About the job

Job summary

GDS exists to help the government make brilliant public services that empower people in the UK. We work at the very centre of government to drive digital transformation, focused on users. We build and maintain common platforms, products and tools for others to use and create great public services that are accessible, inclusive and easy to use. We also work with departments to identify patterns, share learning and create change to make government more efficient.

Our teams are organised around delivering on our priorities. These are:

• making it easier for people to find what they are looking for on GOV.UK
• building common service platforms to make it simpler and cheaper to build quality digital services
• promoting agile, user-centered design practices both in the UK and across the world

The Business & People Services group provides the essential corporate services and support that GDS teams need to deliver the government's digital transformation agenda and makes sure everything we do is aligned with our mission. A strong and effective finance function is critical to achieving those goals.

Job description

Reporting to the Senior Finance Manager in the Finance & Business Services team, the post holder will be responsible for Finance Business Partnering within the group, producing taut and realistic financial forecasts and developing appropriate reports to ensure key decision-makers have good quality information and insight. The role also ensures adherence to internal financial controls and manages financial corporate reporting. They will do so in close collaboration with the Business Operations Team, Operational Tooling team, CO Finance and delivery teams across GDS to inform financial forecasts. 

The post-holder will help develop finance capability across the group and deliver all aspects of the in-year financial management across a range of programmes and funding areas. This is an essential role to manage the funding that will enable GDS to deliver its strategic priorities and long-term vision. As such it gives an opportunity to be visible and support the senior leadership team through the provision of credible analysis and assurance.

As a Finance Manager you’ll:

• lead financial planning for GDS linked to the wider Cabinet Office process, working with the team and wider stakeholders to prepare affordable and credible budgets. Identify areas of financial risk and opportunity associated with budgets.
• analyse and lead the corporate reporting to ensure accurate actuals and forecasts are provided on a monthly basis. This will include working with colleagues to build your understanding of the business and developing appropriate management information and analysis to test robustness and communicate financial results across GDS. 
• act as a finance business partner to provide financial advice to stakeholders, identifying areas of financial risk or opportunities and providing credible options for mitigating them.
• develop the GDS financial management processes, working with the business and CO finance colleagues to enable the first line of compliance with all relevant controls. The post holder will be required to work across a wide range of stakeholders, to improve understanding and build capability.
• quality assure GDS products (e.g submissions, business cases, contract renewals/new procurements) that have financial consequences within required timescales so that any required changes can be incorporated into the final products
• be an inspirational leader and lead a small team of finance and business operations colleagues to deliver the above at pace

Person specification

We’re interested in people who:

• are qualified or part qualified accountant with one of the recognised CCAB professional accountancy bodies, or are willing to work towards a relevant qualification
• demonstrate ability to work with senior financial and non-financial colleagues to deliver improved performance and value for money;
• will be responsible for preparing and coordinating input towards financial reporting and budget processes working across a range of stakeholders, including the preparation of reports and relevant communication material
• have excellent analytical, data management and modelling skills and the capacity to get senior leadership to focus on critical issues
• will be delivering quality outcomes within tight deadlines and prioritise effectively
• have experience of managing a complex funding structure 
• understand ways of working in an agile and/or digital environment 
• have experience in accounting within large capital programmes

Benefits

The benefits of working at GDS

There are many benefits of working at GDS, including:

• flexible hybrid working with flexi-time and the option to work part-time or condensed hours
• a Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
• 25 days of annual leave, increasing by a day each year up to a maximum of 30 days
• an extra day off for The King’s birthday
• an in-year bonus scheme to recognise high performance
• career progression and coaching, including a training budget for personal development
• paid volunteering leave
• a focus on wellbeing with access to an employee assistance programme
• job satisfaction from making government services easier to use and more inclusive for people across the UK
• advances on pay, including for travel season tickets
• death in service benefits
• cycle to work scheme and facilities
• access to children's holiday play schemes across different locations in central London
• access to an employee discounts scheme
• 10 learning days per year
• volunteering opportunities (5 special leave days per year)
• access to a suite of learning activities through Civil Service learning

GDS offers hybrid working for all employees. This means that everyone does some working from home and also spends some time in their local office. You’ll agree to your hybrid working arrangement with your line manager in line with your preferences and business needs.

Any move to Government Digital Service 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

Things you need to know

Selection process details

The standard selection process for roles at GDS consists of:

• a simple application screening process - We only ask for a CV and cover letter of up to 750 words. Important tip - please ensure that your cover letter includes how you meet the skills and experience listed in the “person specification” section above
• a brief presentation. Comprehensive details will be shared with the shortlisted candidates.
• a 60-minute video interview

In the event we receive a high number of applications, we will conduct an initial sift on the lead criteria which is:

• are qualified or part qualified accountant with one of the recognised CCAB professional accountancy bodies, or are willing to work towards a relevant qualification

Depending on how many applications we get, there might also be an extra stage before the video interview, for example, a phone interview or a technical exercise.

In the Civil Service, we use Success Profiles to evaluate your skills and ability. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, increases performance and improves diversity and inclusivity. We’ll be assessing your technical abilities, skills, experience and behaviours that are relevant to this role.

For this role we’ll be assessing you against the following Civil Service Behaviours: 

• working together
• seeing the bigger picture
• communicating and influencing
• delivering at pace

Candidates that do not pass the interview but have demonstrated an acceptable standard may be considered for similar roles at a lower grade.

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

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status.

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.