Senior Finance Officer
- Salary: £38,791 - £44,311
- Location: Inverness (hybrid working may be considered). Regular, weekly attendance in our Inverness office is required for this role, and successful applicants must be based in Scotland.
- Contract: Fixed-term maternity cover 9 months, with the possibility of extending up to 12 months. We are happy to consider secondment opportunities.
The Scottish Land Commission is seeking to appoint a Senior Finance Officer. This is an exciting opportunity to join the Scottish Land Commission team, providing support to the Finance and Business System Lead.
Scottish Land Commission
The Scottish Land Commission provides leadership and advice on reforming the ownership and use of land in Scotland. We advise the Scottish Government, Parliament and others on policy, legislation, and practical change that supports a fairer, greener, and more inclusive Scotland.
Our work focuses on three key outcomes:
- People – enabling everyone in Scotland to participate in decisions about land.
- Power – diversifying control and governance in land ownership and management.
- Prosperity – using the value and benefits of land to create shared economic, social, and environmental outcomes.
We are a small but high-profile public body operating in a complex policy environment. Our work attracts significant interest from communities, the media, landowners, and decision-makers. Strong, strategic communications are central to our success.
The role
This role sits within the Commission’s Communications and Corporate Services Team, reporting directly to the Finance and Business System Lead. You will play a key role in delivering financial reporting, ensuring legal compliance and oversight in all financial processes such as variance analysis, cost improvement identification and partnering with various departments in the organisation for enhanced forecasting.
Key duties
- Manage day-to-day finance tasks, including processing invoices, purchases and banking to help maintain monthly budget reporting ensuring accurate financial reporting in line with best practice for consideration by management and board members
- Main point of contact for budget and invoice queries, providing expert guidance and advice as and when required
- Make sure financial information is accurate, recorded properly and follows agreed processes
- Support budget holders with financial planning and scenario modelling.
- Provide clear and timely advice on income and expenditure for management team and board to ensure effective financial management and oversight
- Work with budget holders to monitor budgets and highlight any emerging risks.
- Support the assessment of business cases by analysing financial and non-financial information and preparing summaries for decision-making.
- Help maintain and improve finance systems and processes to ensure good governance and efficient information flow.
- Use internal systems (SharePoint, finance software etc.) to store information securely and accurately.
- Ensure financial procedures follow internal policies and relevant guidance (e.g., SPFM and FREM), escalating issues where needed.
- Support preparation of information for audit and ensure month-end tasks are completed on time.
- Work with teams to help them understand the financial impact of their projects.
- Provide guidance and training to colleagues who are less familiar with financial processes.
- Promote good financial management and help embed a culture of good financial responsibility.
The person
The successful applicant will be degree qualified and/or have a formal professional finance qualification (AAT Level 3 or equivalent). They will have strong financial reporting and data management skills and experience with proven experience of working within a finance team. They will have excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex financial information to non-finance professionals and influence decision making. Ability to work across teams to deliver shared objectives, providing specialist financial advice and guidance.
Download job description and person specification
Application information
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 along with a detailed job description, privacy statement and equality statement. Completed applications should be submitted to HR@landcommission.gov.scot prior to the closing date. Please note that CVs will not be accepted as a form of application.
Closing date for applications is 11:59pm on Sunday 14th June 2026.
Interviews will be held in-person on Wednesday 24th June 2026 at our Inverness office.
Download application form
