Finance Officer – Digital Planning Programme
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 27th October 2024
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About the job
Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity to join the Digital Planning programme at MHCLG, which aims to enable a modern and efficient planning system in England. The programme is an agile led, digital transformation programme which is currently divided up into four multidisciplinary teams; the Planning Software team, the PropTech (property technology) team, the Planning Data team and the Local Plans team. There's also a Programme Management Office (PMO) which is a key enabler function, ensuring that the programme is being run and managed to time, cost, quality and assurance as a Government Major Project.
As the SEO Finance Officer, you will report directly to the G7 Finance Lead and will work closely with delivery and policy leads, supporting on managing all aspects of finance planning and administration of the multi-phase delivery of this major programme.
The successful applicant for this role will have the opportunity to lead and support on all aspects of the Digital Planning programme and the Planning Directorate's financial planning: monitoring, forecasting, financial reporting (including supplementary estimates and quarterly DDAT returns) and proactively identifying potential under/overspends. They also play a critical role in supporting delivery of business planning and fiscal events such as Spending Review. The successful applicant for this role will have the opportunity to develop an understanding of programme-related areas within the team and wider aspects of programme delivery as well as financial management. Flexibility and a proactive approach in providing reporting, monitoring and business support is key.
Job description
You will be responsible for managing and controlling all aspects of finance planning and administration of the multi-phase delivery of this major programme, working jointly with the finance lead.
Key responsibilities:
• Leading on all aspects of budget management, including the monthly forecast process (financial and workforce), cash forecast returns, providing advice to team members, embedding good financial discipline through maintaining or signposting processes, and leading routine briefings with Directors and other leaders.
• The role will include providing some expertise and support on finance to the Planning directorate, enabling development of a wider awareness of the Planning Directorate’s work.
• Contribution to key fiscal events such as the Spending Review (SR) and business financial planning process.
• Engaging confidently and effectively with key programme and project senior stakeholders, including owning and managing the crucial relationship with key finance stakeholders.
• Identifying, implementing, and monitoring actions to address any weaknesses in the financial planning systems and financial monitoring processes through supportive and collaborative working.
• Helping to ensure there is robust governance around business-critical decisions.
• Overseeing the quality management of the programme data inputs provided to the central finance team and finance management of programme outcome and specialists based contracts. There will also be elements of supporting the wider Planning Directorates and Programme Management Office by:
- Implementing and maintaining appropriate systems to enable effective planning and scheduling.
- Assisting with commissions and reporting of the programme within specific timescales.
- Supporting with project workshops and events.
- Helping with new and innovative ways of working to the programme and directorate, getting the best outcomes in the most proportionate and effective ways.
- Guidance & support – seek appropriate support, guidance and coaching from the project community. Show commitment to personal development. Promote effective individual and team performance.
Person specification
The following skills are essential criteria for the role:
• Studying or keen to study towards a qualification in finance or accountancy (AAT Level 4 or Level 7 Accountancy qualifications)
• Good experience of financial planning and financial forecasting, budget management, budget control and monitoring.
• Ability to build strong working relationships quickly with a collaborative approach to achieving outcomes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong administrative skills with ability to organise, manage time well and prioritise own work effectively whilst delivering at a fast pace, across teams.
• Experience of working to tight deadlines and prioritising competing demands ensuring high attention to detail.
• Confidence to raise issues and concerns even in the face of delivery pressure.
• Strong familiarity with MS Office 365 software and effective in using wider IT and technology.
The following skills and experience are desirable but not essential for the role:
• Experience of using SAP would be helpful.
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%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
As part of our pre-employment checking process we will be using your CV to confirm your job history. Please note that by providing us with your CV you are consenting to us using the information enclosed as part of the checking process. Unless stated otherwise in the advert, your CV will not form part of the assessment but will be used for information purposes and only shared with the panel at interview stage.
Our application system is designed to remove as much bias as possible from the recruitment system – this means that a hiring manager does not know your name, your details, see your whole application in one go (or have your CV at review stage unless stated otherwise).
Your answers are randomised and chunked up. This means that each assessor views sets of responses to questions, for example all candidates’ responses to ‘Seeing the Big Picture’ rather than seeing a candidate’s full application. The science behind this is that recruitment can be subject to ordering and fatigue effects and we want to reduce this as much as possible.
