About the job

Job summary

Are you a determined finance professional?

Would you welcome the opportunity to shape strategy and the direction of the business?

Can you bring strong leadership skills to effectively manage a team to provide high-quality support?

If so, we'd love to hear from you!

This is a great opportunity for an ambitious finance professional, to become the key senior person leading a team of talented financial business partners and management accountants. Working with multiple business areas influencing day to day decisions, shaping strategy and the direction of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). 

Job description

The Head of Finance Business Partner Team will be responsible for the provision of high-quality and accurate financial management information which they can translate and present clearly. S/he will provide valuable financial advice, challenge and support, strategic insight and business solutions to Directors and budget holders within DVSA.

Taking responsibility for provision of monthly financial statements and forecasts for budget holders that ensures the organisation has an up-to-date position and understanding of its financial affairs to support decision making. To contribute to the overall corporate reporting of the organisation’s financial position and to work with the business to understand results, trends, and key performance indicators. To consider and analyse the impact of decisions, providing constructive challenge and meaningful advice, using all available data and analytics tools.

The post holder will proactively work with budget holders to resolve any concerns or difficulties with their financial performance and will assist in the preparation of the annual budget(s) and the five-year financial plan which will align to the Agency’s Business Plan.

The post holder is responsible for providing leadership to a team of twelve, by setting the direction, empowering all and building an inspiring vision. Exercise performance management and support team members’ development to deliver best in class finance business partnering service across the Agency.

Key function:

1. Provision of high-quality and accurate financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting for DVSA, to include:
2. Delivery of reporting (in a suitable format) to wide range of stakeholders both internal and external
3. Support the People Directorate with financial advice and information relating to staff cost and strategic workforce planning.
4. Business partnering for all directorates.
5. Efficiency planning and reporting.
6. Support delivery of a new financial system that includes planning, budgeting, and forecasting modules.
7. Provide leadership across the team; lead by example whilst adhering to civil service core values, bring vision and innovation and drive performance.
8. Proactive and passionate, inspiring others to continuously improve. Ensure that opportunities for continuous improvement are nurtured.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to;

• Delivery of accurate and effective financial planning and budgeting strategies, models, and methods.
  • Manage budgeting requirements for DVSA.
  • Challenging and supporting the business to enhance decision-making and increase performance.
• Prepare and agree the high-level financial plan for approval by the Executive Committee and DVSA Board for submission to DfT.
  • Responsible for BAU Income and Expenditure plans, annual budget, and monthly forecasting)
  • Responsible for the delivery of the annual 5-year financial forecast
• To offer 'Advice, Support and Challenge' (ASC) to the organisation on budgeting, financial management and forecasting.
  • Responsible for financial partnering and support provided to all Directorates/Budget Holders.
  • Responsible for the financial process of approval to staff/compliment changes, ensuring controls to financial and FTE budgets.
• Prepare monthly management accounts for inclusion in regular management information provided to Exco, DB and DfT.
  • Monthly Performance pack for DVSA Management Accounts
  • Monthly communications with and reporting to DfT Finance Business Partner

For more information about the role and responsibilities please see the attached Candidate Pack.

Person specification

To succeed in this role, you have experience of having successfully managed conflict between stakeholders and managers. You are a confident communicator and are comfortable with challenging senior business leaders.

You can comfortably influence at all levels of the business hierarchy, using logical persuasion and consensus building within groups. You remain focused on the overall business strategic vision during negotiation, knowing when to compromise and when to challenge for the benefit of the business.

We are seeking someone who will be comfortable in being highly visible across the finance area, as the primary point of contact for financial advice. You are highly proficient in using and interpreting data and analytics to support analysis and decision making, identifying gaps in data and reporting, and working with Central Reporting colleagues to develop additional reporting as required.

You are a passionate and proven leader, with the ability to motivate and develop a diverse finance team and promote excellence.

Please take note that DVSA does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship. 

Additional Information

This role can be based in Swansea, Nottingham, Bristol, or Newcastle, where your presence at one of these locations will form part of the working arrangements agreed with you. We operate a hybrid working model giving you greater flexibility about where and when you work. Our current expectation is that you will spend a minimum 40% of your time at your base location. Visits to other DVSA sites or work locations count towards the 40%. Please be aware there is a Civil Service wide expectation to increase office attendance to 60% and we are working on our implementation plan.

There will be occasional travel required with this role to other DVSA locations, including overnight stays.

Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement, for the successful candidate to be able to work at least 32 hours per week. 

About Us

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) helps keep Britain moving, safely and sustainably. 

 

We do this by helping people through a lifetime of safe and sustainable journeys, helping them keep their vehicles safe to drive, and protecting them from unsafe drivers and vehicles. 

We’re working hard to:  

• make roads safer
• improve services for our customers
• make road transport greener and healthier
• harness the potential of technology and data
• grow and level up the economy

We’re committed to giving all our colleagues purpose, professionalism and pride in what we do. We work in supportive, diverse and inclusive teams where everyone is valued. You can grow, develop and progress, and make a real difference to society. 

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice and welcome and encourage applications from everyone, such as ethnic minorities, women, disabled people and those who identify as LGBT+. 
 
To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace and making DVSA a great place to work visit our Careers website.  

Benefits

• An environment with flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.
• Exceptional pension with an employer contribution of an average of 27%
• Generous Annual Leave - 25 days holiday, increasing by 1 each year of service, up to 30.
• 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday. 
• Latest IT and Tech devices.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues.
• Excellent learning and development tailored to your role including paid apprenticeships up to Masters level.
• Wide range of discounts schemes on high street names.
• Employee assistance program for health and well being. 
• Cycle to work scheme and Gym membership offers.
• For more information see visit our careers page

 

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.

The sift is due to take place 19 - 20 February 2024.

Interviews are likely to be held week commencing 04 March 2024.

This interview could be conducted via a video interview, details of which will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.

We’ll try to meet the dates we’ve set out in the advert. But there may be occasions when these dates will change. We’ll give you plenty of notice of any important dates.

How to Apply 

As part of the application process you will be asked to provide the following:

1. A written behavioural example in 500 words (250 words per behaviour), that provides evidence of you having demonstrated the following:

• • Communicating and Influencing 
  • Managing a Quality Service 

2. A tailored CV that demonstrates suitability to the role and the essential criteria.

3. A Personal Statement.

For your Personal Statement, please provide detailed evidence of the following:

• Your experience of influencing at all levels of business hierarchy, using logical persuasion and consensus building within groups.
• Your experience of remaining focused on the overall business strategic vision during negotiation, knowing when to compromise and when to challenge for the benefit of the business.
• Your leadership skills, including your ability to motivate and develop a diverse finance team and promote excellence. 

Your personal statement will be limited to a maximum of 750 words.

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

The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment will include:

• an interview

If you would like to find out more about what it’s like to work for DVSA and how to apply, we will be holding virtual sessions to find out more. Please click here to secure your place at one of our upcoming events.

You’re encouraged to become familiar with the candidate pack as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within.

The Department for Transport recruits using Success Profiles. For each role, we consider what you need to demonstrate to be successful.

This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improv

Reasonable Adjustments

As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Document Accessibility

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 job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email DRGComms@dft.gov.uk for assistance.

Further Information

For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.es diversity and inclusivity.

You can read more about Success Profiles here.

Pre-employment Checking

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 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.