Finance Director - Great British Energy, DESNZ
Department for Energy Security & Net Zero
Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 4th November 2024
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About the job
Job summary
About Great British Energy
Great British Energy will be a publicly owned, operationally independent energy company, designed to drive clean energy deployment, boost energy independence, create jobs and ensure UK taxpayers, billpayers and communities reap the benefits of clean, secure, homegrown energy. Setting up Great British Energy is one of government’s first steps for change and we will do this in a way that means it will have both an early impact and long-term success.
Great British Energy’s mission will be to responsibly accelerate the energy transition - enable and accelerate clean energy deployment, boost energy independence, create jobs and ensure UK taxpayers, billpayers and communities reap the benefits of clean, secure, home-grown energy. Through its five functions (Project development, Project investment and ownership, Local Power Plan, Supply chains and working with Great British Nuclear), Great British Energy will speed up the deployment of mature and new technologies, as well as local energy projects, to support the government’s aim of decarbonising our electricity system by 2030 whilst also ensuring we can meet future demand as we further decarbonise the economy.
To this end and as an example of what it can achieve, we have already agreed a major partnership between Great British Energy and The Crown Estate to accelerate deployment and support UK supply chains. Great British Energy will work collaboratively with industry, local authorities and communities, and other public sector organisations such as the National Wealth Fund, to spread skilled jobs and investment across the country. Great British Energy will be backed by a capitalisation of £8.3 billion of new money over this Parliament.
While we go through the process of setting Great British Energy as a publicly owned energy company, these roles will initially be part of the Civil Service, however, will then be transferred to Great British Energy, once the Great British Energy Bill becomes law and the company has the necessary procedures and systems in place to employ people directly so we encourage applications from a wide a diverse range of backgrounds.
In recognition of Scotland’s leading role in the UK’s clean energy revolution, Great British Energy will be headquartered and run from Aberdeen.
More details can be found in the Great British Energy founding statement
Job description
About the Role
The Finance Director will be a pivotal member of the Great British Energy leadership team. Responsible for leading the set up of the organisation’s finance function,implementation of Great British Energy’s funding models, investment, control environment and advancing Great British Energy’s programme of activity whilst maximising value for consumers and taxpayers.
This role will require close working with others in Great British Energy and its partners (such as The Crown Estate) to ensure value from activities is maximised and clear accountabilities are in place, as well as a close working relationships with the DESNZ policy, finance and sponsor teams.
Roles in what will become Great British Energy will initially be undertaken in shadow form within the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. They will then be transferred to Great British Energy when the Great British Energy Bill becomes law and the company has the necessary procedures and systems in place to employ people directly."
Key Responsibilities
As Great British Energy Finance Director your main responsibilities will include:
- Work with the Interim CEO and DESNZ Director of Finance and their team to establish and lead a high performing finance function.
- As part of the Great British Energy leadership team, shape the development of the company’s strategy, culture, values and operating model.
- Set direction for the financial clarity to Great British Energy’s programme of working, through developing funding models and assessment of financial risks and opportunities, to support sound decision making.
- Act as a key advisor to the Chair, Board, CEO, and the leadership team on Finance matters. Deliver expert opinion, impartial robust advice and support on all finance related issues in line with expectations of a publicly owned organisation. A close working relationship with Department of Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) will be essential.
- Build and embed the Finance Function operating model, including creating teams, building capability and developing structures and systems, to provide high quality financial services and support across all operations in conjunction with the DESNZ finance team.
- Setting the framework and monitor performance against financial targets in line with shareholder expectations and Great British Energy’s strategic objectives and business plan, including returns generated, efficiency, value for money and value for taxpayers, billpayers and communities,
- Build resilient financial controls and systems, including financial risk management, to support Great British Energy maintain a positive upward trajectory through manging the public funding environment.
- Lead and maintain effective oversight of provision of services by third-party suppliers relating to Financial services.
Person specification
Skills, experience and qualifications (Essential) -It is important through your CV and Statement of Suitability that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following:
Essential Criteria
- A proven track record of successful senior leadership of a Finance function in a highly capitalised, fast-paced and changing organisation, ideally within the energy sector or a related industry. The ability to contribute effectively as part of a senior executive leadership team that provides organisational leadership, direction and strategic focus.
- Provides excellent advice at pace to secure effective delivery and value for money, including where delivery is through corporate finance structures eg JV, equity, loan. Whilst a good understanding of corporate finance instruments (equity, loans etc) is essential, the investment function will be separate from the finance function, and you will collaborate with them.
