Deputy Director Sector Reporting

This is a rare chance to help shape the future of financial budgeting and reporting for over 40 billion of public expenditure.

The Sector Reporting division in the Department for Education is responsible for collecting, analysing and reporting financial information from over 10,000 academy schools and further education colleges to support insight, accountability and strategic financial management.

You will lead a division of c40 FTE, who design and run sophisticated financial data collections, carry out complex analysis to deliver insight that supports effective decision-making and value for money, set forecasts and monitor outturn to support the strategic financial management of the Department for Education. In addition, you will support the delivery of high-quality financial reporting to Parliament through the Academies Sector Report and Accounts and the DfE Group Accounts.

As Deputy Director of Sector Reporting, you will be responsible for:

• Providing strategic advice, analysis and insight on sector finances to support strategic financial management in the Department and policy interventions that deliver value for money.
• The collection of forecast, outturn and audited financial data from academies and Further Education (FE) colleges.
• The calculation of budgets, forecasts and outturn to feed into the estimates cycle to ensure academies and FE colleges have the necessary approvals for their spending plans.
• Producing tailored financial reporting through consolidated accounts and other reporting to inform Parliamentary and government decision making, working with the National Audit Office and HM Treasury to ensure we provide the financial information needed without introducing disproportionate burden on academies and FE colleges.
• Working with DfE teams to ensure the financial reporting frameworks in place for sectors we work with are robust and aligned with central government reporting requirements where appropriate.
• Developing and delivering strategies to both transform how we collect data from academies and FE colleges and strengthen the links between funding, spending and other data to enable stronger planning, oversight, value‑for‑money assessment, and assurance.
• Building and supporting happy, engaged and inclusive teams where people can flourish and deliver excellent outcomes for the public.
• Working with other finance leaders in the Department and across the Government Finance Function (GFF) to deliver our finance vision and strategy.

Applicants will be assessed against the following Essential Criteria.

• A leader with exceptional interpersonal, communication and influencing skills and the professional credibility to shape strategic decision‑making through high‑quality financial insight.
• A strong track record of delivering challenging projects at pace, prioritising longer-term work alongside shorter-term asks. The ability to deliver through others and maintain professional standards under pressure.
• The ability to analyse complex multi-faceted problems and then identify and deliver credible solutions.
• Passion for improvement and innovation to enhance performance and outcomes, both internally and for the sectors we work with, with an ability to inspire confidence and motivate their teams through change and uncertainty.
• Fully qualified chartered accountant (CCAB or CIMA).

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience in delivering high quality analysis and consolidation of financial information from a large number of business units or organisations for budgeting and reporting purposes, with strong knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standards, FRS 102, Consolidated Budgeting Guidance and Supply Estimates (or confidence to develop this knowledge in role based on other relevant experience).
• Experience of digital/data lifecycle transformation.

Desirable criteria will only be assessed at interview in the event of a tie break situation to make an informed decision.