Finance and Policy Officer

Job Description

Are you looking for an opportunity to gain and/or widen your finance skills and gain in-depth technical and finance policy experience?  

We’re looking for a confident and proactive team-player to help support the work of the Access to Justice Unit. The Unit comprises of four teams and is led by a Unit Head.  The Unit deals with several high profile policy areas (for example, legal aid, grant funding and legal services).  The Unit is also responsible for sponsorship of several public bodies, finance and budget monitoring, governance and appointments. 

The Minister for Victims and Community Safety has identified legal aid reform as one of her top priorities. Significant work is being progressed by the Unit to develop policy solutions, at pace, and you will also play a key support role in this work as well as providing support to the Sponsorship, Appointments and Finance Team.

This also offers the opportunity to work across the unit offering policy experience in Legal Aid and Legal Services. 

Responsibilities

Support to the Sponsorship, Appointments and Finance Team 

• Support the unit’s responsibilities including its sponsorship and financial management role for two Public Bodies and two non-Regulated Bodies including the Public Appointments processes and reporting to Ministers when required
• Be confident using financial data and SG financial tools such as Oracle to assist the team to monitor the unit’s financial responsibilities including processing, recording and reporting on all grant payments, reporting for Cash Management purposes, processing Board members fees and expenses and assist with the recovery of fines process
•  Assist with regular financial reporting mechanisms to Finance Business Partners, the Deputy Director of Civil Law and Legal System and Director of Justice and assist with regular finance commissions and monitoring, undertaking general research and investigative work and provide recommendations 
• Assist with financial management and reporting in respect of the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service when required 

Wider Support for the Unit 

• Assist with participation and engagement with stakeholders providing secretariat support including recording accurate and concise minutes 
• Support with drafting and preparation of official documents (including guidance, publications) and provide first drafts for Parliamentary Questions, MiCases, Freedom of Information requests and Subject Access Requests, and Ministerial submissions 
• Aid colleagues across the unit with briefing, advice and support for Ministers and senior officials as required, working flexibly as part of the unit to perform other tasks as required  

Success Profile

Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on. 

Technical / Professional Skills:

• 2.3 Finance - (level 1)

You can find out more about the skills required here: Policy Profession Standards Annex 

Experience:

• Evidence of use of SG financial systems and Microsoft Office suite
• Evidence of drafting SG Correspondence (e.g. MiCase, PQs and FOIs)

Behaviours:

• Managing a Quality Service – level 2
• Communicating and Influencing – level 2 
• Working Together – level 2
• Making Effective Decisions - level 2 
• You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours here
• How to apply

Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 1,000 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the skills, experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profile above. 

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 a presentation.
Assessments are scheduled for w/c 13 October, however this may be subject to change. 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, 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.

Working Pattern

Our standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options depending on the needs of the role. From October 2025, the Scottish Government will require staff in hybrid-compatible roles to work in-person 40% of the time, either in an office or other agreed work location. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.

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, or read about the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide. 

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.

Apply before 23:59 on 18th September. This post is open to internal candidates and Common Citizenship organisations only