Finance Business Partner (2 Roles)
Department for Business and Trade
Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 28th October 2024
Details
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Salary
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Business area
Type of role
Finance
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About the job
Job summary
Background
Finance is at the heart of decision making in the Department for Business & Trade (DBT). The Finance Business Partner (FBP) team works with the Finance function and across the department and its Partner Organisations to support DBT’s ambitious agenda. The team builds relationships and works in partnership with policy and delivery colleagues as well as other key stakeholders in corporate services and other Departments including HM Treasury, to provide a seamless end-to-end service to customers.
Finance Business Partners work closely with the Director General led groups, supporting the development of policy and delivery plans and associated funding requirements, providing financial information, advice, challenge and assurance to enable effective decision making. They ensure that colleagues have the knowledge and support they need to manage spend effectively, ultimately supporting the wider Department to meet its objectives. They provide expert financial advice, analysis and assurance to Ministers, Executive Boards and budget holders. They champion a value for money culture and embed a robust financial planning management and control regime throughout the department.
Job description
G7 FBPs are business experts with strong interpersonal relationships. They understand the business and can translate and present complex financial information clearly. They provide valuable financial advice, challenge and support, strategic insight and business solutions to budget holders and senior stakeholders. There are two roles available within the DBT FBP teams:
Role 1: Finance Business Partner for the Competition, Markets and Regulatory Reform Group
Role 2: Finance Business Partner for Business Group
We are looking for experienced financial professionals who not only excel in numbers but also thrives on building strong relationships and inspiring others. You will join a friendly team at a pivotal time with the upcoming Spending Review, you will lead a team of 2 SEO’s in role 1 and 1 SEO in role 2, to provide an excellent business partnering service across your portfolio.
Role 1 covers the Competition, Markets and Regulatory Reform Group which exists to enable enterprise to flourish in a way that benefits all – businesses, workers, consumers – through policy, delivery and regulation that is pro-growth, proportionate and effective.
You will take on a wide-ranging brief that is a top priority for the new Government covering Employment Rights, Office for Product Safety and Standards, Regulation and more.
Role 2 covers Business Group which is at the heart of our department – engaging businesses with the Government’s programme on trade, investment, exports, so that policy across the Department and Government grows the UK economy, creating better-paid jobs and opportunities across the country.
In both roles you will have the opportunity to help shape policy; ensuring that finance is at the heart of decision and providing effective advice to our policy colleagues in the business. The work in both groups is fast paced and high profile but, most importantly, has a significant tangible real-world impact on the lives of working people.
There may be other roles available across the FBP function within DBT and you may be offered another position if successfully appointed.
Responsibilities
- Providing strong and supportive leadership to your team, as well as high-quality line management;
- Understanding the financial and performance drivers, risks, opportunities and issues across your portfolio;
- Providing expert advice in line with Managing Public Money and Accounting Officer responsibilities to budget holders and policy colleagues whilst acting as a ‘critical friend’ to deliver value for money through the review of business cases, ensuring that HMG controls and guidance are complied with;
- Leading as the subject matter expert and key conduit between finance and the business for financial exercises such as Business Planning, Quarterly Reviews and the Spending Review, providing high quality information and advice to shape bids and support prioritisation decisions and ensure robust financial and delivery plans are in place;
- Driving a culture of continuous financial improvement across the business and Department to build resilience within your work and the wider team.
Person specification
The successful applicant will be a strong leader who can work collaboratively and build trusting relationships with stakeholders and influence them with impact and professional credibility.
They will have a broad skill base with strong financial awareness and a proven ability to think strategically about a wide range of organisational problems and come up with innovative solutions. Applicants will also demonstrate the ability to work across organisational boundaries with a variety of stakeholders to achieve outcomes and strong communication skills, including the ability to convey complex financial performance and management information to decision makers and advise on associated risks, pressures and potential underspends to non-specialist audiences thereby influencing the decision making of senior management.
Essential Criteria
- You are an excellent, empathetic and supportive line manager and leader who is emotionally intelligent, with a strong and demonstrable commitment to diversity, inclusion and wellbeing;
- You are comfortable working independently, leading financial planning and management across your portfolio and communicating clearly and persuasively on complex financial issues, including to senior stakeholders to ensure best use of public money;
- You are adept at building open and honest relationships with numerous different stakeholders across your portfolio, enabling you to challenge and negotiate appropriately whilst maintaining collaborative working;
- You are highly numerate and can get to grips quickly with detailed financial issues. You have great attention to detail, sifting through complex evidence (e.g. project reports, financial statements, policy discussions with teams) to provide comprehensive financial advice and oversee the same from your team;
- You are an excellent problem-solver and have the skills to provide insight and clear strategic advice into decision-making including fiscal event and business planning bids, business cases and Accounting Officer advice;
- We ask that candidates have an appropriate accountancy qualification for the role or, where they do not, are willing to work towards one in post supported by the Department as part of their ongoing learning and development.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Making Effective Decisions
- Seeing the Big Picture
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including ethnic minorities, people with a disability, and people with gender diverse identities.
Please refer to the attached candidate pack for further information on our benefits.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Interviews for this vacancy will be conducted virtually. We will, however, consider in-person interviews by exception.
Please ensure that you check your emails regularly as all updates from us will be sent to you this way.
To apply for this post, you will be asked to complete the following as part of the online application:
- A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Provide employment history that relates to the essential criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages.
- A Personal Statement of up to 750 words, explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential criteria.
It is likely that the sift will take place 1-2 weeks after the closing date and interviews 3-5 weeks after the closing date, though this is subject to change.
In the event of a large number of applicants, an initial short sift will be conducted on the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
As part of your interview, you will be asked to deliver a short oral presentation, details will be provided prior to your interview.
Reasonable Adjustments
We are committed to supporting candidates so they can perform at their best throughout the recruitment process. This includes making reasonable adjustments to our process. In order to request an adjustment:
Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section on the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process.
Alternatively contact the Government Recruitment Service at DBTrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Candidate Support
You may want to join a virtual Candidate Support Session. These sessions include helpful tips and advice on the recruitment process, from application to interview.
Please see attached Candidate Pack for further information on: Diversity and Inclusion; Benefits; Learning and Development; Working Patterns and what we deliver as a department.
Further Information:
- A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. Reserve Lists will be for each location and appointments made in merit order based on location preferences.
- Any move to the Department for Business and Trade from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments.
- The Department will not consider sponsoring a visa or issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship. We are unable to offer advice on any Visa and Immigration cases.
- New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
- Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty. Any applicant who has details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
- A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
- Terms and Conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
- Please note – the successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 18 months before being released for another role.
- This role may be considered as a secondment opportunity. Please reach out to the hiring manager listed at the bottom of this advert to discuss.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service / Disclosure Scotland / Access NI on your behalf.
However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk
For further information on the Access NI confidential checking service telephone: the Access NI Helpline on 0300 200 7888 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email accessni@ani.x.gsi.gov.uk
Vetting
The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years. Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected.
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting
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 : Marc Fitchett
- Email : marc.fitchett@businessandtrade.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : dbtrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact DBT by email: Resourcing@businessandtrade.gov.uk.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.
For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission/Complaints