Most of our campaigns utilise multiple assessors and so it is possible that each of your answers would be viewed by different assessors.
When writing your application, remember:
- The assessor won’t be reading your answers sequentially.
- Do not assume that the same assessors will have read all of your answers.
- If talking about something in your first answer, make sure that you write the second answer as if you had not written the first (and so on!)
At sift, we will be assessing
Experience (Lead Criteria): In no more than 250 words, please tell us about your experience of financial forecasting, budget management, budget control and monitoring.
Behaviour: Making Effective Decisions
Behaviour: Working Together
Behaviour: Communicating and Influencing
There is a 250 word limit per question.
In the event that we receive a large number of applications, we may conduct an initial sift using the lead behaviour listed in the advert. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
The interview will be of a blended nature consisting of the following success profiles elements:
Behaviours: Making Effective Decisions, Working Together, Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace
Experience: Yes
In the full campaign we will test the below Success Profile Elements:
Behaviours: Making Effective Decisions, Working Together, Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace
Experience: Yes
We do not consider direct CV applications to our Recruitment mailbox – you must apply for this role via the application link on Civil Service Jobs
Please note that near miss offers may be made at the lower grade to candidates who do not meet the grade criteria for this campaign.
SEO salary
- The salary for this role is £42,208 (London) or £38,732 (National).
- For existing civil servants, the usual policy on level transfer and promotion will apply and is non-negotiable. If you apply for a role that requires a transfer of location, for example if you are transferring from London to a National location, your salary will be adjusted in accordance with our policy on transfer between HQ pay ranges.
Please note that the average employer pension contribution is based upon the National minimum salary for this role. Should your agreed starting salary for this role be different, the average employer pension contribution will be calculated accordingly. If you are a Secondee, this will not apply as you will remain on your home organisation’s terms and conditions.
BENEFITS:
Transfers across the Civil Service on or after 4 October 2018:
Any move to MHCLG 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 at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
For further information about the benefits available to MHCLG employees, please see the attached Candidate Pack.
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION:
- Birmingham
- Wolverhampton
- Darlington*
There may be opportunities for candidates to work flexibly depending on the business needs. This will be discussed with the vacancy manager on a case-by-case basis if you are successful for the role.
*Please note: The Darlington Economic Campus (DEC) is a pioneering new cross-government hub which will bring together people across departments and public organisations to play an active role in the most important economic issues of the day. The work of the Campus will make a real difference to people both across the UK and internationally. There will be substantial career opportunities and exciting prospects - a career at the Campus means you will be working at the heart of Government, with access to the benefits and fantastic opportunities offered by the civil service.
For further information on the DEC, please take a look at the attached DEC candidate pack.
SIFT AND INTERVIEW DATES:
Sifting is envisaged to take place w/c 28th October 2024 with interview dates to be confirmed. All interviews are currently being held remotely via videocall.
Reserve List
In the event that we identify more appointable candidates than we currently have posts available, we will hold applicant details in a reserve list for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made. This may include roles at a lower grade. Candidates placed on a reserve list will be informed of this. Those candidates who do not wish to remain on the reserve list should contact recruitment@communities.gov.uk to be removed from the reserve list.
Candidate Pack Information
Please see attached Candidate pack for further information.
Before starting your application it’s very important to make sure that you are eligible to apply and meet the Civil Service nationality requirements. All candidates are expected to read the information provided in the MHCLG candidate pack regarding nationality requirements and rules
Internal Fraud Database
The Internal Fraud function of the Fraud, Error, Debt and Grants Function at the Cabinet Office processes details of civil servants who have been dismissed for committing internal fraud, or who would have been dismissed had they not resigned. The Cabinet Office receives the details from participating government organisations of civil servants who have been dismissed, or who would have been dismissed had they not resigned, for internal fraud. In instances such as this, civil servants are then banned for 5 years from further employment in the civil service. The Cabinet Office then processes this data and discloses a limited dataset back to MHCLG as a participating government organisations. MHCLG then carry out the pre employment checks so as to detect instances where known fraudsters are attempting to reapply for roles in the civil service. In this way, the policy is ensured and the repetition of internal fraud is prevented.
For more information please see - Internal Fraud Register
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
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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 : Temitope Idowu
- Email : Temitope.Idowu@communities.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : recruitment@communities.gov.uk
