About the job

Job summary

Do you want a career where you can make a real difference? Do you want to work in a government department that is at the forefront of current policy making decisions that will impact the UK and beyond? If yes then a career at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) could be for you.

Here at DESNZ we are securing the UK’s long term energy supply, bringing down energy bills and halving inflation. We are seizing the opportunities of Net Zero to lead the world in new green industries and encouraging greater energy efficiency across the UK. The work of the department has never been more timely or relevant, and by joining us you will be part of making that difference.

Our work is varied, interesting and most importantly its impactful. Our DESNZ Values are interwoven into everything we do; we are Bold, we are Collaborative, we are Inclusive and we Learn. As a department we are committed to these values to build a culture where everyone can thrive. 

We offer great working benefits including a world-class pension, flexible working options and a career where your learning and development is taken seriously. We are fortunate to have a range of excellent staff networks and are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We will support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive.

Find Out More

We regularly run events where you can find out more about the department and tips for the application process. You can sign up for upcoming events here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/departmentforenergysecurityandnetzero?

You can also follow our LinkedIn Careers Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/desnz-careers/

Job description

Have you got experience in financial management, project management, data analysis, or stakeholder management, or are you a qualified accountant? If so, join us at The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) which is focused on the energy portfolio from the former Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). This is a brilliant opportunity to be involved in supporting the Department's top priorities, including the extraordinary challenge to achieve "net zero" carbon emissions.

Our Inclusive Environment

We are building an inclusive culture to make DESNZ a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it will help us be more innovative and make better decisions.

We offer first-class flexible working benefits, excellent employee well-being support and a great pension. We are fortunate to have a range of excellent staff networks and are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We will support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive.

We actively welcome applications from anyone who shares our commitment to inclusion. We will fully support candidates with a disability or long-term condition who require adjustments in our recruitment process.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for strategically minded, problem solvers with a passion for data. You will play a pivotal role within the Strategy, Planning & Reporting team and will need an ability to manage complex financial data, provide financial management and insight all the while building credibility with a variety of stakeholders, in finance and beyond. Someone who is able to easily navigate and utilise Excel and ideally some working knowledge of Power BI.

About the Team

The Management Accounts team is responsible for management of the month end finance process including the production of the monthly reporting to the Performance, Finance and Risk Committee and the Executive Committee. The team manages the in-year budgeting and forecasting processes to ensure that BEIS operates within all its control totals and senior leaders have the insight they require to make informed decisions regarding priorities and can ensure that BEIS makes the best use of the funds available. We are also responsible for managing and forecasting cash inflows & outflows, managing the Department's bank accounts reporting monthly on Oscar – HM Treasury system. Preparing the Main and Supplementary Estimates and reporting monthly on Oscar - HM Treasury system.

Management Accounts

Managing the provision of accurate, consistent, insightful and robust in-year financial management reporting to internal and external stakeholders to support decision-making.

Responsibilities include:

• Lead the preparation, interpretation and presentation of in-year financial information into the monthly financial reports.
  
• Provide assurance on integrity of information on financial systems, advising on the correct accounting treatment of complex transactions.
  
• Provide financial analysis and insight, through meaningful variance analysis commentary including risk management, mitigating actions, deep dives or financial modelling.
  
• Ensure effective controls are in place to maintain accuracy of data in financial systems.
  
• Ensure team delivers the month end activities in a timely manner and to the required standard.
  
• Challenging consolidated forecasts through finance checkpoint meetings with FBP teams underpinned by strong analysis and an understanding of the Departments broad policy and delivery remit.
  
• Work to raise the level of financial awareness and capability across the Department.

Person specification

Skills and experience

The successful candidate must demonstrate the following characteristics:

Essential:

• Impeccable professional and ethical standards.
• Exhibiting collaborative and inclusive behaviour at work.
• Ability to build trusting relationships with various stakeholders and work towards influencing them.
• A self-starter attitude; Experience of financial management and transactions, forecasting and budgeting.
• Good written and verbal communication skills, including some experience of communicating financial performance and management information to non-financial audiences.
• Strong MS Excel skills which will be tested at interview.
  
• For candidates who are not CCAB/CIMA-qualified, relevant experience is essential.

Desirable:

• Evidence of delivering at pace under challenging circumstances.
• CCAB/CIMA-qualified or part-qualified. 
• Experience of data visualisation tools such as QlikView or PowerBI would be advantageous.
  

Candidates should be full or part qualified. Where candidates are part qualified, they should be committed to finalising their qualification. Part qualified means:

• Achieved Management and Operational Level of CIMA.
  
• Achieved Professional Level of ICAEW.
  
• Achieved Applied skills Level of ACCA.
  
• Achieved Professional Certificate and Professional Diploma Levels of CIPFA.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,470, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero contributes £10,116 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.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement and behavioural statements.

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

Please use your personal statement (in no more than 500 words) to demonstrate your experience within a Financial position, working with others, communicating and Influencing.

Please note - the CV incorporated into the application form is for information purposes only and will not be scored.

Applications will be sifted on behavioural statements and personal statement.

In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the lead behaviour statement (Managing a Quality Service).

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

The interview will consist of behaviours and strength questions, as well as a written exercise.

An Excel test will be part of the interview process.

Sift and interview dates

Expected Timeline subject to change

Sift dates: w/c 11/03/2024

Interview dates: w/c 18/03/2024

Interview Location: MS Teams.

Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.

Further Information

Reasonable Adjustment

We are proud to be a disability confident leader and we welcome applications from disabled candidates and candidates with long-term conditions.

We fully support adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we encourage candidates to discuss their adjustment needs by emailing the job contact which can be found under the contact point for applicants section.

We do not have an exhaustive list of adjustments that we support but just some examples include additional time to complete your application form, behaviour questions up to 72 hours prior to interview and having extra time at interview. 

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

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

A location based reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

Any move to the Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero  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 https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

DESNZ does not normally offer full home working (i.e. working at home); but we do offer a variety of flexible working options (including occasionally working from home). 

DESNZ cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign.

DESNZ holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service and Disclosure Scotland 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 

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

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.