Director of Finance and Procurement
Ofwat (Water Services Regulation Authority)
Apply before 11:55 pm on Thursday 24th October 2024
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About the job
Job summary
We are Ofwat, the Water Services Regulation Authority, a non-ministerial government department responsible for regulating the water sector in England and Wales.
Safe, reliable and sustainable water and wastewater services are essential for our day-to-day lives, our wellbeing, and our natural world. As the economic regulator of water and wastewater companies in England and Wales, Ofwat's role is to enable, incentivise and hold companies to account for providing the very best for customers, communities and the environment now and in the future. It is an exciting time to join Ofwat. Underpinned by our SAILOR values, the work we do is ambitious and meaningful, helping to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing the sector we regulate.
You can find out more about why you should join Ofwat, our strategy, SAILOR values and our framework for success in the attached Information for Candidates Pack.
Job description
We have an opening for a Director of Finance and Procurement at our Birmingham office. Reporting into the Chief Operating Officer, this role sits within the Corporate Enablers Directorate management team. The directorate provides professional corporate enabling services, including Finance, Procurement, IT, Workplace Services, and People. These services ensure that Ofwat runs efficiently and smoothly, contributing to the achievement of our Time to Act strategy and making Ofwat a high performing and great place to be.
There is lots to do, at pace – and you will bring strong credentials in leading and delivering strategic financial change within a similarly complex and customer focussed organisation. You’ll also do that as a great team player, passionate about innovating and getting the basics right – translating technical complexity into language and actions that our people can understand – ensuring that finance and procurement enables us to be the regulator we need to be now and, in the future.
If you have a passion for driving change and want to lead the way in securing long term resilience supplies of water, now is your opportunity to join Ofwat and leave a lasting legacy for future generations.
Ofwat is committed to being a truly diverse and inclusive employer, with agile working being an important part of our culture. We encourage applications from candidates of all walks of life. This role is based at our Birmingham office. To support the delivery of Ofwat's business outcomes, you will be expected to spend 2 days per week in the office.
Key Deliverables
As a key enabler contributing expertise to all levels of senior leadership, you will be responsible for the strategy and delivery of ongoing transformation and compliance in relation to Ofwat’s financial and procurement strategy, governance and processes. In this role, you will be expected to:
- Ensure the right strategic finance and procurement inputs are delivered across Ofwat’s programme of work to support its strategy. This includes ensuring appropriate resources / funding for operationalisation of the 2024 Price review. Additionally, you will be responsible for successfully negotiating and securing Ofwat's 2025 and beyond Comprehensive Spending review with HM Treasury, working cohesively as part of a wider multidisciplinary team.
- Perform the role of Head of Profession and subject matter expert across Ofwat with primary responsibility for delivery of Ofwat’s Financial strategy and approach to financial management, planning, reporting, decision making, governance, risk and process improvement so they reflect best practice. Developing deliverable short- and longer-term plans in place to achieve outcomes and champion the value Corporate Enablers adds more broadly to Ofwat.
- Responsible for the efficient and effective use of financial resources, demonstrating sound financial management and financial strategic long-term planning to ensure cost effectiveness, minimising underspends and value for money in the delivery of services.
- Lead negotiations with HM Treasury on Ofwat's funding settlement including but not limited to negotiating Comprehensive Spending review settlements.
- Leadership and management of Ofwat’s budgetary control environment in a way that enables effective decision making - ensuring budget targets are met, efficiency challenges are delivered, and that financial regularity and accountability is achieved at all times.
- As part of our finance transformation and continuous improvement programme continue to develop our finance and related processes so to ensure they are fit for purpose and meet customer needs. Develop our Financial Planning & Analysis capability to ensure the provision of reliable, timely, innovative and trusted advice alongside ensuring we have the commercial and project skills and framework to meet our wider strategy.
- The development of the whole finance team is a key part of this role to grow our capabilities at a strategic level so you will need to be a strong mentor and coach. You will play a leadership role in financial management upskilling.
- Acting as a strong ambassador and role model of Ofwat’s SAILOR values; providing strategic leadership, management and continuing professional development of the finance and procurement hub to develop a customer focussed, high performing support service to Ofwat based around customer / user need.
- To provide constructive and effective professional challenge across Ofwat including a leadership role working alongside SLT, the Board, audit and risk assurance committee. Lead on key stakeholder relationships including internal and external auditors, HM Treasury and peers across the regulators and civil service network.
- Continuous improvement of the Finance & Procurement services, ultimately ensuring that the day-to-day activities and processes operate effectively and efficiently, using technology to enable an agile and digital offering.
- Work in tandem with peer Directors to ensure joint delivery of projects and service improvements to achieve business benefits. Take a leadership role in programme direction and delivery where required.
- Act as a champion for governance - establish, maintain and enforce best practice processes, policies and standards - appropriately developing these to get the right balance between good governance, best practice and pace.
- Effectively manage the budgets for Finance and procurement, both capital and revenue, in line with our processes, reporting regularly on progress against forecasts. Take a leadership role in championing value for money principles and ensure all spend is in line with these principles to make best use of public money.
- Regularly collect customer feedback and build improvement plans based on customer insight. Proactively working with services to make changes to enhance productivity and customer satisfaction with finance and procurement.
- The Director of Finance and Procurement needs to work closely with the Senior Director of Corporate Enablers, SLT and other members of the management team to play a leading role in the development of Ofwat’s ways of working and its culture.
Person specification
To be successful in this role you will need the below essential experience, skills, knowledge and attributes:
Experience, skills and knowledge
- CCAB qualified with evidence of continuing professional development and up to date technical knowledge.
