Job summary

Strategic Finance sits at the heart of departmental decision making. The team works across the policy, finance and other corporate communities. Strategic finance advises the Secretary of State and Permanent Secretary on the department’s financial position and the policy and operational choices open to them in order to manage it. We own the institutional relationship with HMT, engaging frequently with our HMT spending team.

Working with strategy, policy and HR teams we lead fiscal events including Spending Reviews and the Budget and manage the department’s annual and medium term financial planning. This work ensures that the Department’s resources are best targeted at delivering the Government’s priorities, utilising budgets in an agile and timely manner.

Job description

DCMS Strategic Finance have three Strategic Finance Managers, who work flexibly across the Department to support business areas and deliver key processes, including:

  • Spending Reviews and fiscal event planning.
  • Medium-Term Financial Planning.
  • Annual Business Planning.
  • In-year financial management including reprioritisation exercises.
  • Providing expert advice to teams on Strategic Finance issues, ensuring alignment to Managing Public Money and wider Government Finance guidance.
  • Coordinating and leading engagement with HM Treasury on financial issues.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape the Department’s Medium-Term Financial Strategy, creating the guidelines and developing the processes which will enable the best targeting of DCMS resources to deliver its priorities. The role will receive significant exposure to Senior Leadership including the Executive Board and the Delivery and Risk Committee, as well as Ministerial Engagement.

Our Strategic Finance Managers provide strategic advice and analysis on financial impact, performance and risk to senior stakeholders and through this contribute to the strategic direction of the Department and its 43 Public Bodies. This includes evaluation of the controls in place to ensure compliance with key governance documents, and continuous improvement of the supporting processes.

The role will work broadly across the Department, with close working with colleagues in Corporate Strategy, HR and Analysis on Fiscal Events. It will also lead day-to-day engagement with HM Treasury on issues of delegated authorities, as well as playing a coordinating role at fiscal events.

Person specification

The ideal candidate would have the following key skills and experience, please note that desirable skills will only be used in the event od tied candidates:

Essential requirements:

  • Ability to think strategically, and provide advice on complex issues to senior decision makers.
  • Experience working with a range of stakeholders, to deliver effective outcomes.
  • Solutions oriented and able to complete work in a timely manner without prompting.
  • Strong organisational and time-management skills, with ability to effectively prioritise across different workstreams.

Desirable Skills:

  • CCAB (or CIMA) qualified or part-qualified accountant.
  • Experience of working with HM Treasury.
  • Understanding of the existing internal control system.

We are running an information session where prospective applicants can find out more about the role. This will be hosted by Matthew Quinn, and will take place on:

  • 18th May at 2pm

The session will be an opportunity to hear more about the role, the team and wider directorate and the department. It will also be an opportunity for you to ask any questions.

Please register your interest before 17th May 2026 by 4pm by filling out this Registration form and you will be sent an invitation. Invites will only be sent after this deadline has passed.

Please note that the session will not be recorded and will not focus on the DCMS recruitment process - please direct any queries that you have on this topic (timelines, reasonable adjustments, onboarding etc) to resourcing.team@dcms.gov.uk

Behaviours

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

  • Leadership
  • Seeing the Big Picture
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

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

  • Strategic Financial Insight

Location

17, Marble Street, Manchester, M2 3AW, United Kingdom

Job ID

15179