Assistant Finance Business Partner (3 Roles)
Department for Business and Trade
Apply before 11:55 pm on Friday 4th October 2024
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Salary
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Apprenticeship
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Type of role
Finance
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About the job
Job summary
Are you interested in progressing your career in finance? If so, this role is for you! The Finance Business Partner (FBP) teams work within 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. We put finance is at the heart of decision making in the Department for Business & Trade (DBT).
These roles will focus on in-year budget management and analysis, including budget profiling and forecasting, supporting and providing challenge to business areas on their monthly forecast figures. It will also include gathering, analysing and presenting in-year management information to inform and support the budget holder’s decision-making.
There are up to three positions available, across the Competition, Markets and Regulatory Reform and the Domestic and International Markets and Exports (DIME) briefs.
Competition, Markets and Regulatory Reform
This is an exciting, close-knit team providing an excellent FBP service to the policy teams responsible for delivering some of the new Government’s top priorities such as Make Work Pay. Competition, Markets and Regulatory Reform team 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. We are looking for an enthusiastic and hard-working finance professional to join our team at a crucial time with an upcoming Spending Review and increased Ministerial interest in our brief.
DIME Finance Business Partners
The Domestic and International Markets and Exports (DIME) Group is responsible for advising, supporting and promoting British business to grow and export, whose work plays a key part in delivering the new Government’s growth mission. We are looking for an enthusiastic and hard-working finance professional to join our team at a crucial time supporting DIME through the upcoming Spending Review, new policy initiatives and opportunities to work with colleagues across the globe.
Professional development is important to us at DBT and support for further professional development and growth will be available to you. The finance function in DBT have a dedicated team who support staff to gain finance qualifications through apprenticeships and other professional routes.These posts are available as apprenticeships.
Job description
All roles are within the Finance Business Partner teams. You will be responsible for ensuring that our senior stakeholders have the necessary and accurate management information to support them in making tough decisions.
To achieve this, you will work with stakeholders across the portfolio and build your knowledge and understanding of their work. You will be a key point of contact for them on finance matters and will work closely with them to provide support and challenge on their monthly forecast figures. You will also use this information to produce high quality reports which will help inform senior stakeholders in their decision making.
Key responsibilities
- supporting and providing challenge to business areas on their monthly forecast figures
- gathering, analysing and presenting in-year management information to inform and support the budget holder’s decision-making.
- undertake month end activities, including preparation of journals and producing high quality reports
- building detailed knowledge of the areas of the Department and/or Partner Organisations in your portfolio
- building relationships with other Finance Business Partners, the wider Finance function and stakeholders across the business.
- strive for continuous improvement in systems reporting and analysis for quality information that provides maximum insight to stakeholders.
Person specification
You will be able to demonstrate the ability to work across teams to deliver a quality service. You will have strong communication skills and be able to communicate complex information to non-specialist audiences and influencing the decision making in the business alongside analysing management and financial information.
Essential criteria
- Be a team player who can work collaboratively, quickly building successful relationships with colleagues in finance, and influential relationships with colleagues in the business.
- Be able to communicate financial and non-financial information effectively to stakeholders to achieve desired outcomes.
- Demonstrate the confidence, composure and credibility needed to challenge the way activities are delivered. Recognising change as an opportunity to deliver efficiency and innovation.
- Confident using Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Suite.
Desirable criteria
- Has already or be willing to work towards an appropriate professional finance qualification.
- Some previous financial experience.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Managing a Quality Service
- Communicating and Influencing
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 average employer contribution of 27%
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.
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 undertake a short assessment, details will be provided prior to your interview.
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.
Who can start an apprenticeship
To start an apprenticeship, you’ll need to be:
- 16 or over
- living in England
- not in full-time education
You can apply for an apprenticeship while you’re still at school but you’ll need to be 16 or over by the end of the summer holidays to start the apprenticeship. Please note if successful you must be 16 or over to undergo the relevant security checks.
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
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 : Guangyuan Zhu
- Email : guangyuan.zhu@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
