4052 - Head of Finance & Performance for the Disused Tips Authority

• Details
• Reference number
• 475882
• Salary
• £61,098 - £78,449

Starting salary: £61,098 per annum. The role sits within a pay range that extends to £78,449, with progression subject to the Authority's pay arrangements. Please note that, whilst these roles will initially be hosted by the Welsh Government, posts within the Disused Tips Authority are subject to the Authority's own pay and reward arrangements.

The Welsh Government salary scales displayed alongside this vacancy do not apply to these roles.

For candidates who can demonstrate exceptional skills, experience and expertise, there may be scope to appoint above the advertised starting salary, up to the maximum of the approved pay range, subject to the Authority's pay arrangements and relevant approvals

GBP

• Job grade
• Grade 7
• Contract type
• Permanent
• Secondment
• Length of employment
• up to 2 years
• Business area
• Local Government, Housing, Rural Resilience & Sustainability Group
• Type of role
• Finance
• Working pattern
• Full-time
• Number of jobs available
• 1
• Contents

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

Location

Merthyr Tydfil (DTA Headquarters). The Disused Tips Authority's headquarters will be based in Merthyr Tydfil. When the Authority is established on 1 April 2027, a number of regional hubs will also be available across Wales; however, Merthyr Tydfil will remain the organisation's headquarters

About the job

Job summary

This is a unique opportunity to shape the financial and performance foundations of a new national organisation, helping establish the Disused Tips Authority as a trusted, accountable and financially sustainable public body recognised for its effective stewardship of public resources and commitment to continuous improvement.

Important: The Disused Tips Authority for Wales will be established as an independent Welsh Public Body and separate legal entity on 1 April 2027 . Until then, these roles will be hosted by the Welsh Government, providing a unique opportunity to help create and shape a new national organisation from the outset.

Successful candidates will initially be employed by the Welsh Government before transferring to the Disused Tips Authority when it becomes operational on 1 April 2027 , with continuity of employment maintained throughout.

The Disused Tips Authority is a separate organisation from the Welsh Government. Please disregard any Welsh Government guidance, policies or recruitment information linked within this advert and refer to the accompanying Candidate Information Pack for information relevant to this vacancy.

To learn more about the Authority's purpose, ambitions, culture, values, benefits and recruitment journey, please review the Candidate Information Pack and recruitment video.

Help build a new public body for Wales: Disused Tips Authority for Wales

General Candidate Information Pack - 2026 Recruitment Campaign

Help build the financial stewardship and organisational performance behind one of Wales' newest public bodies.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a strategic leadership role in one of Wales' newest public organisations.

The Disused Tips Authority for Wales is being established as the national public body responsible for overseeing the safety, management and regulation of disused tips across Wales. Operating in a high-profile, safety-critical environment, our success will depend not only on effective operational delivery, but on strong financial stewardship, meaningful organisational insight and a relentless focus on performance and public value.

As Head of Finance & Performance , you will play a critical leadership role in developing the Authority's finance and performance capability. You will ensure robust financial management, effective performance reporting and integrated risk arrangements provide leaders with the insight, controls and confidence needed to make informed decisions and deliver lasting public value.

This is a broad strategic leadership role. Alongside leading the Authority's finance and performance functions, you'll shape financial planning, performance frameworks, risk management and corporate reporting arrangements that support the Board's strategic vision and Corporate Plan.

Job description

Beyond the organisation itself, you will play a pivotal role in developing the Authority's ambition to become a recognised centre of excellence in public financial management, organisational performance and public sector stewardship. Working with Welsh Government, auditors, regulators and professional networks, you will strengthen financial capability, promote best practice and contribute to the development of public sector financial leadership across Wales.

The role is both inward and outward facing:

• Internally , you will provide the financial insight, performance information and business intelligence that enable confident decision-making, effective resource management and continuous organisational improvement.
• Externally , you will build trusted relationships with Welsh Government, auditors, regulators and oversight bodies, demonstrating the Authority's commitment to sound financial management, transparency and accountability.

Person specification

Key Tasks

Building financial stewardship

• You'll lead the development and continuous improvement of the Authority's financial management framework, ensuring robust financial controls, effective governance and sustainable financial planning support the delivery of organisational priorities.
• You'll establish financial policies, regulations and management information that promote accountability, value for money and responsible stewardship of public resources.

Leading financial planning and reporting

• You'll oversee medium-term financial planning, annual budgets, statutory accounts and financial reporting, ensuring leaders receive timely, accurate and insightful financial information to support strategic decision-making.
• You'll ensure compliance with public sector financial requirements while promoting transparency, credibility and confidence in the Authority's financial management.

Driving organisational performance

• You'll lead the development of organisational performance frameworks, ensuring performance measures, reporting arrangements and business intelligence provide a clear understanding of delivery, outcomes and organisational impact.
• You'll promote a culture where performance information drives learning, continuous improvement and informed decision-making.

Strengthening risk management

• You'll lead the operational implementation of the Authority's risk management framework, ensuring organisational risks are identified, understood and managed proportionately.
• You'll support leaders to integrate risk management into planning, decision-making and organisational performance.

Supporting strategic delivery

• You'll ensure financial planning, performance management and corporate reporting are fully aligned to the Authority's Corporate Plan and organisational priorities, translating strategic ambition into effective operational delivery.

Developing financial and performance capability

• You'll strengthen professional capability across finance and performance, developing systems, processes and reporting that improve organisational insight, support continuous improvement and promote best practice.
• You'll help establish the Authority as a recognised centre of excellence in public financial management, organisational performance and effective stewardship of public resources.

