Job title: Financial Accountant | Grade: 6 | Employment type: permanent | Hours: full time (35 hours per week | Starting salary: £51,010 | Directorate: Corporate Services & Accounts | Department: Finance & Procurement | Location: Edinburgh | Closing date: 17 May 2026 (23:55)

We’re looking for an experienced and proactive Financial Accountant to lead our team and play a central role in delivering high-quality financial reports and insight across the organisation. Reporting to the Head of Finance & Procurement, you’ll lead on budget setting, statutory accounts, and financial monitoring while supporting strategic decision-making and ensuring compliance with public sector financial standards.

Key responsibilities include:

· Managing and developing the Accounting & Budgeting team, ensuring effective delivery of core finance activities

· Leading statutory accounts preparation, ensuring accuracy and compliance with relevant standards

· Overseeing budget setting and quarterly review processes, working closely with budget holders

· Producing monthly financial reports and management accounts to support decision-making

· Ensuring robust financial controls, reconciliations, and reporting processes are in place

· Providing financial advice and support to colleagues across the organisation

· Liaising with internal and external auditors, and supporting audit processes

· Monitoring financial performance and contributing to long-term financial planning

· Supporting system improvements, financial projects, and policy development

· Managing key financial processes including WIP provision, grant funding, and payment authorisation.

To succeed in this role, you will need:

· A professional accounting qualification (part-qualified or qualified by experience – for example, CIMA, ACCA, ICAS, CIPFA)

· Strong people management experience, with the ability to lead, support, and develop a team

· Solid technical accounting knowledge, including IFRS, FReM and SPFM

· Proven experience in financial accounting, including preparation of statutory accounts

· Experience in budget setting, monitoring and providing financial advice to non-finance stakeholders

· Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to use sound judgement and initiative

· Experience using financial management systems (knowledge of Oracle Fusion beneficial)

· Excellent communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively across the organisation.

What we offer:

· A meaningful role where your work makes a real impact

· A supportive, inclusive, and values-driven working environment

· Opportunities for learning and professional development

· Flexible working to support a healthy work-life balance

· A competitive salary and benefits package, including pension contributions

· Generous annual leave entitlement (34 days, rising to 42 days after two years’ service)

· Enhanced family-friendly leave entitlements

· Access to wellbeing support, mental health support and an employee assistance programme

· Access to a wide range of discounts (including gym and retail) and the Cycle to Work scheme through our partner, Edenred.

For more details about this role and a full list of essential criteria and required competencies, please see the Job Description (available on our careersite when you click Apply)

About Us

The Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) plays a vital role in ensuring access to justice for all individuals in Scotland. As a non-departmental public body, SLAB operates independently but is accountable to the Scottish Government. Our mission is simple: to provide essential legal support to those who need it most, ensuring fair access to justice for all.

We manage and continually improve the delivery of publicly funded legal assistance and provide strategic advice to Scottish Ministers, shaping the future of legal aid in Scotland. In a dynamic and evolving legal landscape, our work is central to the functioning of the justice system, supporting the courts and helping people navigate complex legal matters.

At SLAB, we believe in the power of a diverse, talented workforce. We employ individuals from all backgrounds, bringing a range of skills and experiences to our workforce. Every role, whether directly interacting with the public or providing behind-the-scenes support, makes a meaningful impact on people’s lives.

We offer an inclusive, supportive work environment with a comprehensive employment package. To learn more about working with SLAB and the benefits we offer, please visit www.slab.org.uk/recruitment/working-for-us.

We are an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to being fair, inclusive and a place where all belong.

We welcome and encourage applications from diverse backgrounds, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, and LGBTQI+ people.

We will ensure that the disclosure of disability status will not negatively impact anyone’s application. Where reasonable, we are committed to guaranteeing an interview to every applicant who indicates they have a disability, under the Equality Act 2010, and meets the minimum criteria for the role.

For further information on SLAB’s services, values, and how the legal aid system works, please visit www.slab.org.uk