strategy.
- Proven ability to influence and secure the confidence of senior stakeholders – Ministers, Board members or equivalent level leaders. This includes operating effectively in complex and high-profile organisational environments, demonstrating sound judgement and the ability to navigate competing priorities and interests.
- Significant experience of securing, allocating and managing substantial revenue, capital and administration budgets, including business planning, funding settlements and in-year financial management.
- Experience of leading effective transformation, including driving sustainable efficiencies and change across large organisations or systems.
- Outstanding leadership skills, with experience of leading diverse professional teams – fostering high-performing and inclusive cultures.
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Qualifications
- Professionally qualified (CCAB, CIMA or equivalent), or significantly advanced in working towards qualification.
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £105,000, Department for Education contributes £30,418 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department’s transfer / promotion policies.
As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK.
You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service. In addition, all staff receive the King’s Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days’ bank and public holidays.
We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role.
Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DfE, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered. As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.
Part-time hours available, from a minimum of 0.8 FTE.
Application Process
To apply for this role, you need to complete an online application via the Civil Service Jobs portal. Applications will be accepted until 23:55 on Tuesday 20 October.
Required Documents
- A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years. Your CV should be no more than two pages.
- A Statement of Suitability of up to 1,250 words, detailing how you meet the essential criteria set out in the person specification section above, with reference to specific examples and evidence. Should we receive a high number of applications, then we will sift on the first two essential criteria and the technical requirement.
Failure to submit both documents will mean the panel only has limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification.
Should you encounter any issues with your online application please contact: SCS.RECRUITMENT@education.gov.uk
Selection Process
Should candidates be successful following the sift, candidates will be required to:
- Complete online numerical and verbal reasoning assessments.
- Take part in a formal in-person interview in London on Thursday 19 November, which will include:
- A presentation or exercise (details will be provided to shortlisted candidates).
- Interview questions based on the Essential Criteria to further assess your experience.
You may also be invited to attend an informal, in-person conversation with the Secretary of State for Education or the Lead Finance Non-Executive Director in London. This does not form part of the formal assessment process.
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As part of the recruitment process, we may request references.
Please note that, at the interview stage, we may ask whether you have any conflicts of interest to declare.
The successful candidate will be subject to social media and due diligence checks prior to appointment.
The Department for Education does not cover the cost of travel to your interview or assessment unless otherwise stated.
For an accessible version of the candidate pack, please contact scs.recruitment@education.gov.uk
Other Information
- We cannot accept applications submitted after the closing date;
- Applications will be assessed solely on the documentation provided;
- Please refer to the advert and checklist above to ensure you have provided everything requested;
- Applications will be acknowledged upon receipt;
- Feedback will only be given to candidates unsuccessful following interview.
We reserve the right to raise the minimum pass mark in the event of a high volume or strong field of candidates.
Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK from the location options provided and not from overseas.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Department of Education of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks.DFE@education.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Department for Education do not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment unless otherwise stated.
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Candidates will be posted in merit order based upon location preference. Where more than one location is advertised you will be asked to state your preferred location.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
Terms and Conditions of Candidates Transferring from ALBs and NDPBs
Bodies that are not accredited by the Civil Service Commission and are not able to advertise at Across Government on Civil Service jobs will be treated as external new starters and will come into DfE on modernised terms and conditions with a salary at the band minimum.
Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission but do not have civil service status will be offered modernised terms and will not have continuous service recognised for leave or sickness benefits. Salaries should be offered at band minimum, but there is some flexibility where this would cause a detriment to the individual.
Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission and do have Civil Service status will be treated as OGD transfers. Staff appointed on lateral transfer will move on to pre-modernised DfE terms (unless they were on modernised terms in their previous organisation). Staff appointed on promotion will
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