About the job

Job summary

In DHSC, we are proud of our purpose – to enable everyone to live more independent, healthier lives for longer. To achieve this, and create a great place to work, we have four values: we are inclusive, we constantly improve, we challenge, and we are agile. If this sounds like an environment you’d like to work in, we’d love to hear from you.

DHSC leads the health and care system, working collaboratively with a range of arms-length bodies (ALBs), such as NHS England. The Department’s total group budget (including NHS England) is approximately £180 billion this year.

The Finance Directorate is a dynamic function that works across a full range of stakeholders in a range of different functions across the group. We are agile providing customer-focused partnering support across a range of complex policy and strategy areas, including system recovery from Covid-19, delivery of NHS services and wider delivery objectives of our ALBs. We work to ensure value for money to the taxpayer, effective financial stewardship, and accountability to Parliament – ensuring finance is at the heart of decision making. We add value to strategic decision-making by applying a financial lens and effective financial support to DHSC policy teams.

You will be joining an inclusive and supportive team comprising a mix of finance and qualified and non-qualified professionals. We are committed to providing an environment for all to thrive. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds. The team has offices in Leeds and London and operates a hybrid working policy.

Job description

The role is based in the Finance Business Partnering and Transformation Directorate within the Finance Directorate and represents an exciting opportunity to take ownership of a wide-ranging finance business partnering portfolio. Finance Business Partnering teams in the Department comprise a mix of finance and policy professionals. This role will cover an interesting and varied portfolio, supporting the Government’s priorities for health and care. The post holder will lead and support the Directorates within Global and Public Health which cover a wide variety of topics, including the emergency response capability for any threat, international and EU issues, supply shortages. Global and Public Health also covers a range of public health issues, including smoking, obesity and addictions. The role has a broad remit and the post holder will have opportunities to demonstrate and develop a mix of financial partnering and strategy skills in a supportive team environment. The post holder will build strong and credible relationships with business areas in their portfolio, putting customers and outcomes at the heart of everything they do. They will be able to influence and negotiate across all levels, internally and externally and have strong communication and facilitation skills. They will be able to translate and present complex financial information clearly. They will become the ‘business expert’ and trusted advisor by building an in depth understanding of their portfolio business area, its strategic goals and delivery mechanisms. They will be able to work in an agile way, comfortable managing a diverse portfolio with a range of stakeholders. They will be able to translate between business and financial agendas, including facilitating and challenging long-term planning, budgeting, and forecasting and scrutiny of financial information and reports. The role provides an excellent opportunity to function with a large degree of independence and autonomy within a supportive team. The team is made up of a mix of both qualified accountants and those that do not have a finance qualification. A finance qualification is advantageous but not essential for this role (a wide range of applicants are encouraged; the required key skills and experience are set out below).  This role attracts a market pay supplement if CCAB or equivalent qualified.  We are supportive of candidates who are seeking to become qualified, either starting their qualification through an apprenticeship, or in supporting individuals who are part way through their studies. More general information about finance business partnering roles within government is available on the following webpage: https://gff.civilservice.gov.uk/finance-business-partnering/ If you have any questions about the role and would like an informal discussion please do feel free to contact the vacancy holder: Michael.Distefano@dhsc.gov.uk Role responsibilities: Building relationships and developing a thorough understanding of the business, its stakeholders and deliverables. Engaging proactively and early with stakeholders at the start of new ideas/projects, and development of policy and associated business cases – taking a solutions-focused approach and ensuring value for money for the taxpayer. Engage the business on delivery plans and spending forecasts, including flagging implications of variances and changes to plan, identifying risks and opportunities. Provide business insight to support central finance forecasts and effective risk management. Engage and support the business on strategic planning and budgeting including spending reviews and internal business planning exercises, optimising the allocation of funding to create value and ensure alignment with wider priorities. Reviewing and providing input to business cases/ strategic documentation. Reviewing and providing input to Ministers and Director Generals – ensuring that advice is financially sound and any financial risks and issues are accurately reflected. Working with the financial management team to ensure effective in-year reporting. Providing advice on compliance with finance policy, standards, accountabilities and controls and signposting to specialist financial functions where required. Being open to learning from team members but also bringing expertise to the team and a willingness to help others (including providing ad-hoc support to other members of the team).

