About the job

Job summary

Do you want a career where you can make a real difference? Do you want to work in a government department that is at the forefront of current policy making decisions that will impact the UK and beyond? If yes then a career at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) could be for you.  

Here at DESNZ we are securing the UK’s long term energy supply, bringing down energy bills and halving inflation. We are seizing the opportunities of Net Zero to lead the world in new green industries and encouraging greater energy efficiency across the UK. The work of the department has never been more timely or relevant, and by joining us you will be part of making that difference.  
 
Our work is varied, interesting and most importantly it's impactful. Our Values are interwoven into everything we do; we are Bold, we are Collaborative, we are Inclusive and we Learn. As a department we are committed to these values to build a culture where everyone can thrive.   

We offer great work benefits including a world-class pension, flexible working options and a career where your learning and development is taken seriously. We are fortunate to have a range of excellent staff networks and are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We will support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive. 

Find Out More 

We regularly run events where you can find out more about the department and tips for the application process. You can sign up for upcoming events here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/departmentforenergysecurityandnetzero?  

You can also follow our LinkedIn Careers Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/desnz-careers/  

Job description

Have you got experience in finance business partnering or financial management? If so, join us at The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). This is a brilliant opportunity to be involved in supporting the Department’s top priorities.

The Finance Business Partner (FBP) team is a core part of the Department, providing a seamless end-to-end service to customers to support the Department's ambitious agenda. They ensure that colleagues in the wider Department have the knowledge and support they need to manage spend effectively, ultimately supporting the wider Department to meet its objectives. FBPs build relationships and work in partnership with business managers, policy and delivery colleagues and other key stakeholders in corporate services (including legal, financial, and commercial specialists). We are therefore keen to hear from applicants who enjoy working with people across different areas, including working with senior stakeholders.

You will be responsible for delivering an efficient and effective service to budget holders. You will be a proactive, results-driven, collaborative team player, with strong attention to detail and the ability and communication skills to build good working relationships at all levels. You will provide first-line financial advice, as well as in-year financial reporting, forecasting and analysis to policy and delivery teams. You might have your own portfolio of Directorates or support colleagues across a range of business areas. You will need to be a self-starter, confident in undertaking analysis and using financial systems and will champion financial awareness and effective financial management across business areas.

New joiners often remark on the high priority we place on diversity and inclusion, well-being, and the positive culture we have created together. We are keen to welcome people to the team who will contribute actively to this culture and look for further learning and development opportunities.

Person specification

• Developing an understanding of the business areas, its stakeholders, and deliverables across the Energy Groups, building and maintaining professional relationships with budget holders and their teams;
• Working with budget holders to drive robust and accurate monthly forecasting;
• Ensuring a smooth monthly reporting process including producing timely and accurate data for Group and Departmental reporting with awareness of emerging risks and opportunities;
• Using finance systems and data visualisation tools (such as PowerBI) to produce and communicate management information to stakeholders, to enable them to make informed decisions to effectively manage their budgets;
• Maintenance of general ledger through the purchase-to-pay process, accounting adjustments and month-end journals, as well as ensuring the chart of accounts and finance systems are kept up to date;
• Collating and recording accurate information and evidence to support interim and year-end financial accounts preparation and audits;
• Producing ad hoc analysis on areas such as cost drivers and efficiencies that goes beyond the surface level and produces useful insights to help drive business decisions;
• Providing relevant coaching and up-skilling to budget holders, business managers and policy teams to increase financial awareness and capacity outside the Finance Directorate.
• Developing and applying accounting and public finance knowledge to support policy development, including assisting in the development of business cases and providing advice on compliance and governance.

Skills and experience:

The successful candidate must demonstrate the following characteristics:

Essential:

• Experience directly relevant to finance business partnering, including financial transactions and financial management (particularly the monthly budgeting / forecasting / reporting cycle);
• Good written and verbal communication skills, including experience of communicating financial performance and management information to non-financial audiences;
• Good knowledge of MS Excel.
• Impeccable professional and ethical standards;
• Experience of building trusting, collaborative, inclusive relationships with various stakeholders and influencing them;
• A self-starter attitude, proactively identifying and resolving issues;
• Evidence of delivering at pace under challenging circumstances.

Desirable:

• CCAB/CIMA-qualified or part-qualified;
• Experience of accounting and financial systems such as Oracle;
• Basic knowledge of MS PowerBI.

If eligible, as part of this role, you will have the opportunity to undertake a Finance apprenticeship dependent on existing qualifications and experience

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,470, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero contributes £10,116 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

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

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Please use your personal statement (in no more than 500 words) to outline why are you interested in the role and what directly relevant skills and experience would you bring?

Applications will be sifted on CV and Personal Statement.

In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the personal statement. 

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

The interview will consist of behaviour questions.

Interviewees will be asked to deliver a presentation; further details will be provided nearer the time. 

Sift and interview dates

Expected Timeline subject to change

Sift dates: w/c 15th April 2024

Interview dates: w/c 29th April 2024

Interview Location: MS Teams.

Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.

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.

We fully support adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we encourage candidates to discuss their adjustment needs by emailing the job contact which can be found under the contact point for applicants section.

We do not have an exhaustive list of adjustments that we support but just some examples include additional time to complete your application form, behaviour questions up to 72 hours prior to interview and having extra time at interview. 

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 may be carried out.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

A location based reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

Any move to the Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero  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

DESNZ does not normally offer full home working (i.e. working at home); but we do offer a variety of flexible working options (including occasionally working from home). 

DESNZ cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign.

DESNZ holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.

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 

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

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.