Chief Finance Officer

The role

will act as Delegated Scheme manager for the Police Pensions Scheme on behalf of the Chief Constable.

About You

You will be a CCAB-qualified accountant with significant post-qualification experience in senior financial leadership, ideally gained within a complex public sector, or similarly regulated environment. You will combine strong professional judgement with the ability to influence at Board/Executive level and provide clear, independent challenge on strategic, financial, and organisational matters.

Experience of strategic oversight of estates, major assets or another substantial technical service would be advantageous, but is not essential. You will need the leadership capability to quickly establish yourself and provide effective strategic leadership across both Finance and Estates, drawing on qualified technical estates expertise where appropriate.

You will bring:

• A strong track record of strategic leadership, professional influence and effective challenge at Board or Executive level.

• Expert knowledge of financial strategy, governance, statutory reporting, risk, audit, and the stewardship of public money.

• Commercial acumen and the ability to identify and deliver efficiencies, investment opportunities, and sustainable organisational value.

• The ability to interpret complex information and provide clear, timely and evidence-based advice to senior decision-makers.

• Excellent communication, political awareness, and stakeholder engagement skills.

• A collaborative, inclusive and values-led leadership style, with a clear commitment to ethical standards, integrity, and public service, with the ability to lead, develop and inspire high-performing professional teams and promote continuous improvement.

How to Apply

Your application will be shortlisted against the requirements you will bring to the role as set out above. To apply, please submit your CV and a covering letter (of no more than 2 A4 sides, font Tahoma 11), providing clear evidence of how your experience, knowledge and leadership achievements meet the criteria we are seeking the successful candidate to bring to the role.

Please ensure you provide as much detail as possible as insufficient information may mean that you do not meet the shortlisting criteria.

CV and covering letter are to be submitted by 12:00 on Wednesday 28th October 2026.

The assessment stages of this process are scheduled to take place from 30th October 2026 onwards. Further details will be provided post-closing date.

For further information about the application process & assessment arrangements, please contact

All of our posts require a level of vetting and security clearance. During the recruitment process you will be sent vetting information forms to complete.

Kent Police and Essex Police welcomes applications regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, sex, or employment status.

If you’re not from the UK, you must be a resident in the UK and have lived here continuously for the last three years. You must also be free from restrictions with indefinite leave to remain. If you’re from the UK you must have lived here continuously for the last three years. This doesn’t apply to those serving abroad in the British Armed Forces.

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion are central to the values of our organisation. At Essex Police we value and embrace the unique experiences, identities and abilities that each of us bring to our roles. We strive to empower everyone to bring their authentic self openly and safely to work.

Through the dedicated commitment of our support networks, DE&I team and wider HR departments, we are on a journey to embed our DE&I commitments, ensuring Essex Police is an employer of choice; where everyone feels included.

Essex Police and Kent Police are an equal opportunities employer. Communications may be recorded for monitoring purposes.

Company

Kent Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing the 1,433 sq mi and approximately million inhabitants of Kent, a county in South East England.

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