Shona Robison is to become Humza Yousaf's next Finance Secretary after the departure of Kate Forbes, the Record understands.
She will combine the job with the post of Deputy First Minister.
Robison, 56, is a key ally of the new First Minister and a close friend of Nicola Sturgeon.
She previously resigned from the Scottish Government in 2018 after being criticised for her tenure as health secretary.
The Record also reported this morning how Net Zero Cabinet Secretary Michael Matheson could be in line to take the Health job.
It comes as Yousaf is currently finalising plans for his new Cabinet after being sworn in as First Minister at the Court of Session today.
Forbes, the previous finance secretary, returned to the backbenches last night after rejecting Yousaf 's offer of Rural Affairs Secretary - seen as a major step down from her current finance role.
A source close to Forbes said last night: "She told him where to stick it."
Ex-SNP minister Alex Neil branded the offer an "insult" amid warnings it will worsen SNP divisions.
He added it was "not a real effort to unite. A poor start".
And former MSP Joan McAlpine, a Forbes supporter, said it was "so obviously a demotion" and Forbes had "no option but to go".
Yousaf narrowly defeated Forbes in the race to succeed Nicola Sturgeon to become the new SNP leader and First Minister.
The pair clashed repeatedly throughout the bitter contest, with Forbes attacking Yousaf 's record in Government.
Senior SNP sources hoped unity could be restored by Forbes landing a big job in Yousaf 's Government.
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