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 DESNZ 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 working benefits including a world-class pension, flexible working options and a career where your learning and development is taken seriously. We are enormously proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We support candidates with adjustments throughout our recruitment process. Information about disability confidence and just some examples of the adjustments that you can request can be found in the reasonable adjustment section below.

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service D&I Strategy.

Find Out More

We regularly run events where you can find out more about the department and tips for the application and interview process. You can sign up for upcoming events here: https://buytickets.at/departmentforenergysecurityandnetzero/1025475

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

Job description

The Government's energy and net zero policy remain highly prominent, with a heightened emphasis on ensuring the UK's energy security and advancing the nation towards its net zero goals.

This role sits within the Major Infrastructure and Nuclear Finance Finance Business Partner team. As a trusted financial adviser, you will bridge the gap between policy teams and central finance, supporting essential Government initiatives focused on energy and achieving net zero targets. The focus of the majority of your work will be in supporting the delivery of Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) and Hydrogen portfolios, specifically the complexities relating to the Transport and Storage strategies, and so a sound understanding of Government budgeting and accounting policies, as well as statistical sector classifications will be essential.  You will also be responsible for elements of the International portfolio, including providing FBP support to major international collaborations including Conference of the Parties (COP), the main decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

You will collaborate closely with policy and delivery colleagues, alongside specialists such as analysts, legal and commercial experts. You will regularly engage with external stakeholders, including Partner Organisations and other government departments including HM Treasury. As an FBP, your role is to ensure that all colleagues across the Department are equipped with the necessary knowledge and support to effectively manage expenditure, thereby contributing to the achievement of the Department's broader objectives.

This role provides a unique opportunity to engage with the entirety of our operations. We offer a dynamic, fulfilling career path that promises diversity and excitement. Moreover, we are committed to supporting your professional growth through comprehensive training and development opportunities.

Person specification

• Offer tailored support to individual programmes on financial matters, including appropriate budgeting treatment, accounting issues and Accounting Officer considerations.
• Provide guidance to policy colleagues during the development of documents and when seeking financial clearance, including ministerial submissions and business cases.
• Provide expert advice and challenge to your directorates helping them to stay within their delegated budgets whilst maximising the value they deliver.
• Assist the business in developing realistic forecasts that consider financial risks and opportunities.
• Deliver financial reports to senior management furnishing them with the tools to make good decisions.
• Share insights within the policy or Corporate Services teams and with the Senior FBPs to optimise business planning outcome for the Department as a whole, including challenging assumptions where necessary.
• Collaborate to enhance financial capability and understanding across business areas.
• Whilst having no formal line management responsibilities, you will have matrix management responsibilities of 1-2 Assistant Finance Business Partners.

Skills and Experience 

• Experience of central government finance policies and protocols (for example Managing Public Money, and Consolidated Budgeting Guidance) and an understanding of, or ability to rapidly learn, how to apply these principles to novel situations and scenarios.
• A strong grasp of accounting principles, as applied to Central Government, including a willingness to digest and consider wider accounting standards and manuals.
• Demonstrated capability to cultivate trusting relationships with stakeholders and effectively influence them with impact and professional credibility.
• Experience of communicating financial performance and management information for decision makers and advising on associated opportunities and risks.
• Experience of successfully applying accounting principles and explaining them with clarity to non-financial audiences.
• Evidence of being solution-focused with the ability to work as part of a team and motivate and inspire others to achieve a common goal.
• Ability to bring concepts and details together and have the confidence to decide when to delve into the specifics and when to focus on the broader perspective.
• Impeccable professional and ethical standards.

CCAB (or equivalent) qualified accountant status is desirable but not essential for this role. Non-qualified candidates with the relevant skills and experience will be considered for the role and will be supported.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £52,985, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero contributes £14,305 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, Strengths 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 briefly summarise why you are interested in this role, and your suitability with reference to the role specification.

Please note - the CV incorporated into the application form is for information purposes only and will not be scored.

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 and strength based 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 05/08/2024

Interview dates: 12/08/2024

Interview Location: MS Teams.

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

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.

Further Information

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.