Working across the system

• You'll build trusted relationships with Welsh Government, auditors, regulators, oversight bodies and professional networks, recognising that effective financial stewardship depends upon collaboration, openness and constructive challenge.
• You'll represent the Authority on financial, performance and corporate reporting matters, promoting confidence in the organisation's stewardship of public resources.

Leading a high-performing function

• You'll build and lead a professional Finance & Performance function, creating an environment where colleagues develop their expertise, provide high-quality advice and deliver services that support effective organisational leadership.
• You'll champion continuous professional development, professional excellence and a culture of integrity, accountability and continuous improvement.

Successful candidates will demonstrate professional accountancy qualifications and membership of CIPFA or another recognised accountancy body, together with substantial experience of leading finance and performance functions within the public sector or similarly complex, regulated environments.

Technical Capabilities

Important: The technical capabilities listed below will be assessed throughout the selection process. Please refer to these capabilities when preparing your application and provide evidence of how you meet them through your qualifications, skills and experience.

Strategic Financial Leadership

• Developing and implementing financial strategies, planning frameworks and management information that support organisational priorities and public value.
• Translating strategic priorities into effective financial planning, resource allocation and organisational decision-making.

Financial Management & Stewardship

• Leading financial management within complex public sector or regulated organisations.
• Developing budgets, financial forecasts, statutory accounts and governance arrangements that promote accountability and value for money.
• Ensuring compliance with public sector financial standards and legislative requirements.

Performance & Business Insight

• Developing organisational performance frameworks, reporting arrangements and business intelligence that support strategic and operational decision-making.
• Using financial and performance information to evaluate outcomes, identify trends and drive continuous improvement.
• Translating complex data into meaningful insight for senior leaders and Boards.

Risk Management & Corporate Reporting

• Leading operational risk management and supporting integrated organisational reporting.
• Ensuring risk, performance and financial information provide a coherent picture of organisational health and delivery.
• Supporting audit processes, governance and organisational accountability.

Partnership Working & Stakeholder Management

• Building trusted relationships with Welsh Government, auditors, regulators and professional networks.
• Representing the organisation confidently in financial, performance and corporate matters.
• Promoting transparency, collaboration and confidence in public financial management.

Leadership & Team Development

• Leading and developing high-performing finance and performance teams.
• Building professional capability and fostering a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration and innovation.
• Supporting organisational capability through effective financial leadership.

Communication & Professional Judgement

• Communicating complex financial and performance information clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Providing balanced, evidence-based advice that supports confident decision-making by senior leaders and the Board.
• Exercising sound judgement when balancing financial sustainability, organisational priorities and public accountability.

Qualifications

Qualified accountant with membership of CIPFA or another recognised professional accountancy body,

Technical skills

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

• Our Technical Capabilities Important: Please find our Technical Capabilities noted under Key Tasks
• Please describe the qualifications, professional memberships, chartership and relevant experience you hold that demonstrate how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for this role.

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

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.

Selection process details

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

Welsh Government, like all other Government Departments use Success Profiles when we recruit. For each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job. It raises performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

The selection process and stages are:

Number of Stages:

• 2 stage process
• Stage 1
• Application Form
• Stage 2
• Interview
• Assessment Weightings

Where more than one appointable candidate is identified, the following criteria will be applied in the order listed below:

• Demonstration of our values, including trust-building and alignment with the organisation's purpose and culture.
• Technical capability in financial leadership, financial management, organisational performance, risk management, corporate reporting and stakeholder engagement.
• Relevant experience leading finance and performance functions, delivering strategic financial planning and reporting, developing organisational insight and performance frameworks, and providing professional advice and judgement within complex or regulated environments.
• Desirable criteria listed below.
• Welsh language skills.

Additional Assessment Activities

A presentation on Technical Competence will be required at Interview. More information will be provided in the invitations to that stage.

In the event of a large number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted against the lead assessment criterion: technical capabilities. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

A qualified accountant with membership of CIPFA or another recognised professional accountancy body, with significant experience leading finance and performance functions within the public sector or another complex, regulated environment

Our Values

We assess candidates against our TIPS values: Trust-Building, Integrity-Led, Purpose-Driven and Skilled & Collaborative. Full details of our values and culture can be found in the Candidate Information Pack.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for these opportunities. Candidates offered reserve status will remain on the reserve list until the Disused Tips Authority is established in April 2027. Those placed on the reserve list will only be considered for opportunities within the Disused Tips Authority and will not be considered for Welsh Government vacancies.

Desirable

The following qualities are desirable and will only be considered where two or more candidates achieve the same score at the application or interview stage.

It would be desirable for candidates to have demonstrable experience of financial strategy, corporate reporting, organisational performance and public financial management, together with evidence of continuing professional development and a commitment to professional excellence.

• Welsh Language Ability. The Disused Tips Authority is committed to operating as a bilingual organisation and providing services in both Welsh and English. We want our workforce to reflect the communities we serve and play an active role in promoting and normalising the use of Welsh in the workplace.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) 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.

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.

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 : Disused Tips Authority
• Email : DisusedTipsAuthorityJobs@gov.wales

Recruitment team

• Email : SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales

Further information

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition. Please see the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles on the Commission's website.

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and wish to make a complaint please email complaints@gov.wales. Please ensure that you refer to the vacancy reference number.

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Welsh Government, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: info@csc.gov.uk