About the job

Job summary

The Cabinet Office is looking for an experienced Finance and Resourcing Lead to join a team of programme, functional and technical specialists working together to deliver MyCO - a new HR, finance and procurement system and service for the Cabinet Office.

The MyCO Programme is the Cabinet Office department workstream of Matrix, a major overarching transformation programme for nine government departments working together to deliver simpler, user focused systems, processes and ways of working for HR, finance and procurement.

Matrix will deliver the Government’s three main objectives for shared services:

• Better experience for all  users - intuitive systems that are easy to use and mobile-enabled
• Efficiency and value for money - better systems and services which support productivity and seek to reduce costs
• Standardised processes and data

The MyCO team is friendly and open, we work collaboratively and inclusively across the team, playing to strengths and supporting colleagues. We have a culture where everyone can thrive and we embrace diversity in all forms.

Job description

The Finance and Resourcing Lead role reports directly to the MyCO G6 Programme Manager and is:

• Responsible for a diverse range of core activities that are critical to the successful delivery of the MyCO programme objectives and requires significant finance, commercial, resourcing and benefits management to ensure the Cabinet Office is able to implement a new shared services model into the department, and track the attributable departmental benefits of the transformation programme. 
• Central to the relationship between the MyCO Programme team, the cross-government Matrix programme and the wider Cabinet Office business units. They will lead all aspects of both strategic and operational programme finance and resource management and programmatic assurance activity and will require a combination of specialist knowledge, strategic issue and risk identification and management experience and professional qualifications.  Specifically, project management skills, a strong level of finance expertise, and leadership qualities. 

Key Responsibilities:

The role involves, but is not limited to:

• Providing financial expertise (management and assurance) to the Programme Director which includes leading on financial management of a business critical service provider (Gold Contract) with a budget of in excess of £7m. This includes; providing sound recommendations for decision making on spend; and improving financial reconciliation to ensure value for money in line with contractual provisions. 
• Management and assurance of the overall MyCO Programme budget (£18.5m for FY24/25) in line with the departmental and Matrix Cluster expectations and ensuring sufficient recharge is brought into the department through the Supplementary Estimates process in order to offset Cabinet Office costs. 
• Leading on Business Planning, budgeting, forecasting and financial reporting for the MyCO Programme including; mitigating critical risks and issues; managing the month end processes; internal reporting with the Central Finance team, Matrix Finance and Senior Management team in the Cabinet Office.
• Accountability for identifying and mitigating programme financial risks and issues. Develop mitigating actions and escalate as appropriate to the Programme Manager and Director. Identify and work with related projects to manage financial/ budgetary interdependencies.
• Workforce Planning/ Resource Management - identifying solutions to complex resourcing requirements. Oversee the planning, development and implementation of resource and capability strategies across a major programme and portfolio of smaller projects. Including direct management and contractual oversight of two client side support contracts (with an overall value of £11m ex VAT) and the use of appropriate resourcing mechanisms to support multiple project pipeline resource planning.
• Identifying and managing stakeholder relationships across the department and OGD’s within the Matrix Cluster, and highlighting the need for senior level support where required. Managing internal and external relationships as appropriate.
• Developing MyCO Programme team business cases and gain Cabinet Office Assurance Board approvals with project leads and SMEs. Present business case rationale to senior managers and project governance forums, working with key stakeholders to anticipate and mitigate issues and delays. 
• Managing and engaging with key stakeholders to support the production of business cases and ensure linkage with benefits realisation. Being prepared to challenge expert input, and also being responsible for ensuring the business complies with organisational and Treasury requirements.
• Following business case approvals, lead any necessary procurement processes and activities required, ensuring VFM and continued/ additional specialist resources are obtainable in good time to keep pace with MyCO/ Matrix Programme plans.
• Ensuring appropriate Benefits Realisation Strategy is in place, and monitor longer term delivery of benefits against the Business Case.
• Contract management of specialist support contracts, being the first port of contact, managing supplier performance and holding them to account whilst ensuring best value from those contracts for MyCO and Cabinet Office.
• Leading all assurance reporting for the programme, including regular Performance and Risk Committee updates, the Quarterly Performance Report for Cabinet Office Portfolio Office, Data Privacy (GDPR) Quarterly returns and carrying out the six-monthly refresh of the MyCO Integrated Assurance and Approvals Plan & Risk Potential Assessment.
• Regularly review project and programme Plans, identifying potential risks, issues and future workforce needs and reporting those findings to MyCO Senior Management Team, Delivery Board and SRO (Senior Responsible Owner).

Person specification

The successful candidate must demonstrate the following key skills:

Essential criteria:

• Be able to lead the development of business cases, incorporate input from subject matter experts (SMEs), project leads where required (being able to challenge these inputs where necessary) and ensure alignment with senior stakeholders expectations and gain senior level agreement through Programme Board / Management Board / HM Treasury.
• Strong project planning, tracking, reporting, governance, assurance and problem solving skills coupled with a deep knowledge and understanding of finance and fiscal events.
• Extensive experience of financial control and budget management of large budgets/portfolios with strong experience in communicating financial information to non-financial audiences.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, backed up with the ability to create Management Board level slides to carry out presentations of complex information into a succinct summary and present them confidently to a wide audience; able to create and manipulate complex spreadsheets and data sets.
• Strong commercial awareness and the ability to project manage procurement processes. Experience of commercial procurement frameworks, process, policies and evaluations (including Financial Health Assessments, due diligence procedures).
• Intermediate or advanced data analysis skills from a financial, economic or business management perspective combined with a clear understanding of how this should be best applied for the benefit of the project or organisation. 
• It is essential the candidate possess CCAB, CIMA or equivalent qualifications and proof will be required at interview.

• Desirable criteria:

• Possess a ‘blend’ of delivery which spans across two main functions (Finance and Project Delivery)
• Be, or be willing to work towards APM Registered Project Professional, Project Leadership Programme, Managing Successful Programmes Practitioner or equivalent qualifications 

Additional information:

A minimum of 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £53,400, Cabinet Office contributes £14,418 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.

To apply for this post, you will need to submit your application to us via the CS Jobs portal. 

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete:

• A CV (no more than 3-pages) setting out your career history, with key responsibilities, professional qualifications and achievements. Please provide reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
• A Personal Statement (no longer than 750 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the criteria provided in the person specification.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken on your Personal Statement only. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Selection process

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

Expected timeline (subject to change)
Expected sift date – w/c 22 July 2024
Expected interview date/s – w/c 29 July 2024 
Interview location - virtual (Google Meet)

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. 

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: 

Contact Government Recruitment Service via cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. 

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ 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.

Further information
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'contact point for applicants' section.

Please note that this role requires SC clearance, which would normally need 5 years’ UK residency in the past 5 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

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

Any move to Cabinet Office 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

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.

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 /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

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

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.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). 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.