Head of Financial Control

Details
Reference number

433229

Salary

£57,515 - £62,292

Plus £4,000 Recruitment and Retention Allowance

GBP

Job grade

Grade 7

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

DVSA - Finance Commercial and Assurance

Type of role

Accountancy

Analytical

Finance

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

Number of jobs available

2

Contents

• Location
• About the job
• Benefits
• Things you need to know
• Apply and further information

Location

Bristol, Nottingham, Swansea

About the job
Job summary

Would you like to lead key financial operations in a high-profile government agency and shape future service delivery?

Can you communicate complex financial information clearly to diverse audiences?

Have you driven change initiatives while developing your team and improving processes?

If so, we'd love to hear from you

This is a unique and rewarding role where you'll play a key part in delivering high-quality, customer-focused financial services while helping to drive transformation through the implementation of a new ERP system. As a senior leader, you'll influence strategic decisions, lead talented teams, and make a tangible impact across the agency, ensuring compliance, improving efficiency, and supporting continuous improvement in public service.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) helps keep Britain moving, safely and sustainably. We do this by helping people through a lifetime of safe and sustainable journeys, helping them keep their vehicles safe to drive, and protecting them from unsafe drivers and vehicles.

We're working hard to:

• make roads safer
• improve services for our customers
• make road transport greener and healthier
• harness the potential of technology and data
• grow and level up the economy

Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays and a privilege day for the King's birthday
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Read more in the Benefits section below

Find out more about what it's like working at DVSA.

Job description

This role jointly leads the Financial Control Operations within the Agency, with responsibility for key functions including Payroll, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Cash and Banking, Taxation, Travel and Expenses, and electronic Procurement Cards (ePCS).

The postholder will ensure full compliance with HM Treasury requirements as set out in Managing Public Money and will be responsible for ensuring that financial controls are robust, effective, and meet both internal and external audit standards. The role will also ensure that accounting records are accurate and fit for purpose to support the timely and error-free production of the annual accounts.

As the team prepares to transition to a new accounting system, the postholder will lead on change management and process simplification to support a smooth implementation.

As a senior member of the Financial Accounting and Control team, the role is also expected to provide leadership, guidance and support across the wider Finance function as required.

Your responsibilities will include, but aren't limited to:

• Service Delivery
  
  Lead a team of around 15 staff and work closely with an outsourced shared service provider to deliver efficient, customer-focused financial services. Ensure strong controls, adherence to SLAs, and continuous improvement. Build effective relationships across teams and with external partners to drive value for money and coordinate service delivery with other functions (e.g. HR, Commercial).
• Service Development
  
  Lead process simplification and support the transition to a new ERP system, ensuring team readiness and flexibility. Act as Financial Control SME on agency-wide projects, ensuring new systems meet control requirements. Contribute to the future service delivery strategy.
• Management and Leadership
  
  Provide effective leadership and act as a role model, ensuring the team delivers high performance and manages financial resources efficiently in line with Civil Service values. Inspire and guide colleagues with integrity, setting a clear direction and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Support team development, encouraging flexibility, adaptability, and career progression. Collaborate with senior leaders across functions to support DVSA's strategic objectives and maintain a high-performing, respected Agency.

Great line management is important to us as an organisation, and we will equip and support line managers to develop the skills they need. We aim to empower line managers to create teams where people can flourish and deliver excellent outcomes for the public.

For further information on the role, please read the role profile. Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.

Person specification

Essential qualifications:

• Fully qualified CCAB or equivalent (e.g. CIMA).

You will be required to provide evidence that you hold any essential qualifications at some point during the recruitment process. If you cannot provide evidence, your application will be withdrawn.

Required experience:

To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:

• Experience of Managing financial control systems and processes including people management, stakeholder management, internal and external communications and financial systems.
• Experience of general financial management including interpreting official guidance, producing high quality reports, liaising with external audit, financial systems administration, financial analysis and financial policy development.
• Lead and adapt to change with a proactive approach developing skills and knowledge of the team as necessary.
• Good oral and written communication skills with the ability to relay difficult technical messages to a wide variety of audiences.
• Experience of SAP, Oracle or equivalent systems.
• Intermediate or Advanced Excel skills.

Additional Information

Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements

Full time roles consist of 37 hours per week.

Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement for the successful candidate to be able to work at least 30 hours per week.

This role is suitable for hybrid working, which is a non-contractual arrangement where a combination of workplace and home-based working can be accommodated subject to business requirements.

The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time a month will be spent at either your designated workplace (one of the locations cited in the advert) or, when required for business reasons, in another office/work location/visiting stakeholders. Your designated workplace will be your contractual place of work. There may be occasions where you are required to attend above the minimum expectation.

Occasional travel to other offices will be required, which may involve overnight stays.

If you have a question about hybrid working, part time/job share hours, flexible working, travelling for work, or require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Vacancy Holder during the recruitment process to avoid possible disappointment later in the process should your working arrangements not be compatible with the requirements of the role (see below for contact details).

Visa Sponsorship

Please note that we do not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker Licence sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship. Candidates must ensure they have the appropriate rights to work in the UK before application.

Qualifications

Fully qualified CCAB or equivalent (e.g. CIMA).

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Changing and Improving

Benefits

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave).
• 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King's birthday.
• Access to the staff discount portal.
• Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc.
• Joining a diverse and inclusive workforce with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues.
• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Find out more about the benefits of working at DfT and its agencies.

Things you need to know
Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Our selection process ensures a comprehensive assessment of each applicant's qualifications, skills, and potential fit within our organisation.

The selection process for this role will be:

Stage 1: Sift of CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form. (

Stage 2: Interview

You must be successful at each stage to progress to the next stage.

Stage 1: Sift

At sift, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:

• Experience – you will be asked to provide a CV (unlimited wordcount) and personal statement (1250-word count). Please provide evidence of your Experience of the following:
• Experience of Managing financial control systems and processes including people management, stakeholder management, internal and external communications and financial systems.
• Experience of general financial management including interpreting official guidance, producing high quality reports, liaising with external audit, financial systems administration, financial analysis and financial policy development.
• Lead and adapt to change with a proactive approach developing skills and knowledge of the team as necessary.
• Good oral and written communication skills with the ability to relay difficult technical messages to a wide variety of audiences.
• Experience of SAP, Oracle or equivalent systems.
• Intermediate or Advanced Excel skills.

The sift will take place from Tuesday 4th November 2025.

Stage 2: Interview

At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:

• Behaviours – Changing and Improving
• Experience

You will also be required to create and deliver a presentation which will be assessed against Experience. Guidance will be provided if you are invited to interview.

The interviews will take place week commencing Monday 17th November 2025.

This interview will be conducted online via Microsoft Teams. Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.

You can find out more about our hiring process, how to apply, and application and interview guidance on our careers site .

Please note that we will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change.

AI Tools and Platforms

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements 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, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Reasonable Adjustments

As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

Complete the "Assistance required" section in the "Additional requirements" page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you're deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Document Accessibility

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email for assistance.

Further Information

For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.

Pre-employment Checking

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals 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)
• 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 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles .

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.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The 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 and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in 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 applicants
Job contact :

• Name : Steven Badger
• Email :

Recruitment team

• Email :

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact Government Recruitment Services via email:

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website Here

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