Head of Financial Planning and Analysis
UK Space Agency
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 22nd September 2024
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About the job
Job summary
Background: The UK Space Agency:
The UK Space Agency (UKSA) is an executive agency of the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) and provides technical advice on the government’s space strategy, supporting the UK space sector to deliver the government’s vision.
Space is a part of everyday life. Satellites underpin our national economy, from agriculture and banking to aviation and shipping, and support our national security. Space science provides critical data to understand and address global challenges such as climate change, while missions to explore our solar system unite nations and advance humanity’s horizons.
We support a thriving space sector in the UK, which generates an annual income of £16.5 billion and employs 47,000 people across the country.
Through our portfolio of programmes and projects, we encourage the development of national space capabilities and are an early-stage investor in space research and development. We also promote the UK space sector’s interests and achievements; make connections to join up industry and academia; and represent the UK in international space programmes.
We have a powerful global voice, partnering with institutions across the world, including the European Space Agency.
More information about the Agency is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-space-agency
To discover more please watch this film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbZZ-o0IkVU
Our Inclusive Environment
We have an inclusive culture to make UK Space Agency a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it will help us be more innovative and make better decisions.
We offer first-class flexible working benefits, excellent employee well-being support and a great pension. We are fortunate to have a range of excellent staff networks and are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We will support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive.
We actively welcome applications from anyone who shares our commitment to inclusion.
Job description
Our Finance Directorate is changing, we’re undergoing a transformation to ensure we’re helping support and shape the direction of the Agency in the future. We’re working towards a vision of being Trusted experts at the heart of the agency’s decisions making; catalysing delivery, not just keeping score.
The role holder will lead the Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) team to develop and maintain the Agency’s long term financial model, in turn supporting all corporate planning. They we oversee aqua book compliant financial models to support the Agency’s larger business cases and provide guidance and advice to standardise financial modelling for smaller cases.
They will be a part of the wider Finance Directorate Senior Leadership Team, ensuring the support and development of teams across the directorate. Including a commitment to continuous improvement, automation and efficiency.
Key Responsibilities:
- Leading on the spending review (SR), any fiscal events and Corporate Planning as the key finance contact
- Leading the Agency’s approach to financial modelling, developing standardised approach that are proportionate to spend
- Coordination of activities with and working closely with the Agency’s Strategy team
- Review, challenge and support the development of the financial models used for SR planning and Corporate Planning.
- Part of the UK European Space Agency delegation for Finance, sitting on Administrative & Finance Council
- Drafting for the different governance forums, primarily ExCo, Delivery Board and Steering Committee
- Line management responsibilities
- Promote effective individual and team performance.
- Undertake proactive communications engagement with DSIT Sponsor Team to ensure awareness of issues and full understanding of Agency mitigation.
- Acting as primary contact for the relationships with external partners, primarily DSIT
- Embed finance future ways of working (in line with Matrix) within the team and the Agency
- Membership of the Finance Directorate Senior Leadership team, including Deputising for the Director of Finance
Person specification
The desired candidate will have:
- Strong leadership skills, and the ability to motivate and develop a specialist finance team. Promoting consistent excellence in the team's output whilst balancing working at pace to manage a full workload with conflicting short and long-term priorities
- Able to credibly influence strategic planning and at pace, making an impact at senior levels through excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including building and maintaining networks and relationships
- Excellent personal presentation and written communication skills, including the ability to explain complex financials to a broad base of recipients and building this capability within the Financial Planning and Analysis Team
- Leading and influencing a collaborative approach to problem solving across the Agency. Objectively considering several options and scenarios through multiple lenses, in order to achieve effective outcomes with clearly outlined associated risks
- Fostering and leading a culture of knowledge sharing and collaboration between policy, programmes, the business, finance and other corporate services
- Leading, promoting and embedding the use and value of data and analytics, in particular as part of senior level reporting. Identifying additional data sources and tools to support specific programmes or areas of spend, keeping aware of developments and changes in technology.
Essential Criteria
- Strategic Analysis and Insights including financial modelling
- Excellent verbal and written communication, particularly drafting formal communications and papers.
- Excellent data and analysis interpretation skills
- Excellent Influencing skills – with internal and external stakeholders
- Evidence of proactive problem resolution
- Understanding the role of National Audit Office
- Proven experience in managing and developing a team of finance professionals, with a focus on promoting effective individual and team performance.
- Extensive experience using 5 case model business cases and understanding of HMT Green Book standards
- Experience leading financial modelling activity for projects and programmes
- Experience utilising complex financial and non-financial datasets to produce financial models.
Desirable Criteria
- Experience in public sector organisations and understanding of Accounting Officer Responsibilities
- Experience in leading and managing change within an organisation, particularly in relation to financial processes and systems.
- Experience in mentoring and coaching finance team members to support their professional development.
- Experience of a migration in financial systems.
- Lean management/Sixth sigma experience
- Experience producing financial models for Government Major Projects Portfolio
- Experience producing should cost models for delivery model assessments
Qualifications
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Communicating and Influencing
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Delivering at Pace
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Leadership
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Financial Analyst
Benefits
Benefits
UK Space Agency offers a competitive mix of benefits including:
- A culture of flexible working, such as job sharing, homeworking and compressed hours.
- Automatic enrolment into the Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%
- A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.
- An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities, which all staff are actively encouraged to pursue.
- Access to a range of retail, travel, and lifestyle employee discounts.
- A generous maternity/paternity and adoption leave package.
- This job role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is an informal, non-contractual and voluntary arrangement, blending a balance of attendance in the workplace (your permanent duty station which is based on business assessment of where the work is best done) and working from home, or elsewhere, as a personal choice (if the role is suitable for this). If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.
- The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement (maximum 750 words) and a behaviour example (maximum 250 words each).
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
The CV is for information purposes only and will not be scored.
The Sift will be assessed on Personal Statement, Behaviour and Technical skill.
The Interview will be assessed on Behaviours, Technical skill and a Presentation.
At interview you will need to deliver a 5 minute presentation on the following topic:
What is your approach to developing a long term financial model in an organisation with limited data quality? As part of this, please share a specific example of how you've developed multi-year financial models using a range of datasets.
Sift and interview dates
Expected Timeline subject to change
The sift is expected to take place week commencing 7th October 2024.
Interviews are expected to take place week commencing 21st October 2024.
Interview location: MS teams.
Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.
After interview, a single merit list will be created and you will only be considered for posts in locations you have expressed a preference for. Appointments will be made in strict merit order.
Further information
Reasonable Adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
- Contact Government Recruitment Service via uksarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
- Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe carried out.
Any move to UK Space Agency from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/
A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service/Disclosure Scotland on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms directly. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks@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.
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 had their employment continued. Any applicant’s 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.
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 : Evan Haselwood
- Email : evan.haselwood@ukspaceagency.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : uksarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission. 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
