About the job

Job summary

A very warm welcome to you and thank you for considering applying for the new role of Director of Finance, Planning and Governance at the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC).  

We are only at the beginning of the most profound change to nature seen in our lifetimes.  Biodiversity is the variety of all life on Earth, including diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.  It is essential to humanity and it is in crisis around the world.  Caused by changes in land and sea use, overexploitation, climate change, pollution, and invasive species, species and habitats are declining at an unprecedented rate leading to damaged and dysfunctional ecosystem processes.  In turn, ecological collapse is having significant and inequitable impacts on people’s security, prosperity and wellbeing. 

There is an urgent need to understand the changes we are seeing and to use this knowledge to conserve and restore nature.  JNCC played a key scientific advisory role at the Convention on Biological Diversity Conference of Parties 15 (CBD COP15).  The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework is the ‘Paris moment for nature’, guiding our work not only to 2030 but for generations to come.  This gives us cause for hope about the future.  JNCC knows nature and we are committed to using that knowledge to become a good ancestor.

Together for Nature builds on our strong heritage of expertise, knowledge and networks with a new vision: Thriving nature for a sustainable future.  Our ambition to bend the curve on biodiversity loss is high.  Our integrated approach to nature conservation and restoration is through investing in our people and our partnerships. Our intent is to maximise the impact of our evidence and advice on complex ecological, social and economic systems to conserve and restore nature.  

We are looking for an inclusive leader with a forensic eye for financial detail to drive our fiscal strategy and ensure robust business planning and governance.  If organisational excellence inspires you, this may be the leadership role for you.  We would love to hear about the values, experience, skills and qualities you can bring to our mission and vision for nature.

Job description

• Leadership – lead JNCC’s finance function comprising a team of fifteen staff covering a full range professional and customer focused financial accounting, management accounting, procurement and commercial, and governance support and services to the organisation. Establish strong communications across the team and support and inspire staff to fulfil their potential as well as delivering highly effective services. Contribute to the ongoing development of the function, keeping an awareness of cross government financial management initiatives.

• Financial management and development – lead a programme of improvements to our financial processes, including making best use of our new integrated finance and HR ERP system to drive efficiency, quality and insight across the team and the wider organisation. Co-ordinate annual financial planning activity, bringing together financial and workforce requirements and controls. Oversee preparation, challenge and use of insightful information and advice to support effective financial control in year.

• Stakeholder Engagement – develop and maintain strong partnerships with budget holders (Directors and team leaders), senior decision makers (Board level) and external partners (main funding partners and auditors). Drive financial awareness across the business and provide accurate and credible advice on financial management and wider governance issues.  

• Advice and challenge – support your team of business partners to challenge colleagues on their spending plans and keep a focus on outcomes and business priorities. Give advice to support decision making, encouraging options analysis and appropriate governance.  Use your insight to add value.

• Personal development - you will actively seek personal growth and development through the role and will instil a culture of continuing professional development to support us becoming a learning organisation.

Person specification

It is important that, through your CV and Statement of Suitability, you provide evidence and examples of proven experience for each of the selection criteria listed.

Essential Criteria

• CCAB, CIMA or equivalent chartered accountant with strong technical finance skills, including knowledge of public sector financial management principles and processes as well International Financial Reporting Standards to oversee the preparation of accounts and other financial reports. 

• Strong leadership skills with demonstrable experience of developing high performing finance teams – building skills, confidence and aspirations of team members, simplifying and improving systems and processes and promoting excellence to meet customer expectations.

• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with a proven track record in working confidently across teams and Board level to develop effective and trusted working relationships. 

• This is a broad role for an ambitious finance professional. We welcome applicants with more experience in one aspect of the role than others as flexibility, enthusiasm and a strong motivation to learn and develop are also essential attributes for candidates. 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £59,712, Joint Nature Conservation Committee contributes £17,316 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

The application process

To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process no later than 23.55 on Sunday 14 July 2024.

You will be asked to submit the following:

1. Some basic, personal information.
2. A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
3. A Statement of Suitability, (max 2 pages, minimum font size 11) explaining how you consider your personal values, experience, skills and qualities provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria in the person specification.
   As part of the online application process, you will be asked a number of diversity-related questions. If you do not wish to provide a declaration on any of the particular characteristics, you have the option to select ‘prefer not to say’. The information you provide when submitting your application will help us monitor our progress towards becoming an inclusive employer and a great place to work. If you are unable to apply online or have any issues with the online application process, please contact: recruitment@jncc.gov.uk

Failure to submit both documents will mean the panel only has limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the Person Specification.

How we decide whom to invite for interview

The panel will assess your application to select those demonstrating the best fit with the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the essential criteria set out in the Person Specification section.  Failure to address any or all of these may affect your selection.

The panel will be chaired by David Collins, Director of Finance and Resources

Candidates applying under the Disability Confident Scheme who meet the minimum selection criteria in the job specification are guaranteed an interview. Please complete the relevant parts in the application system if applying under this scheme.

Assessment

If you are shortlisted, you will be asked to take part in the following additional assessment:

Staff Engagement Exercise (SEE) – an online presentation with a representative staff group from JNCC. 

Final Panel

You will be asked to attend a panel interview at Quay House in Peterborough for an in-depth discussion of your experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification and the Civil Service Success Profiles. An accessible version can be found here.  You may be asked to deliver a presentation at interview.  Full details will be provided to candidates selected to attend final interview.

Timetable

Please note that this timetable is indicative at this stage and could be subject to change. The anticipated timetable is as follows:

Closing Date: 23:55pm Sunday 14 July 2024

Shortlisting outcomes: End of July - early August

Staff Engagement Exercise: End of July - early August

Panel Interviews: End of July - early August

Interview arrangements will be confirmed to shortlisted candidates and are expected to be in person in Quay House, Peterborough. 

Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process as it may not be possible to offer any alternative dates for assessments or interviews.

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.