- Proven senior finance leadership experience and demonstrable commercial skills in a similarly complex organisation.
- Experience of applying a continuous improvement approach to a finance function to develop and deliver strategic business partnering and systemic change.
- An inclusive leadership style, articulating a clear vision for people to thrive and deliver; empowering, coaching, building capability and a style which inspires, motivates, and promotes collaboration to develop high performing teams, and a proactive champion of SAILOR values.
- The ability to foster a culture of collaboration within and across teams and external partnerships, and role model impactful collaboration.
- Excellent communication skills that can persuade and influence a variety of audiences, as well as translate technical complexity into language and actions that our people can understand.
- A proven track record of working with, and successful management of, stakeholders including boards and committees, leadership teams, internal and external audit and suppliers.
Attributes
- Champion and Leader of Change
- Creates Clarity
- Adaptive thinker
- Deliver outcomes.
- Builds the team.
Attributes as per Ofwat's Framework for Success for Director Band. You can read more about Attributes here.
Benefits
Why You Should Join Us:
We’re forward-thinking, creative, innovative, and ambitious. We constantly push the boundaries and embrace new ways of working.
With us, your work matters, your voice is heard, and your impact is felt. Ours is a culture of trust, flexibility, autonomy, collaboration, and innovation. We all want positive change for water customers, the environment, and the future of water.
But for us, change is more than what happens on the outside – we’ve always pushed boundaries internally, too. From becoming the first Civil Service organisation to achieve ‘Smarter Working’ status, to gaining our prestigious ‘Smarter Working Maturity’ award, we’ve consistently demonstrated our commitment to embracing innovative ways of working. Our people do their best work when given freedom over where, when, and how they work. Which is why we trust our teams to balance meaningful collaboration in the office with the flexibility of working from home.
You will also benefit from:
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%, for this role ranging from £24,385 to £27,231. You can find further details about pension schemes under Terms and Conditions in the Candidate Pack.
- 27.5 days leave (25 days annual leave + 2.5 days privilege leave) increasing to max 32.5 days with each year of service, plus bank holidays
- Access to exclusive discounts on a variety of goods and services, including retail
outlets, theatre tickets, holidays, insurance, and a gym membership. - Flexible working arrangements that suit your lifestyle.
- Fees paid for membership of relevant professional bodies.
- Up to 3 volunteering days per year.
- Generous shared parental leave and pay.
- Enhanced sick pay.
- Regular development opportunities.
- Health and wellbeing initiatives.
- Season ticket loan for home-to-office travel.
- Cycle-to-work scheme.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
How to apply
Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to Ofwat on this appointment. Candidates should apply for this role through our website at www.saxbam.com/appointments using code QJUV.
Click on the ‘apply’ button and follow the instructions to upload a CV and cover letter and complete the online diversity monitoring* form.
Your personal statement should be approximately 2 pages long and should clearly outline how you meet the essential experience, skills, knowledge listed in the
The closing date for applications is 23.55 on Thursday 24th October 2024. Please ensure you have submitted your application in full ahead of the deadline, as we will not be able to consider late applications.
* The diversity monitoring online form will not be shared with anyone involved in assessing your application. Please complete as part of the application process.
If you have any queries about any aspect of this role, or you require any reasonable adjustments please contact Ellie Dugdale - Ellie.Dugdale@saxbam.com
Disability confident scheme (DCS)
As part of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all candidates applying under the scheme who meet the minimum essential criteria.
Selection schedule
We will try and offer as much flexibility as we can, but it may not be possible to offer alternative dates for assessments or interviews. You are therefore asked to note the below timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process, in order to meet the dates given. Please note that the following dates may be subject to change.
- Application deadline (23.55): Thursday 24 October 2024
- Longlist stage: w/c 28 October 2024 (candidates not required to attend)
- Interviews with Saxton Bampfylde: w/c 04 & 11 November 2024
- Shortlist stage: w/c 18 November 2024 (candidates not required to attend)
- Psychological assessments: w/c 11 & 18 November 2024
- Informal chat with Ofwat in person: w/c 18 & 25 November 2024
- Ofwat Panel interview: 04 December 2024
Assessment process
Longlisting Stage
At longlisting stage, your application will be assessed against the essential skills, experience, and knowledge required for the role. The essential criteria are listed above.
Interviews with Saxton Bampfylde and Shortlisting Stage
Candidates that pass longlisting stage will be invited to attend an interview with Saxton Bampfylde to explore your skills, experience, and knowledge in more detail. Following the interviews, shortlisted candidates will be invited to formal face-to-face interviews with Ofwat panel.
Informal chat with Ofwat – in person
As part of the process, we will offer shortlisted candidates the opportunity to meet members of the People Hub team for an informal chat, where you can find out more about Ofwat and the team.
Meetings will take place in person in our office in Birmingham and you will have the opportunity to go on an office tour. This step of the process will not be assessed.
Panel Interview Stage - Transparent Interviews and Presentation
At interview stage we will test against attributes, as well as skills, experience, and knowledge ( You can read more about attributes and our Framework for success here.
As part of the interview process, we will require a short presentation. Further details will be provided to candidates upon invitation to interview.
We operate a transparent interview model where we will share with you a list of attribute-based questions in advance. This has been proven to help neurodiverse candidates and others to perform better at interview and is part of our inclusive culture.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Ellie.Dugdale@saxbam.com
- Email : Ellie.Dugdale@saxbam.com
Recruitment team
- Email : Ellie.Dugdale@saxbam.com
Further information
