Assistant Finance Business Partner
Cabinet Office
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 29th September 2024
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About the job
Job summary
Job description
Cabinet Office Finance is responsible for all aspects of the Cabinet Office’s finances, including business and financial planning, performance reporting, in-year financial management, financial accounting, management of Parliamentary Supply, and production of the Cabinet Office’s annual accounts. Cabinet Office Finance is within Strategy, Finance and Performance Directorate, a multidisciplinary team that brings together finance, commercial and other corporate functions under the leadership of the Cabinet Office Chief Financial Officer.
Within Finance, the Business Partner teams lead engagement with business units across the department. We need to be resourceful, exercise good judgement and have quick reflexes to make sure that senior leaders have the right financial advice at the right time to deliver important and urgent parts of the Government’s agenda. The variety and breadth of the issues we deal with makes these fascinating and fast-paced roles.
We are looking for individuals who are enthusiastic, self-starters who will thrive in a fast-paced and dynamic work environment. The role will provide lots of opportunity for both personal and professional development in an innovative organisation at the heart of Government.
This role is central to the relationship between an individual business area and the finance function. You will use your strong technical and influencing skills and sound understanding of the business unit to provide advice, challenge and scrutiny to senior colleagues. You will ensure that budgets are well constructed, managed and monitored and support senior managers in the production of business cases and plans to deliver improved performance, reduced risk and better value for money.
Your technical knowledge and ability to work constructively with senior teams will make you a valued contributor to the decision-making process and a champion for change within your business, its external relationships and in wider government projects. This post holder will need to establish and develop effective working relationships with a number of stakeholders, including the Directors, Deputy Directors, Internal and External Audit.
The role cover the following responsibilities:
Developing a deep knowledge of diverse business areas, their needs and priorities and providing support and advice on financial matters.
- Providing analysis to support decision making and using benchmarking to highlight opportunities and add value.
- Assessing accounting implications and providing accounting advice in accordance with international financial reporting standards and central government accounting rules.
- Building financial and commercial awareness of non-finance staff within the business, for example working with business units to ensure correct financial processes are understood and followed.
- Overseeing the month end reporting process to ensure accurate submission of journals and other adjustments to maintain accuracy of the general ledger and reporting of the monthly forecast.
- Producing ad hoc analysis to support business units through fiscal events and annual business planning rounds.
- Working with business units to ensure evidence is available to support the National Audit Office’s interim and full year audits
- Acting as a key liaison point between Finance and the business, building in depth understanding of different business areas and performance & delivery priorities.
The post holder may be required to undertake additional responsibilities as expected in relation to the role and grade.
Person specification
Essential Criteria:
- A high level of competence in budget management, planning, forecasting and risk identification combined with excellent problem solving skills.
- Well-developed communication, presentation and relationship management skills including an ability to engage effectively with multidisciplinary teams.
- Credibility with senior colleagues and stakeholders and the ability to influence decision-making.
- Excellent technical accounting skills across a wide range of financial disciplines and a proven ability to apply them effectively.
Desirable Criteria
- Strong Excel and data analysis skills combined with a clear understanding of how this should be applied for the benefit of the organisation.
- Some knowledge of how government finance works.
Additional information:
A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.
Qualifications
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Changing and Improving
- Working Together
- Managing a Quality Service
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- At the interview, you will be asked technical questions to assess your accounting knowledge.
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role.
- An environment with flexible working options.
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
- A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and average employer contributions of 28.5%.
- A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and Statement of Suitability. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Please use your statement of suitability (500 words max.) to explain how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria in the person specification section of the job advert.
Your CV and Statement of Suitability will be assessed against the essential criteria listed in the 'Person Specification' section of the job advert.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview. Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered.
All candidates who are successful at the sift stage will progress to interview and will be assessed against a mixture of behaviour, experience, strength, technical based questions.
Expected timeline (subject to change)
Expected sift date – To be confirmed.
Expected interview date/s – To be confirmed.
Interview location - Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.
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 menurecruitment.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.
Further information
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'contact point for applicants' section.
Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) is the required minimum security clearance outside of the London location
Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) is the required minimum security clearance for the London location.
CTC clearance would normally need 3 years’ UK residency in the past 3 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.
Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting
Any move to Cabinet Office 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
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
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 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
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 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.
This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.
Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
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 : Joanne Royce
- Email : joanne.royce@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : menurecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at info@csc.gov.uk. For further information on the Recruitment Principles. and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk.
