Head of Financial Management
UK Space Agency
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 29th September 2024
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About the job
Job summary
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 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 Management team to ensure decisions across the agency are supported by robust and timely management information, and with expert financial advice on budgetary and accounting impacts. They will develop and embed a culture of supporting delivery of organisation goals through strong financial acumen and management across the organisation, including policies and training.
Job description
Key Responsibilities
- Leading the Finance Business Partnering (FBP) and Management accounting functions
- Develop and implement a strategic vision for the FBP and Management accounting functions, aligning it with the broader goals of the Agency
- Lead finance business partner scrutiny of business cases.
- Leading on stakeholder management, including the preparation and presentation of financial information to directors and budget holders
- Coaching and developing finance business partners (FBPs) to enhance their performance and capabilities.
- Ensure regular financial reviews are conducted with delegated budget holders to better understand programmes, plans and financial performance.
- Line management responsibilities
- Spend Control – Influence the affordability and prioritisation of business plans and seek to maintain spend within the relevant financial boundaries and delegations.
- Work with budget holders on risks, issues and opportunities – Identify, monitor budget and develop mitigating actions for risks, issues and opportunities.
- Part of the UK European Space Agency delegation for Finance, sitting on Administrative & Finance Council
- Guidance & Support – Provide support, guidance and coaching for budget holders.
- Embed finance future ways of working (in line with Matrix) within the team and the Agency
- Promote effective individual and team performance.
- Representing UK Space Agency finance on Agency project and programme boards as necessary.
- Membership of the Finance Directorate Senior Leadership team, including Deputising for the Director of Finance
Person specification
The successively candidate will have:
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to put complex financial issues into layman's terms for non-specialist audiences.
- Ability to influence and make impact at senior levels through excellent interpersonal and communication skills including building and maintaining networks and relationships.
- A collaborative approach to problem solving and the ability to consider a number of options and scenarios in order to achieve effective outcomes.
- Leadership, and the ability to motivate and develop a diverse finance team and promote excellence.
- 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
- Excellent verbal and written communication, particularly drafting formal communications and papers.
- Excellent data and analysis interpretation skills
- Good Strategic Analysis and Insight skills
- Good Budgeting, Forecasting and Costing skills
- Extensive experience using 5 case model business cases and understanding of HMT Green Book standards
- Extensive experience in Finance Business Partnering roles
Desirable
- 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 leading a migration in financial systems.
- Lean management/Sixth sigma experience
Qualifications
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Communicating and Influencing
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
- Making Effective Decisions
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Leadership
- Managing a Quality Service
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Budgetary Control
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
UK Space Agency is undergoing a transformation programme which may impact your role, line manager and/or location in the future. We will share more details with you as they become known
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement (Max Word Limit: 750), Behaviour examples and Technical skill.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Please note - the CV incorporated into the application form is for information purposes only and will not be scored.
Please use your personal statement to provide evidence and examples of your experience using 5 case model business cases and understanding of HMT Green book standards and your experience in Finance Business Partnering roles.
The Sift will be assessed on Behaviours, Personal Statement and Technical skills.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour Leadership.
Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
The interview will be assessed on Behaviours, Technical skills and a presentation.
At interview you will need to deliver a 5 minute presentation on the following topic:
What is your approach to developing financial management capability in an organisation where there aren't enough resources to address all the programmes and challenges ahead? As part of this, please share a specific example of how you've developed financial management capability.
Sift and interview dates
Expected Timeline subject to change
Sift dates: w/c 07/10/2024.
Interview dates: w/c 28/10/2024.
Interviews will held via MS Teams
Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.
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.
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.
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.
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
