Executive Director, Finance & Commercial
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- Employer:
- Disclosure and Barring Service
- Location:
- Agile/Remote
- Salary:
- SCS1 Equivalent
- Closing Date:
- 9am Monday 8th June 2026
- Job Ref:
- GSe132801
Description
Executive Director Finance and Commercial
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
Location: Agile Working | Salary: SCS1 Equivalent
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is a critical part of the UK’s safeguarding landscape. We enable safer recruitment decisions by providing criminal record checks and barring services that protect vulnerable groups. Our work underpins trust in organisations across health, education, social care and beyond. We are committed to being a modern, responsive and influential organisation, one that is visible, trusted and delivers real impact for society. At DBS, we embrace innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement, ensuring that our services meet the needs of citizens and stakeholders in an ever-changing environment.
As Executive Director Finance and Commercial you will take a central role in shaping organisational strategy, driving financial sustainability and strengthening commercial capability. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, the successful candidate will provide strategic leadership across finance, risk and assurance, and commercial services, ensuring the organisation is both financially robust and positioned to respond to future challenges and opportunities.
With responsibility for a substantial and complex budget, you will lead the development of forward-looking financial strategies, oversee robust planning, reporting and control frameworks, and ensure that value for money is embedded across all areas of activity. Alongside this, you will drive a more commercially minded approach, identifying opportunities to enhance income, partnerships and long-term value, while maintaining a strong commitment to public accountability and governance. You will play a visible leadership role internally and externally, building strong relationships across government and with key stakeholders, and contributing to the organisation’s wider influence and reputation.
This role calls for a qualified accountant with significant senior leadership experience in complex, regulated or public sector environments. You will have a strong track record of shaping financial strategy at Board level, leading high-performing teams and delivering improvement and transformation at scale. In addition to technical expertise, you will bring commercial awareness, intellectual agility and the ability to influence at the highest levels with credibility and confidence.
Above all, this is an opportunity for a values-driven leader to make a meaningful impact in an organisation of national importance, shaping its future direction while ensuring financial resilience and enabling innovation and growth.
Closing date: 9am on Monday 8th June 2026
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How to Apply
- Please submit your CV along with a Supporting Statement addressing the person specification criteria, evidencing how you meet the criteria.
- Detail any employment or education gaps.
- Be ready to provide the names, positions, organisations and contact details for two referees; one should be your current or most recent employer. Referees will be contacted for those proceeding to final stages. We will always gain your permission before we contact referees.
- Let us know any difficulty you may have with the indicative timetable.
- Check that your contact details are correct before you submit.
Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an automated email confirmation. If you do not receive, please email contactus@gatenbysanderson.com