Head of Finance
Posted by: Immigration Advice Authority
Employed By: Immigration Advice Authority
Job Title: Head of Finance
Salary or salary range:The starting salary for the role is £66,181 per annum, increasing to £70,139 after successfully completing a 6 month probation period.
Contract type: Full-time
Location of position: Home working
Application deadline: 23/07/2025
Those seeking immigration advice and services are often among the most vulnerable and disadvantaged members of society. The Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) is an Arm’s Length Body of the Home Office. We regulate the work of registered Immigration Advisers and tackle the illegal advice-giving activities of criminals that often exploit vulnerable and disadvantaged migrants and threaten the integrity of the immigration system.
Purpose
As the Finance Lead for the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA), you will play a pivotal role in delivering the financial strategy outlined in the IAA’s Corporate Plan 2025–2027. You will support financial planning, budgeting, reporting, and programme initiatives to assist the IAA’s ambition to become a high-performing, modernised regulator. This includes supporting the development of a new funding model (including leading on fees and charges), enhancing financial governance, and ensuring value for money across all operations.
Job description
Key responsibilities
Financial Leadership
Develop and implement the IAA’s financial strategy aligned with the Corporate Plan
Advise senior leadership on funding models and provide insight to inform planning.
Budgeting and Financial Management
Manage the GIA budget, annual accounts, and monthly financial returns.
Ensure compliance with government financial standards and reporting requirements.
Procurement and Contract Oversight
Lead procurement and contract management in line with public sector rules.
Ensure delivery of outcomes and hold suppliers accountable for performance.
Governance and Assurance
Support ARAC and Director of Corporate Operations with financial risk, audit, and assurance.
Contribute to business cases and impact assessments for strategic changes.
Transformation and Continuous Improvement
Embed best financial practices to support a high-performing culture.
Collaborate to sustain financial viability across all core functions.
Fees and Charges
Lead implementation of a new fees and charges model in coordination with stakeholders.
Develop a cost recovery framework and update processes to support the regime.
Line Management
Person specification
Essential criteria; candidates must demonstrate the following:
Qualified accountant (e.g. CIMA, ACCA, CIPFA, ACA)
Proven experience in financial leadership roles within government or regulatory bodies. Familiarity with Home Office financial systems and reporting requirements.
Strong understanding of public sector funding models, procurement regulations, and financial governance.
Experience supporting organisational transformation and change programmes.
Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, including with senior officials and external partners.
Desirable
Experience in designing and working with cost recovery charging models.
Experience working in or with arm’s length bodies (ALBs).
Knowledge of immigration policy and regulatory environments.
Forensic accounting background to support POCA (Proceeds of Crime Act 2022) activities.
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £66,181, Immigration Advice Authority contributes £19,172 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
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 average employer contribution of 28.97%
An information pack on the IAA is attached to this advertisement.
How to apply
Selection process details
To apply for this role please send your CV and a Supporting Statement (statement no more than two sides of A4) detailing how you meet the criteria to the Hays Recruitment Team via the link at the bottom of the advert.
As you apply you will be invited to complete an Equality and Diversity Questionnaire. This is to assist the IAA in ensuring its recruitment processes are fair to all. The questionnaire is not seen by anyone involved in the selection process. Completing the questionnaire is not mandatory.
The above must be received by Hays no later than 5pm on 23rd July 2025.
The proposed timetable for selecting a successful candidate is set out below. Candidates must be available for all interview dates:
Shortlisting completed 28th July 2025
Successful candidates invited to interview by 31st July 2025 (additional details to follow)
Interview dates 8-13th August 2025 via Teams candidates must be available for interview on these dates
Candidates informed of interview outcomes by 14th August 2025
Please note: If you have not received a response to your application by 31st July 2025 unfortunately you have not been selected for interview and your application will not progress any further. Feedback will only be given to candidates who attend an interview.
Hays Recruitment is managing this role on behalf of the Immigration Advice Authority. If you are interested in finding out more about this role, please reach out to:
Donna – donna.galbraith@hays.com, 07843363610