About the job

Job summary

In the Department of Health and Social Care (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 financial lens and effective financial support to DHSC policy teams.

Job description

The role is based in a Finance Business Partnering Team within the Finance Directorate and represents an exciting opportunity to take ownership of a wide-ranging finance business partnering portfolio. This role will cover an interesting and varied portfolio, supporting the Government’s priorities for health and care, and includes some of the Department’s and its ALB’s, most high-profile and complex budgets and programmes. The post holder will be expected to build strong relationships with business areas in their portfolio. They will develop a good understanding of these areas and be able to translate and present complex financial information clearly. They will manage a busy workload, including carrying out in-year reporting and processes. They will provide valuable financial advice and business solutions to Directors and other budget holders, supporting 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. The team is made up of a mix of both qualified accountants and generalists who do not have a finance qualification. A finance qualification is advantageous but not essential for this role.  DHSC have a Finance Capability team embedded in the Finance Directorate, to support employees to work towards a finance qualification, which includes apprenticeships or direct funding depending on the successful candidate’s qualification status. This development opportunity would be available to successful applicants where business need requires employees to work towards a finance qualification. 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. The post holder will report to a G7 Finance Business Partner and in addition will support and receive support from the G6 Senior Finance Business Partner and SCS as needed. More general information about finance business partnering roles within government is available on the following webpage: https://gff.civilservice.gov.uk/finance-business-partnering/

Person specification

Role responsibilities:

We are looking for a self-motivated, proactive candidate excited by the opportunity to provide financial advice to high profile spending areas that impact everyone in the country.

This is a business-facing role, involving a high-degree of stakeholder engagement and influencing, and requiring developed strategic awareness and an interest in government spending policy and policy delivery. The wide variety of stakeholder engagement, including internal policy areas, cross department teams and external teams outside of the civil service makes this role unique.

We are an agile finance directorate providing customer-focused partnering support across a range of complex policy and strategy areas, including, but not limited to manifesto commitments, mental health, NHS services including primary care and adult social care. 

Successful candidates will be joining an inclusive and supportive team comprising a mix of finance and policy professionals. We are committed to providing an environment for all to thrive, with opportunities to learn and develop in the role and work on areas critical to delivering the Department’s vision of helping people live more independent, healthier lives, for longer. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds. The team has office locations of Leeds and London operates hybrid working policies.

Essential skills and experience:

• Skilled communicator, able to understand what matters to key stakeholders, and to tailor style and technique across a range of audiences and media to develop and maintain relationships
• Experience of combining a wide range of financial materials to provide clear and concise briefings with recommendations on complex issues to senior stakeholders
• Experience of delivering complex financial analysis under tight deadlines
• Providing ad-hoc analysis and presentations to drive and support business decisions, such as efficiency and cost reduction options, using all available data and analytics tools

Desirable skills and experience:   

• Previous experience in a strategic, advisory role working with complex budgets and delivery mechanisms
• CCAB/CIMA/equivalent qualified, part qualified accountant, international equivalent, candidates working towards or willing to work towards a CCAB/CIMA qualification. Note, a finance qualification is desirable but not essential

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £40,025, Department of Health and Social Care contributes £10,806 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 29/1/24

Interview date: expected W/C 12/2/24

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.

Applications will be sifted on CV and Statement of Suitability. 

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 use your Statement of Suitability to (in no more than 750 words) outline how you meet the key skills and experience required for the role as set out in the job advert. 

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

At interview candidates will be assessed on Behaviours 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

Further Information

Applicants who are appointable but were not successful in appointment to this vacancy, may be held on a reserve list for up to 12 months, and contacted if similar vacancies become available.

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

Please note that applicants will require BPSS clearance. 

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

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.

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.

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.