About the job

Job summary

Finance is at the heart of decision making in the Department for Business & Trade. Following the Machinery of Government changes and the formation of the Department for Business and Trade, DBT’s Strategic Finance team is being expanded to build additional capacity and capability and the work of the department has never been more crucial.  

The Role 

Within the Strategic Finance team sits the Estimates, Reporting and Analysis team. They work across DBT to develop a deep understanding of the department’s financial position to help support ministers and senior leaders make effective decisions. 

The team is responsible for maintaining budgetary control and ensuring that the Departments Supplementary and Main Estimates are robust.  The team has overall responsibility for the Department’s chart of accounts and ensure the monthly forecasts uploaded correctly to OSCAR, HMT’s expenditure database. This is a high-profile role involving liaison with SCS colleagues and other senior members of staff and presents a unique opportunity for the right candidate to gain significant cross-department experience in a finance role. The role provides a high level of exposure and would suit a candidate who thrives in challenging assumptions and is comfortable challenging senior colleagues. 

This role will report to the Grade 7 and will work closely across the Financial Planning, Reporting and Finance Business Partner teams.  

This role is available in seven UK locations and can only be worked from within the UK, not overseas. Most DBT employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending 2-3 days a week (pro rata) in the office on average. Changes to these working arrangements are available in certain circumstances but must be agreed with the vacancy manager and in line with the requirements of the role and can only be discussed with successful candidates. Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DBT, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered. 

Job description

Key Accountabilities 

The SEO will form a vital part of the team and will be expected to lead on the day-to-day operation of the team, including setting the direction for the team and providing the appropriate level of challenge to stakeholders, including SCS colleagues when required. The other main responsibilities include: 

• Maintenance of the chart of accounts and administration of the reporting systems to facilitate accurate reporting and analysis of DBT’s £5bn income and expenditure. 
• Monitoring of budget allocations, and reallocations throughout the year, maintaining a clear audit trail. 
• Monitoring of income and expenditure by control total and reporting to HMT. 
• Supporting the process to deliver the Main and Supplementary Estimate to report the use of funding to Parliament. 
• Setting the direction for the team and stakeholders such as Financial Accounts and Finance Business Partners, setting clear deadlines so tasks are delivered on time and to a high standard. 
• Developing written briefing underpinned by financial analysis for senior decision-makers. 
• Supporting the Grade 7 in championing the work of the team and increasing resilience within the team and across Strategic Finance. 
• Supporting the development and implementation of new systems and processes to maintain financial control. 

Person specification

• The successful candidate will be a strong leader who can build highly effective teams and influential relationships. The successful candidate will have a broad skill base with a focus on producing high quality financial management accounts and information through innovative solutions. 
• Be a credible and authentic leader, with the ability to engage and motivate people to deliver results.  
• Show the ability and willingness to make difficult decisions and stand by them. 
• Be able to communicate effectively to inspire your team and stakeholders to achieve desired outcomes.  
• Demonstrate the confidence, composure and credibility needed to challenge the way activities are delivered. 
• Recognise change as an opportunity to deliver efficiency and innovation acting as an agent for change when you identify the chance to protect, drive and add value.   

Essential Criteria 

• Experience of producing financial management accounts 
• Demonstratable experience and understanding of the Estimates process 
• Experience in successfully developing and managing relationships between own team and others and working collaboratively within a multi-stakeholder environment, including senior colleagues. 
• Demonstrate significant experience of government accounting i.e., Managing Public Money, consolidated budgeting guidance.  
• Proficient in using Microsoft Excel, OSCAR and Financial systems.  
• Excellent communication, networking and negotiation skills.    

 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,384, Department for Business and Trade contributes £10,633 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.

Interviews for this vacancy will be conducted virtually. We will, however, consider in-person interviews by exception.

Please ensure that you check your emails regularly as all updates from us will be sent to you this way.

To apply for this post, you will be asked to complete the following as part of the online application:   

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Provide employment history that relates to the essential criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages.
• A Personal Statement explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential criteria.

It is likely that the sift will take place 1-2 weeks after the closing date and interviews 3-5 weeks after the closing date though this is subject to change.

In the event of a large number of applicants, an initial short sift will be conducted on the Personal Statement only. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview. 

Reasonable Adjustments

We are committed to supporting candidates so they can perform at their best throughout the recruitment process. This includes making reasonable adjustments to our process. In order to request an adjustment: 

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section on the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. 

Alternatively contact the Government Recruitment Service at DBTrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.  

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

Candidate Support

You may want to join a virtual Candidate Support Session. These sessions include helpful tips and advice on the recruitment process, from application to interview.  

Please see attached Candidate Pack for further information on: Diversity and Inclusion; Benefits; Learning and Development; Working Patterns and what we deliver as a department. 

Further Information:

• A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. Reserve Lists will be for each location and appointments made in merit order based on location preferences.   
• Any move to the Department for Business and Trade from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments.
• The Department will not consider sponsoring a visa or issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship. We are unable to offer advice on any Visa and Immigration cases.  
• 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. Any applicant who has 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.  
• Terms and Conditions are attached.  Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
• Please note – the successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 18 months before being released for another role.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service/Disclosure Scotland/Access NI 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 the Access NI confidential checking service telephone: the Access NI Helpline on 0300 200 7888 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email accessni@ani.x.gsi.gov.uk 

Vetting

The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years. Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected.

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.