Principal Finance Manager

Are you looking for a challenge in a fast paced financial environment?

The Scottish Public Pensions Agency (SPPA) is an Agency of the Scottish Government. Our principal role is to administer the pensions for employees in the National Health Service, Teachers’, Police and Fire-fighters’ pension schemes in Scotland. The Agency administers these public service pension schemes on behalf of Scottish Ministers to over 640,000 members with annual payments of over £3.7 billion, together with the related agency administration expenditure of c. £31 million. SPPA's Finance function delivers a complete financial management, reporting, and treasury service combined with responsibility for finance transactions with members and employers, to ensure the delivery of value for money outcomes. 

As Principal Finance Manager, you will have responsibility for the financial transactions (expenditure, income and employer contributions), as well as the procurement function, for the Agency and on behalf of the pension schemes which the Agency administers. Your technical knowledge, insight and ability to work constructively with people at all grades will make you a valued contributor to the decision-making process and a champion for change. You will need to establish and develop effective working relationships with a number of stakeholders across Scottish Public Pensions Agency and wider Finance Profession. You will also be responsible for delivering the elements of this post through effective leadership.

Responsibilities

• Managing core finance operations e.g. Accounting Systems, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable and Payroll and Procurement in an efficient, effective manner, whilst ensuring appropriate financial control assurance.
• Developing and implementing appropriate policies and procedures for change control, in compliance with government standards
• Playing a key role in improvement projects, ensuring process changes are in line with financial operations policies and aligned to business planning objectives.
• Use insight and MI to effectively manage performance.
• Design and manage change that allows more flexibility, responsiveness and improved service delivery
• Support finance managers, leading by example to develop and coach, delegating as appropriate, with the aim of developing a high performing team.
• Leading a small team of procurement staff in the development, planning and implementation of procurement projects for budget holders to continually improve customer service and value for money whilst delivering sustainable benefits in line with procurement policy.
• You will have direct line managerial responsibility for two Senior Finance Managers (Expenditure and Income; Procurement). 

Qualifications

Qualified with CCAB, CIMA or equivalent, or willing to work towards qualification, or extensive financial expertise.

Success profileSuccess profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on. Technical / Professional Skills: 

• Strategic Financial Analysis - Practitioner

You can find out more about the skills required here: Finance Profession Capability Framework.xlsx or here: Skills Capture Tool  Experience 

1. Ability to build strong networks and partnerships and experience of engaging or negotiating with and influencing key stakeholders to maximise collaboration.
2. Strong planning and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage a diverse workload and team, and able to adapt to changing situations and manage competing priorities.
3. A track record in leading and managing teams to deliver a range of finance and/or management functions. Demonstrating effective leadership and delegation skills and the ability to develop and motivate staff.

Behaviours:

• Leadership - (Level 4)
• Making Effective Decisions - (Level 4)
• Communicating and Influencing - (Level 4)
• Managing a Quality Service - (level 4)

You can find out more about Success Profiles here: Success profiles: candidate guide - gov.scot
 How to applyApply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 1,500 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 presentation.  Assessments are scheduled for January 2026 however this may be subject to change. About us

The Scottish Public Pensions Agency is an Agency of the Scottish Government. Our principal role is to administer the pensions for employees in the National Health Service, Teachers’, Police and Fire-fighters’ pension schemes in Scotland for over 500,000 key workers. The Agency administers these public service pension schemes on behalf of Scottish Ministers with an annual pension spend to over 200,000 pensioners to the value of more than £2.5 billion.

SPPA Careers | SPPA (pensions.gov.scot) 

Civil Service Nationality Rules 

Working Pattern

Our standard hours are 35 hours per week.  We offer a range of flexible and hybrid working options, with two days minimum working on site at SPPA. 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: 14th December 2025 (23:59) - This role is open to internal candidates and Common Citizenship organisations only.