Head of Finance

Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, London, WilmslowJob SummaryHead of FinanceFull time / Part timeSalary: £79,372 - £92,943 per annumLocation: HybridContracted to our Wilmslow, London, Edinburgh, Cardiff or Belfast office, however, we offer flexible home and office-based working opportunities. There will be times when you will be expected to attend the office to collaborate with colleagues or travel due to business need. Please note, from Autumn 2026 our head office will relocate from Wilmslow to Manchester city centre.Why work for the ICO?Pay progression scheme.Hybrid and flexible working options.  25 days paid holiday per year, plus privilege and public holidays. Flexi leave (up to 26 additional days leave per year). Pension (employer contribution around 28.9%). Online discount scheme to save money at major supermarkets, retailers, gyms, restaurants, insurance providers and many more. Health Cash Plan. Fantastic development opportunities to learn and progress. Further details can be found on the benefits section of our website .Job DescriptionThis is a senior leadership role within the ICO, responsible for leading the Finance function in all aspects of service delivery including financial planning and performance management, statutory financial reporting, and operational finance delivery.The postholder will promote a collaborative team culture with a focus on staff engagement and continuous improvement to deliver high performance outcomes.The postholder will work closely with the Head of Procurement on commercial and financial governance matters, delivering a strong financial controls environment to ensure compliance with all financial delegations and Managing Public Money.The Head of Finance, supported by the Finance Director, will lead the team in the creation of appropriate financial strategies to drive value for money outcomes and ensure the long term financial resilience of the ICO.Key Responsibilities Provide effective leadership to the Finance team, ensuring that they are clear about expected standards of performance. The Head of Finance will ensure the team are suitably developed, motivated and engaged to provide high performing services to the business Ensure strong and effective accounting policies and procedures are in place to control and manage the use of resources and safeguard public money. The Head of Finance will monitor compliance with these policies and, in partnership with the Head of Procurement, will ensure compliance with all external spending controls. Lead the annual budgeting process to prepare a prioritised and balanced budget, ensuring timely sign off through Executive Team and Management Board Lead the development of longer term financial projections and modelling. And with the support from the Director of Finance, ensure appropriate recommendations and financial strategies are in place to prioritise and manage expenditure within various funding model conditions Support the Director of Finance in the delivery of funding model reviews. Lead the Finance team in the provision of regular financial performance monitoring reporting to budget holders and external stakeholders. Provide monthly financial performance reporting to Finance Director for onward reporting to Executive Team, Management Board and Audit and Risk Committee. Oversee the preparation of the annual statutory accounts and external audit process ensuring timely completion with positive audit outcomes. Provide assurance of effective treasury management processes through effective controls and reporting, ensuring sufficient working capital is in place for financial resilience. Ensure the Finance team delivers strong financial transactions performance with timely and accurate recording of income and expenditure, and timely payments to third party suppliers. Identify opportunities for continuous improvement in all areas of responsibility. Instigate and implement changes and, where appropriate recommend more strategic changes to the Director of Finance. To participate on behalf of the Commissioner/ICO as required in meetings events and activities where senior representation is required. Act as Information Asset Manager, with the responsibility of supporting the Information Asset Owner in ensuring good information governance practice and data protection compliance obligations are understood and applied by all the staff in the department. Provide the Information Asset Owner (IAO) with assurance that the asset is appropriately managed in line with legal requirements, ICO standards and procedures. Deputise for the Director of Finance as appropriate.This is a senior leadership role within the ICO, responsible for leading the Finance function in all aspects of service delivery including financial planning and performance management, statutory financial reporting, and operational finance delivery.The postholder will promote a collaborative team culture with a focus on staff engagement and continuous improvement to deliver high performance outcomes.The postholder will work closely with the Head of Procurement on commercial and financial governance matters, delivering a strong financial controls environment to ensure compliance with all financial delegations and Managing Public Money.The Head of Finance, supported by the Finance Director, will lead the team in the creation of appropriate financial strategies to drive value for money outcomes and ensure the long term financial resilience of the ICO.Key Responsibilities Provide effective leadership to the Finance team, ensuring that they are clear about expected standards of performance. The Head of Finance will ensure the team are suitably developed, motivated and engaged to provide high performing services to the business Ensure strong and effective accounting policies and procedures are in place to control and manage the use of resources and safeguard public money. The Head of Finance will monitor compliance with these policies and, in partnership with the Head of Procurement, will ensure compliance with all external spending controls. Lead the annual budgeting process to