Tara Smith
Biography
Tara Smith was appointed Chief Operating Officer at the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) in May 2023.
Prior to joining DBT, Tara was Director of People and Resources at the Food Standards Agency. Tara has also previously held the post of Strategic Finance Director at the Department for Work and Pensions.
She is a Chartered Accountant and started her career with PwC, working in Ireland, Canada and the UK for more than 10 years before joining the civil service in 2006.
Chief Operating Officer
The Chief Operating Officer has overall responsibility for a range of the Department for Business and Trade’s (DBT) corporate functions and support services, including:
- digital, data and technology
- human resources
- commercial
- project delivery and change
- finance
- security and business services
- communications and marketing
Joint-Head of the Government Finance Function
The Joint-Head of the Government Finance Function (GFF) co-leads and develops the community of finance professionals across government, to help to maintain the highest standards of financial management and ensures that public money is spent efficiently and effectively.
Key responsibilities include:
- Setting and delivering a GFF strategy for the development of the Government Finance Function.
- Overseeing the professional development and performance of the GFF, including the Government Finance Academy curriculum and the annual continuing professional development plan.
- Supporting departments’ talent management, succession planning and recruitment for the most senior financially qualified roles in government.
The Joint-Head of the GFF is accountable to Parliamentary Select Committees, including the Public Accounts Committee, for the continuing improvement of financial management standards, skills and expertise in government.