About the job

Job summary

The Finance, Portfolio and Performance (FPP) team is critical to supporting a thriving Parliamentary democracy. We play a leading role in delivering the House of Commons’ Strategy and corporate priorities through business and financial planning, analysing performance, and supporting the delivery of projects and programmes across Parliament. Equally important are the financial services, systems, accounting, reporting and Members’ services that we provide to keep the House of Commons Service working effectively and efficiently on a day-to-day basis.

The Finance Business Partnering Team will lead on building strong relationships within the organisation to influence and enable effective financial management, ensuring that finance and public value are at the heart of decision making. The relationships they create will facilitate constructive challenge of the business and bridge into other areas of finance, including the central financial management team and project management.

Most recently, the finance team has gone through a process of change, this involved the move from a localised structure of the Finance Business Partnering function to an Enterprise Model (Central), with the ambition of standardising reporting, processes and controls across the entire function and “level up” performance, this role is pivotal for the realisation of the defined benefits expected from the recent change

Job description

The role will require strong communication as well as strategic planning, reporting and analysis skills. Activities will include; facilitating and challenging long-term planning, budgeting, forecasting; analysis and communication of financial data and reports; supporting and challenging investment appraisals and business cases; supporting commercial activity and enabling the business to find solutions to address complex business queries.

Senior Finance Business Partners are business experts with strong interpersonal relationships. They understand the business and are able translate and present complex financial information clearly. They provide valuable financial advice, challenge and support, strategic insight and business solutions often to Directors and other budget holders. They take on larger or more complex areas and with a focus on business cases.

Some of the key responsibilities are:

• Oversight of team members and other’s work, and developing leadership skills within and across teams. Motivating and developing staff, embedding principles of equality, diversity and inclusion, and ensuring that the team makes a significant, positive contribution to the achievement of vision and business goals
• Building and maintaining key relationships, in particular developing trust and rapport. This includes managing expectation of senior managers and stakeholders.
• Providing specialist financial advice – engaging with experts on behalf of the business and providing advice on key financial planning, processes and budget setting. Supporting the development and implementation of credible financial plans that are consistent with the department performance and activity plans. Oversee the monthly financial forecasting and reporting exercises providing robust analysis, challenge and accurate reporting

Person specification

To be successful in this role you will:

• hold a professional finance qualification (CCAB or equivalent)
• be a confident communicator, comfortable with advising and challenging senior business leaders, including the ability to put complex financial issues into layman’s terms for non-specialist audiences.
• have an ability to influence at all levels of the business hierarchy, using logical persuasion and consensus building within groups.
• demonstrate leadership, and the ability to motivate and develop a diverse finance team and promote excellence
• be highly proficient in using and interpreting data and analytics to support analysis and decision making, identifying gaps in data and reporting and working with colleagues to develop additional reporting as required

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £56,180, House of Commons contributes £15,168 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

If you would like to apply for this role, please submit your CV and covering letter with a 500 word limit. 

More information on the role and the full criteria can be found in the Job Description. 

If your application is successfully shortlisted, you will be required to prepare and participate in a 5 minute discussion on a role specific topic. Details of the topic will be clearly communicated to you in advance of the interview.

Please note that most job offers will be made at the minimum of the salary range, other than in exceptional circumstances.

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 counter-terrorist 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

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission. 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.