prepare a prioritised and balanced budget, ensuring timely sign off through Executive Team and Management Board Lead the development of longer term financial projections and modelling. And with the support from the Director of Finance, ensure appropriate recommendations and financial strategies are in place to prioritise and manage expenditure within various funding model conditions Support the Director of Finance in the delivery of funding model reviews. Lead the Finance team in the provision of regular financial performance monitoring reporting to budget holders and external stakeholders. Provide monthly financial performance reporting to Finance Director for onward reporting to Executive Team, Management Board and Audit and Risk Committee. Oversee the preparation of the annual statutory accounts and external audit process ensuring timely completion with positive audit outcomes. Provide assurance of effective treasury management processes through effective controls and reporting, ensuring sufficient working capital is in place for financial resilience. Ensure the Finance team delivers strong financial transactions performance with timely and accurate recording of income and expenditure, and timely payments to third party suppliers. Identify opportunities for continuous improvement in all areas of responsibility. Instigate and implement changes and, where appropriate recommend more strategic changes to the Director of Finance. To participate on behalf of the Commissioner/ICO as required in meetings events and activities where senior representation is required. Act as Information Asset Manager, with the responsibility of supporting the Information Asset Owner in ensuring good information governance practice and data protection compliance obligations are understood and applied by all the staff in the department. Provide the Information Asset Owner (IAO) with assurance that the asset is appropriately managed in line with legal requirements, ICO standards and procedures. Deputise for the Director of Finance as appropriate.Person specificationPerson specificationEssential Criteria Assessed At Application Stage: Financial accounting qualification (eg ACCA; ACA; CCAB; CIMA). Significant Senior Management experience in a similar role / scale (around 5 years) At least five years relevant public sector finance post qualification experience. Experience of leading and managing people Experience of leading significant projects from concept to sign offEssential Criteria Assessed During Interview: Comprehensive and up to date technical awareness of accounting standards, public sector procurement and budget setting and monitoring. Excellent written and verbal communication skills Personally Effective – excellent organisational skills, ability to prioritise and delegate Ability to seek out, manage and influence opportunities for continuous improvement and change Ability to analyse complex financial / operational / statistical information and produce accurate / intelligent forecasts and plansAlongside your salary of £79,372, Information Commissioner's Office contributes £22,994 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.Please visit ico.jobs for full details, including salary and benefits.Selection process detailsEquality, diversity, and inclusionThe ICO is committed to promoting and enhancing equality, diversity, and inclusion. We are focused on developing a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve and together we are building an inclusive workplace where all of our colleagues have the opportunity to make a real difference. We are championing this through our Equality Diversity and Inclusion Board together with a number of staff networks. Read more about our commitment on our website.Candidates with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for this vacancy will be invited to interview as part of the ICO’s commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme.As part of the ICO’s commitment to our EDI objectives and creating a workplace that represents the communities and societies we serve, we guarantee an interview to candidates who declare they identify as belonging from an ethnic minority background and who meet the minimum criteria for this vacancyIf you are disabled or have an impairment and require an alternative application method, please email the HR team at recruitment@ico.org.ukClosing DatePlease submit your CV and cover letter by 23:59 on Sunday 23rd November 2025 Your cover letter should be no more than 1,000 words and should clearly demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria for the role.We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. To ensure your application is considered, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application, please contact us at recruitment@ico.org.uk.In the event of a high volume of applications, we may not be able to invite all candidates who meet the minimum criteria to interview. However, we encourage you stay in touch and apply for future roles that match your interests.All candidates who meet the minimum criteria and apply in-line with our guaranteed interview scheme for disabled and ethnic minority applicants will be interviewed.Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.SecuritySuccessful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.MedicalSuccessful candidates will be expected to have a medical.Nationality requirementsThis Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups:UK nationalsnationals of the Republic of Irelandnationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UKnationals 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 2020Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil ServiceFurther information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)Working for the Civil ServicePlease 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 InclusionThe 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).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 applicantsJob Contact :Name : recruitment@ico.org.ukEmail : recruitment@ico.org.ukRecruitment teamEmail : recruitment@ico.org.uk