Finance Director

Location

Bristol, Darlington, London, Manchester, Wolverhampton

The Director of Finance provides strategic leadership and authoritative advice on all financial matters across MHCLG, shaping financial strategy and supporting effective decision-making at the most senior levels. The role advises on the financial sustainability and affordability of departmental priorities and is a formal member of the Executive Team. The Finance Director is also the Deputy Chair of the Investment Sub-Committee and the Finance Sub-Committee.

The role is the Department’s principal interface with HM Treasury, leading negotiations on funding, estimates, fiscal events and in-year financial management. The Director of Finance ensures ministerial priorities are deliverable within fiscal constraints and that strategic financial choices are clearly understood.

The Director of Finance provides authoritative advice to Ministers and the Permanent Secretary on financial performance, risks, opportunities and trade-offs, using deep financial insight to shape strategic choices and support effective delivery across the Department’s portfolio.

The postholder leads the Finance Directorate and is accountable for robust, transparent financial management aligned to ministerial and organisational priorities, and for building a high-performing, inclusive and professional finance function with strong capability in business partnering, analysis and assurance.

The Director of Finance leads the Department’s risk function, ensuring risk is embedded in strategic planning, governance and delivery, and supports informed decision-making.

The role manages senior relationships with HM Treasury, the National Audit Office, the Government Finance Function and other central government stakeholders, ensuring compliance with Managing Public Money and wider cross-government financial frameworks.

As a senior leader within MHCLG, the Director of Finance is expected to role-model Civil Service values and leadership behaviours, contribute corporately beyond finance, and promote a strong value for money and continuous improvement culture.

• Lead the Department’s overall financial strategy, working closely with the Strategy Director to align policy priorities, fiscal events and long-term affordability.
• Lead the Department’s relationship with HM Treasury, including funding negotiations, estimates, fiscal events and ad-hoc discussions on policy affordability and delivery.
• Provide authoritative financial advice to Ministers and the Permanent Secretary,including on fiscal events and ensuring a clear understanding of financial implications and trade-offs.
• Ensure efficiency, affordability and value for money across the Department’s activities, including through membership of key investment and governance committees.
• Ensure compliance with Managing Public Money, maintaining robust systems of internal control, assurance and accountability, and supporting the Accounting Officer in discharging their responsibilities.
• Oversee financial reporting, systems and shared services to ensure accurate, timely and reliable financial information.
• Provide leadership of the Department’s risk function, ensuring alignment between financial management, delivery, risk appetite and assurance, and that departmental risks are effectively managed, escalated and mitigated.
• Manage senior external relationships, including with the National Audit Office, Government Finance Function and other departments.
• Contribute as a senior leader within the Corporate Group and the wider Department, supporting organisational change, effective delivery and strong leadership culture.

This role requires an experienced and credible senior finance leader,capable of operating with confidence at the most senior levels of government. You will bring a strong track record of leading complexfinance functions, providing trusted advice to senior decision-makersand influencing outcomes in challenging, fast-moving environments.

You will be a strategic thinker with the ability to see the widerorganisationaland policy context, translating complex financial information into clear, actionable insight.…