About the job

Job summary

We provide the financial management and partnering service for the Department for Work and Pensions, with a relentless focus on maximising efficiency of the Department’s delivery. 

FM&P is a respected and collaborative professional team which commands credibility at all levels and promotes a culture of value for money across the organisation. We ensure the Department adheres to the principles of Managing Public Money and the Accounting Officer’s position is considered in all relevant decisions. 

We provide financial advice and insight to inform decision making ensuring budget holders make the best use of resources​. We are the first point of contact in Finance Group for Director Generals (DGs) and their teams, providing a joined-up finance view​.

The Directorate consists of eight teams, seven of which are Finance Business Partnering teams with the eighth being our Resource Modelling and Analysis Division (RMAD). Each of the Business partnering teams are aligned to a group and DG. RMAD leads on demand modelling and Department Expenditure Limits analysis.

We are looking for an experienced, qualified finance professional to join our small team providing financial support to DWP’s Service Delivery Commercial function covering a portfolio of £1.3bn. The portfolio includes a wide variety of contracts in a number of areas including contact centres/ banking/travel/logistics/document management. It is a fast-moving/interesting role, you will be at the heart of decision making for some of DWP’s critical contracts.

Job description

The successful candidate will provide advice and insight on the financial implications of commercial contracts and commercial strategy decisions. Responsibilities will involve providing support throughout the commercial lifecycle, including procurement stages, design of pricing mechanism, evaluation of tenders, assessment of supplier viability and in-life management.

Working closely with Commercial and Business area experts you will be responsible for providing a wide range of analysis and activities to enable the department to achieve value for money on Service Delivery contracts. Activities will include (but not limited to):

• Providing finance support to complex procurements including developing payment mechanisms, drafting tender documents, financial evaluation, procurement dialogue and commercial negotiation.
• Providing Should Cost analysis and contributing to Delivery Model Assessment to determine the most appropriate delivery method for the service.
• Providing analysis of financial statements and opinion on the relative strength and ongoing financial viability of suppliers.
• Leading reviews and analysing open book data on a regular and ad-hoc basis to ensure the department is gaining the maximum economic value from existing contracts.
• Leading and developing a small team of finance professionals, contributing to joint team and corporate objectives.
• Keeping DWP safe by ensuring that commercial activity adheres to published guidance including Managing Public Money and the Sourcing Playbook.  
• Providing advice and insight to support data driven decision making and working collaboratively with other functional experts at all levels to deliver shared objectives.  
• Acting as a financial leader and adviser, demonstrating professional and personal credibility and generating confidence in senior stakeholders.

Important Information

You must hold a full chartered level professional qualification awarded by a UK-recognised accountancy body: CIMA, ICAEW, ACCA, CIPFA, ICAS and Chartered Accountants Ireland. In addition we accept applications from candidates with a chartered level international qualification where a reciprocal agreement exists with the ICAEW or where the criteria of the ICAEW Pathways programme are met. More information on ICAEW membership agreements can be found here Members of other bodies a z , ICAEW. Your membership of one of these institutes must be up to date and active.

Please note that membership of AAT or other technician level qualifications does not satisfy the qualification criteria. If you are unsure whether you meet the qualification criteria you should confirm with our recruitment team before proceeding with your application. If you are invited to interview, you will be asked to provide evidence of both your qualification status and live membership.

Places for Growth and Social Mobility

As part of the Places for Growth Programme, we are committed to delivering a more geographically diverse Civil and Public Service that will better serve the public and ministers. As part of this initiative, we are continuously reviewing how we recruit into each location.

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.

Some travel may be required.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• [Lead criteria] Experience of the critical review, challenge and evaluation of commercial proposals to deliver value for money.
• Experience of financial modelling including risk allocation, should cost modelling, and design of pricing models, preferably following guidance in the Cabinet Office’s Sourcing Playbook.
• The ability to analyse complex data and to communicate outcomes and financial concepts to a non-financial audience.
• Experience of leading within a team of subject matter experts and of bringing together expertise from multiple disciplines to drive desired outcomes for the organisation.
• Experience of ensuring adherence to financial policy such as Managing Public Money, including influencing stakeholders at all levels, demonstrating integrity and credibility.  

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%.

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. 

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.

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.

Sift:

The written sift will be conducted using evidence from your 1250-word Personal Statement and will be assessed against the Essential Criteria within the advert.

In the event of a large number of applications we may use the Lead Criteria, 'Experience of the critical review and challenge of commercial or financial proposals to deliver improved value for money', to initially assess your application during the Sift stage. Candidates who pass the initial Sift may be progressed to a full Sift.

Interview:

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview. This will be a video interview held via MS Teams. The interview panel will be a minimum of two people.

The interview will assess Behaviours and Experience. The interview aims to be more of a conversation exploring the candidate’s capability for the role. The interview will include a 5-minute presentation which will be assessed against the Essential Criteria listed in the advert , followed by 5 minutes of questions. You will also be asked an experience question, which will also be assessed against the Essential Criteria.

Candidates may be asked further probing questions to determine suitability for the role.

The subject of the presentation will be given to candidates shortly after interviews are arranged. 

Timeline

Please note that the dates for sift, interviews, and results are only indicative at this stage and could be subject to change.

Closing date : 24th April 2024.
Sift : 25th April 2024 - 6th May 2024.
Interviews : Week commencing 27th May 2024.
Results Notified : June 2024.

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

Selection and Feedback

We will notify all candidates as soon as possible. Feedback will only be provided following an interview.

Further Information

Find out more about Working for DWP

A reserve list will be held for up to 6 months, which we may also use to fill future similar vacancies.

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 Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk 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 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.

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 DWPRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk 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 you’re 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.