Person specification

Key skills and experience required for the role:

Essential:

• A solutions-focused professional with a "can do" attitude, with excellent problem-solving skills and ability to work to tight deadlines.
• Ability to establish strong relationships with stakeholders from various professional backgrounds and all levels of seniority. Excellent communicator, with the ability to influence and inform.
• Ability to synthesise wide-ranging material and provide clear and concise briefing to various stakeholders, including outlining options available to decision makers with recommendations, assessing benefits and risks with advice on suitable risk management and mitigation.
• Highly proficient in using and interpreting quantitative information to support decision making (including identifying gaps in data and working with colleagues to develop additional reporting as required).
• Fostering a culture of knowledge sharing and collaboration between business areas, finance and other corporate services.
• Knowledge of public sector finance (for instance, Managing Public Money).
• Previous relevant finance experience (for instance, working as a finance business partner, management accountant, strategic finance role, business manager role, etc).

Desirable:

• CCAB/CIMA qualified (or part-qualified) accountant or international equivalent. Note, a finance qualification is desirable but NOT essential. Applicants will need to demonstrate through experience that they have gained relevant experience that can be applied effectively in the role.
• IMPORTANT NOTE: Those that hold a full CCAB, CIMA or equivalent qualification will be eligible for an annual market pay supplement of £5k. This payment is in addition to the advertised baseline salary. The Department also provides support to become qualified.

Your normal place of work will be your contractual primary workplace, usually either London or Leeds.  Within DHSC we offer non-contractual hybrid working. The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time spent in the office, enabling in person interaction and collaboration and enhancing team working, learning, and support. 

You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas and some travel may be required across the DHSC estate. 

Opportunities for some working from home may be available; other flexible working options may be discussed with the hiring manager in line with individual circumstances and business need. 

There are a limited number of DHSC colleagues who have existing agreed homeworking contracts resulting from Our Future Estate Programme 2023-2024. Colleagues covered by these arrangements are eligible to apply for this role whilst continuing their agreed existing home working arrangement. Occasional travel to DHSC offices or other locations may still be required according to business need. Travel and subsistence will be provided in line with the pre-agreed homeworker arrangements.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £53,116, Department of Health and Social Care contributes £14,341 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.

Sift date: expected W/C 20/5/24

Interview date: expected W/C 3/6/24

Interview location: Virtual, by video. Further details will be released to candidates who are successful at sift.

The available interview slots will be released with the sift scores.

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.

Applications will be sifted on Statement of Suitability and CV. 

Please use your CV to set out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role. These can be found in the ‘key skills and experience required for the role’ section of the advert. Please also include a list of your relevant qualifications. 

Please use your statement of suitability to (in no more than 500 words) outline how you meet the essential skills and experience required for the role as set out in the job advert.

An initial sift based on the Statement of Suitability may be held if a large number of applications are received. 

At interview candidates will be assessed on Behaviors and Strengths. 

To find out more about working in the department please visit our page on the Civil Service Careers Website here and to find out more information on how to apply visit the Civil Service Careers Website here

Please be aware that some travel may be required across the DHSC estate.

Please note that applicants will require BPSS clearance. 

Further Information

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

Any move to DHSC 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.

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

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 dhscrecruitment.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.

This role is being advertised on a permanent basis. If preferable, Loan or Secondment options will also be available for existing Civil Servants (Loan) and applicants from accredited NDPBs or any other employer (Secondment). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

Terms and Conditions

Candidates should note that DHSC’s Terms and Conditions of employment changed from 1 October 2013. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the terms and conditions they will adopt should they be successful. 

New Entrants to the Civil Service

New entrants appointed in grades AA to G6 will receive DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions:

• Annual Leave: 25 days on entry rising by one day for each completed year of service to a maximum of 30 days and pro-rata for part-time staff
• Privilege Leave: 1 day - for the King’s birthday
• Hours of Work: 37 hours (net) per week for full time staff in all geographical locations, including London and pro rata for part-time staff
• Occupational Sick Pay (OSP): one month full pay/one month half pay on entry, rising by one month for each completed year of service to a maximum of five months’ full pay and five months’ half pay
• Mobility: Mobility clause in contracts allow staff to be mobile across the Civil Service
• Probation: 6 month probation period

Existing Civil Service staff transferring from another Government department, on either level transfer or promotion

All staff moving to DHSC will transfer onto DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions (as outlined above). 

Existing DHSC staff, appointed on either level transfer or promotion

If DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions are already held, the employee will retain those terms and conditions. If DHSC’s pre-modernised terms and conditions are held, the employee will transfer onto DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions (as outlined above).

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.