Finance & Business Systems Lead

Inverness

Job Summary

The Scottish Land Commission is seeking to appoint a Finance and Business Systems Lead. This is an exciting opportunity to join the Scottish Land Commission team. As a Finance and Business Systems Lead, you'll play a pivotal role in shaping the financial landscape of our organisation. You'll have the opportunity to work alongside a talented and diverse team, driving strategic financial planning and ensuring robust corporate governance. At the Scottish Land Commission, we offer a supportive and flexible working environment, with hybrid work options available, helping you to achieve a healthy work-life balance.

The Scottish Land Commission

At the Scottish Land Commission we believe that land and how we use it is at the very heart of a thriving nation. Our role is to provide leadership and advice in reforming the ownership and use of land in Scotland. We advise Scottish Government, Parliament, and others on an ongoing programme of reforms to law and policy, and we provide leadership for changes in culture and practice.

The Scottish Land Commission Is Here To Provide Leadership And Fresh Thinking, Underpinned By Sound Research, Analysis, And Advice. Our Forthcoming Strategic Plan Sets a Focus For Our Work On People, Power, And Prosperity

• Enabling people to participate in and influence decision about land;
• Diversifying the power and control in land ownership and governance;
• Using the value and benefits of land to create economic prosperity.

The Role

In this role, you'll be responsible for delivering effective financial management and oversight, ensuring compliance with legal and operational requirements. You'll collaborate closely with our teams to guide strategic financial planning and manage internal and external audits. Additionally, you'll lead key functions, including procurement and contract management, ensuring smooth day-to-day operations.

We know that sometimes people can avoid applying for jobs unless they can meet every single requirement. If you’re interested in this job, but don’t meet all the criteria, please apply anyway. This is a varied role and full training can be given, we don’t expect anyone to be able to do every part of the job straightaway. Everyone has a learning curve.

Key duties

• Deliver effective financial management and oversight of spend and budget reporting ensuring appropriate procedures and systems are in place to undertake recording and reporting of financial transactions and budget management.
• Prepare and co-ordinate the annual accounts and report.
• Provide effective management of our internal and external audit process, to include; acting as the main point of contact with internal and external auditors, devising implementation plans and co-ordinating evidence and supporting information as required.
• Provide accurate financial reporting and information to the management team to aid decision making and liaise with Scottish Government sponsor team.
• Manage and develop compliance systems and processes to meet the duties of the Commission as a public body, which includes Scottish Public Finance Manual and Public Sector Procurement Policy.
• Lead and deliver office support including managing office premises, IT and cyber security, role of Health & Safety Liaison Officer and the day to day running of the organisation.
• Play a key role in the Commission’s Audit and Risk Committee including; preparation of papers, risk interrogations and attendance of meetings.
• Development of annual pay modelling in line with public sector pay policy.
• Support the Head of Communications and Corporate Services as required.
• Line Management of the Senior Finance Officer.
• Manage and oversee delegated budget, ensuring that expenditure is planned in accordance with the Commission’s budget requirements and procurement principles.
• Commission and manage contracts effectively; including acting as a subject matter expert for other colleagues on procurement and contract management.
• Support the governance of the Commission through maintaining, updating, and implementing governance procedures, processes, and documentation such as operational risks and risk assessments.
• Deliver on good governance practices, accountability, and compliance.
• Contribute to organisational performance monitoring and reporting.
• Keep CRM systems up to date and maintain accurate records of casework and other contacts.

Key duties

• Deliver effective financial management and oversight of spend and budget reporting ensuring appropriate procedures and systems are in place to undertake recording and reporting of financial transactions and budget management.
• Prepare and co-ordinate the annual accounts and report.
• Provide effective management of our internal and external audit process, to include; acting as the main point of contact with internal and external auditors, devising implementation plans and co-ordinating evidence and supporting information as required.
• Provide accurate financial reporting and information to the management team to aid decision making and liaise with Scottish Government sponsor team.
• Manage and develop compliance systems and processes to meet the duties of the Commission as a public body, which includes Scottish Public Finance Manual and Public Sector Procurement Policy.
• Lead and deliver office support including managing office premises, IT and cyber security, role of Health & Safety Liaison Officer and the day to day running of the organisation.
• Play a key role in the Commission’s Audit and Risk Committee including; preparation of papers, risk interrogations and attendance of meetings.
• Development of annual pay modelling in line with public sector pay policy.
• Support the Head of Communications and Corporate Services as required.
• Line Management of the Senior Finance Officer.
• Manage and oversee delegated budget, ensuring that expenditure is planned in accordance with the Commission’s budget requirements and procurement principles.
• Commission and manage contracts effectively; including acting as a subject matter expert for other colleagues on procurement and contract management.
• Support the governance of the Commission through maintaining, updating, and implementing governance procedures, processes, and documentation such as operational risks and risk assessments.
• Deliver on good governance practices, accountability, and compliance.
• Contribute to organisational performance monitoring and reporting.
• Keep CRM systems up to date and maintain accurate records of casework and other contacts.

Person specification

The person

The successful candidate will have a relevant degree or equivalent professional experience for this role. They will have proven experience as a finance manager or in a similar financial management role. They will have a strong background in financial planning, analysis and reporting with experience in budgeting, forecasting and financial modelling. They will have familiarity with accounting principle and financial regulations. They will have experience with risk management and internal controls. They will also have advanced knowledge of financial analysis techniques and tools. They will have excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex financial data and provide strategic insights. They will have a strong attention to detail and accuracy with exceptional problem-solving and decision-making abilities. They will also have strong organisational and time management skills to handle multiple priorities and meet deadlines. They will have an up-to-date knowledge of industry trends and best practices in finance and corporate governance. They must have a willingness to learn and taken on new areas of responsibility and a willingness to work out of hours to fulfil the requirements of the post. They will be resilient and adaptable, able to thrive in a changing environment with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build effective working relationships at all levels of the organisation.

Alongside your salary of £48,415, Scottish Land Commission contributes £14,025 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).

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• 30 days of annual leave and 11.5 days of public holidays per year

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements 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, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

The standard working week is a 5-day week, Monday to Friday, of 35 hours. Flexible working is available and both part-time and full-time applications are welcomed.

Applications are invited by application form which can be found on our website Work with us - Scottish Land Commission along with a detailed job description, privacy statement and equality statement. Completed applications should be submitted to Sign in to view email prior to the closing date. Please note that CVs will not be accepted as a form of application.

Closing date for applications is 5 pm on 18 September 2026.

Interviews will be held in-person in Inverness on Tuesday 29 September 2026.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

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

Contact point for applicants

Job Contact

• Name : Scottish Land Commission HR Department
• Email : Sign in to view email
• Telephone : 01463423300

Recruitment team

• Email : Sign in to view email

Further information

Scottish Land Commission