Planning, Fiscal Events & Reporting Strategic Finance Advisor

Job description

This role will sit in the Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) Spending Team who lead the Departments medium-term financial strategy. This includes setting and executing the strategy for Summer and Winter Planning Rounds and supporting fiscal events, as well as leading preparations and developing a spending review strategy for the Department to maximise funding for DWP objectives. The role balances financial and analytical capabilities, alongside strategic thinking and project management.

The team are responsible for building strong relationships and leading key processes and products across the Department. We aim to communicate requirements and expectations clearly and provide valuable advice, challenge and support, and strategic insight to deliver quality outputs to time, often with tight deadlines for delivery.

This is a generalist role and therefore we are not looking for someone with a professional accounting qualification however we are looking for individuals who are comfortable working with numbers. The Department has opportunities for those that would like to pursue a financial qualification.

All PFER staff members are also expected to support the work of the Division in ways which reflect emerging priorities and therefore flexibility across the Division is incredibly important.

The successful candidate will be able to:

• Own the financial allocations figures and audit trails to support with reconciliation and analysis and provide challenge on the Departments future years financial position.
• Lead the processes and products to support Financial Planning, Fiscal Events and build and maintain the single point of contact relationship with their counterparts in HMT.
• Lead the delivery of set pieces, commissioning work, leading the collation of responses/outputs and resolving issues presented.
• Understand the big picture of the delivery for their team and commission and collate with confidence, often asking senior stakeholders (including the Executive Team or someone on their behalf) in the Department to complete delivery, sometimes on short deadlines.
• Work independently, proactively, passionately and confidently on high-profile areas across the Department and lead others to achieve quality and on time delivery of outputs;
• Be comfortable and confident in working at pace to manage a full workload with conflicting short and long-term priorities.
• Build positive relationships with partners in other teams, and influencing others through excellent interpersonal and communication skills, tailored to the recipient. This includes the ability to critically consider and confidently challenge stakeholders regarding their delivery or information and translating across functions to obtain a joined-up approach.
• Influence policy development and decisions, using analytical skills and different evidence sources to provide ministers or senior officials with high-quality advice through written and oral briefings to Ministers and/or senior officials.
• Lead collaboratively with structure, by constructing clear timelines and processes, with interdependencies and owners, to lead others to successful delivery with clear products and outcomes for the process.
• Foster and lead a culture of knowledge sharing and collaboration between policy, programmes, the business, finance and other corporate services.

Postings

Posting will be made in merit order by location, this will be based on the geographical requirement at the time. A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made. Reserve list candidates will be posted in merit order by location. Successful candidates will be posted to a specific role and will have the opportunity to express a preference as part of the selection process, although final decisions may come down to business need, and the skills and development needs of candidates. Standard promotion rules will apply, and successful candidates will be placed on the pay scale and terms and conditions of DWP. The roles available will be based in:

• Birmingham 3 Arena Central, B1 2AX.
• Blackpool Peel Park, Brunel Way, FY4 5ES.
• Leeds Quarry House, Quarry Hill, West Yorkshire, LS2 7UA.
• Manchester 2StPeter'sSquare, M2 3AA.
• Newcastle Benton Park View, NE98 1YX.
• Sheffield Hartshead Square, South Yorkshire, S1 2FD.
• London Caxton House, 6-12 Tothill Street, London, SW1H 9NA.
• Cardiff - Treforest, T ŷ Taf, The Willowford, Treforest Industrial Estate, Pontypridd, CF37 5YN.

For jobs located in Wales the ability to speak Welsh is desirable.

Person specification

Candidates applying for this role must be able to demonstrate the following Essential Criteria:

• Highly numerical with previous experience in a finance/accounting related role (Lead Criteria)
• Strong strategic thinking skills, particularly in a financial and budget setting environment
• A strong track record of delivering challenging projects at pace
• Excellent inter-personal, communication, relationship building and influencing skills

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

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 average employer contribution of 27%

Hybrid Working

This job role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in their DWP office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and your office will be your contractual place of work. The number of days that anyone will be able to work at home will be determined primarily by business need, but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account. If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working, including whether a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for you, will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.

Location

Applicants should apply for suitable posts where they can travel to and from their home office location daily within a reasonable time.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas. Relocation costs will not be reimbursed.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Well assess both what candidates are good at and what they enjoy to help us measure candidates behaviours, strengths and their potential. The assessment process comprises of a written application, and for shortlisted candidates a short assessment in the form of a presentation at interview.

Sift

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a Personal Statement.

A strong applicant will be able to demonstrate clearly in their Personal Statement, within the 1,000 word count, how their skills and experience meet the Essential Criteria that is outlined in the Person Specification in the advert.

We are interested in hearing about your experience, what you have achieved and how, and the impact that you have had in your career. Behaviours and Strengths will be tested at the interview stage.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead Essential Criteria. "Highly numerical with previous experience in a finance/accounting related role".

Candidates who pass this will progress to a full sift on the remaining Essential Criteria.

Blended Interview

The interview will take place via MS Teams, lasting around an hour.

Successful candidates to interview will be required to deliver a 5 minute presentation followed by 5 minutes of questions to assess your experience. Details of the presentation will be provided to candidates invited to interview.

You will need to produce evidence of ID at the interview.

You will be asked a mixture of Behaviour and Strength questions.

The interview aims to be more of a conversation exploring the candidate's capability for the role.

The Behaviour based questioning explores what the candidate can and has done, but also their potential.

An example of a Behavioural question would be.

Tell me about a time when youve had to deal with a difficult customer. It may help to use one or more examples of a piece of work you have completed or a situation you have been in, and use the WHO or STAR model to explain:

WHO

• What the task/work was,
• How you approached the task/work/situation and
• what the Outcomes were, what did you achieve?

Or

STAR

• What was the Situation?
• What were the Tasks?
• What Action did you take?
• What were the Results of your actions?

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Further Information

Find out more about Working for DWP

Any move to DWP 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 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 [email protected] stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

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 applicants 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.

Before applying for this vacancy, current employees of DWP should check whether a successful application would result in changes to their terms & conditions of employment, e.g. mobility, pay, allowances. Civil Servants that would transfer into DWP from other government organisations, following successful application, will assume DWP's terms & conditions of employment current on the day they are posted, unless DWP has stated otherwise in writing.

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. Applications will be screened and if evidence of plagiarism or copying examples/answers from other sources is found, your application will be withdrawn. Internal DWP candidates may also face disciplinary action.

Reasonable Adjustment

At DWP we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.

We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:Contact Government Recruitment Service via [email protected] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the Reasonable Adjustments 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 youre 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.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

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) .

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.