B1 - Temporary Promotion - Finance Officer (5023) - Social Security Scotland

Do you have good financial and analytical skills with an eye for detail? Do you prioritise effectively? Are you enthusiastic about finance and keen to develop a career in this area? If so, we would love to hear from you.

Social Security Scotland are recruiting a colleague with previous experience in Finance or Accounting to temporarily join the Benefit Accounting and Forecasting team located within the Benefit Expenditure and Debt Finance branch.

In this role you will be offered opportunities to work on varied activities, with a range of stakeholders, and will be fully supported in developing your skills further.

• Contribute to the monthly benefit expenditure accounting process ensuring this is accurate and accounted for within tight timescales.
• Assist with the completion of monthly reconciliations and any associated analysis of variances.
• Ensuring adequate financial controls and clear audit trail are in place around accounting for benefits.
• Responsible for the accurate accounting for benefit overpayments and monthly reporting to senior management.
• Contribute to the development of new benefit overpayment processes as the organisation evolves.
• Supporting with the maintenance of an impairment model for benefit overpayments.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with colleagues within Social Security Scotland, the wider directorate, the Scottish Government and the Department for Work and Pensions.
• Assist with the preparation of the Annual Report and Accounts if/as required.
• Work flexibly across the Finance team, taking on a range of other work as required to ensure that priorities are met and to support development.

Success Profiles
We use an assessment framework called ‘Success Profiles’ which lists the elements we test and provides detailed descriptions of each. Find out more about the framework here.

For this opportunity, the following Success Profile elements will be assessed:

Experience

1. Previous experience working in a finance or accounting related role with good analytical and numerical skills and attention to detail.

Behaviours

• Working Together (Level 2)
• Delivering at Pace (Level 2)
  

Technical/Professional Skills
You will demonstrate the following skills within the Finance Profession Capability Framework

We will be looking for the following skills within the Framework:

• Working with Data in Finance
  Interrogation of finance systems: Connecting finance information together from one or more systems/sources in a logical way in preparation for analysis and interpretation. Working with stakeholders to ensure relevancy of data to support insight driven finance decisions. (Level: Practitioner)

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours here.

How to Apply
Please apply online, providing a Supporting Statement (of no more than 750 words) providing evidence of how you demonstrate the Success Profiles noted above.

Please note that a CV is not required for this opportunity.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples 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, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

Please see our candidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.

If you are interested in this opportunity, you should seek permission from your manager and C-band manager before applying on a level transfer (TLT) basis. If applying on Temporary Promotion you should inform your manager and C-band manager from the outset of your intention to apply. If successful in your application, your release must be agreed by your line manager and C-band manager or relevant unit head.

Please note that the post is only open to individuals who have satisfactorily completed their probationary period.

Dates to Remember
Statement submitted by: Thursday 24th September 2026 at 5:00 pm
Informal chats: from w.c. 5th October 2026 (This may be subject to change)

Duration of Temporary Opportunity
This opportunity is for 6 months.

Hybrid Working
Our standard hours are 35 hours per week, and we offer a range of flexible working options, depending on the needs of the role. We embrace a hybrid working style where all colleagues will spend time in either our Glasgow or Dundee offices. There is an expectation of a minimum 2 days per week in your assigned location.

Further Information
This role is only available to existing permanent civil servants who have successfully completed their probation period within Social Security Scotland, Scottish Government Main or Common Citizenship organisations. Please note that applicants from Common Citizenship organisations may apply only on a promotion basis and not via a level transfer.

Social Security Scotland are a Disability Confident Employer. We will consider and implement any reasonable adjustments you may require throughout the recruitment process and during the course of your employment, should you be successful in securing a post. If you feel you may require assistance with any part of our recruitment process, please contact us at recruitment@socialsecurity.gov.scot.

If you experience any difficulties accessing our website or completing the online application form, please contact the Resourcing Team via recruitment@socialsecurity.gov.scot.

If you have any questions about the role please contact Fiona Pretswell at Fiona.Pretswell@socialsecurity.gov.scot