- Creates a positive control environment, ensuring funds are used as intended by owners (shareholders / Government depending on your background), and that internal and external financial reporting meets high standards
- Experience in establishing and maintaining collaborative relationships and strategic partnerships with maturity, gravitas, and presence with high levels of emotional intelligence.
- Passionate about the Company and its policy objectives to deliver clean energy, drive economic growth, create UK jobs and supply chains and provide value for the UK taxpayer. Whilst demonstrating a passion for creating societal impact and value.
- Ability to lead and operate in a challenging environment with a high degree of public scrutiny, demonstrable experience in responding effectively to rapid change and re balancing priorities, to maximise value for money.
Qualifications
- A full financial qualification (CCAB, CIMA or equivalent)
We encourage applications from a diverse (including gender diverse) background. If you have any questions about your suitability or would like further information about the role. Please contact scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
Qualifications
Benefits
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 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 Scheme, with an 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.
Office attendance
The Department operates a discretionary hybrid working policy, which provides for a combination of working hours from your place of work and from your home in the UK. The current expectation for staff is to attend the office or non-home based location for 40-60% of the time over the accounting period. Senior Civil Servant (SCS) staff are expected to aim for closer to 60% of the time at an office or non-home based location over the accounting period.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
To apply for this post please follow the instructions on the CS Jobs website by no later than 23:55 on Monday 4th November 2024. As part of the application
process you are asked to complete the following:
- A CV setting out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role, relevant achievements in
recent posts, together with reasons for any gaps within the last two years. - A Statement of Suitability (no more than 1250 words) explaining 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. - Shortlisted candidates will be invited to undertake one the following assessments as part of this recruitment prior to a final interview panel:
- A staff engagement exercise: a structured exercise which involves shortlisted candidates facilitating a discussion with a selection of staff from the Department on a given topic.
- An Individual Leadership Assessment: a facilitated discussion designed to gauge an idea of your comparative strengths and weaknesses against the requirements of the role. You will be asked to provide specific examples of situations to best understand your style and approach. This will help the assessor put your assessments results into context in terms of your experience and achievements in and out of work.
These assessments will not result in a “pass” or “fail” decision. Rather, they are designed to support the panel’s decision making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview.
More information on assessments can be found by visiting https://scs-assessments.co.uk/
- Shortlisted candidates may have the opportunity to speak to the vacancy holder, Emma Floyd – Director, Great British Energy. Department for Energy Security & Net Zero. prior to the final interview. This is an informal discussion to allow candidates to learn more about the role, and is not part of the
assessment process.
4. Final Interview which will include a presentation exercise.
For further information on the application process and an overview on what to expect, please visit the Civil Service Careers website.
Overview of the Process
Government Recruitment Service will acknowledge your application and advise you of the outcome of the sift meeting. Depending on the number of applications
received there may be a second stage sift.
Applications will be sifted to select those demonstrating the best fit with the post against the criteria set out in the person specification. Please ensure you keep this
in mind when writing your CV and supporting statement.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.
Arrangements for interview
The final selection panel interviews will be held on or close to Monday 2nd December 2024.
If candidates are required to prepare a presentation for their interview, they will be given at least one week’s notice of the subject.
Expenses incurred by candidates during the recruitment process will not be reimbursed by the Department except in exceptional circumstances and only
when agreed in advance.
You will be interviewed against information in the person specification.
Indicative Timeline
Please note that these dates are only indicative at this stage and could be subject to change. You are therefore asked to note the below timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process, in order to meet the dates given. If you are unable to meet these timeframes, please let us know by contacting scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. Please ensure you quote the job title and reference number in your email.
Interviews will be held in person in Aberdeen. Candidates are asked to note the timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process. The confirmed timetable is as follows:
Advert Closing Date – 23:55 Monday 4th November 2024
Shortlist Meeting– Week Commencing 11th November 2024
Assessments – Week Commencing 18th November 2024
Interviews – Week Commencing 2nd December 2024
Further Information
Reasonable Adjustment
We are proud to be a disability confident leader and we welcome applications from disabled candidates and candidates with long-term conditions.
Information about the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) and some examples of adjustments that we offer to disabled candidates and candidates with long-term health conditions during our recruitment process can be found in our DESNZ Candidate Guidance. A DESNZ Plain Text Version of the guidance is also available.
We encourage candidates to discuss their adjustment needs by emailing the job contact which can be found under the contact point for applicants section.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.
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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
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : SCS Candidate
- Email : scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
