About the job

Job summary

London Salary: £53,396- £62,286

National Salary: £49,592- £58,769

Job Summary

The purpose of the Financial Strategy & Planning team is to lead and influence the UKHSA strategic financial position, driving value for money, and strengthening public trust through transparency of strategic financial information. Responsible for informing budget negotiations and securing financial resources, ensuring financial plans are fully aligned to organisational strategy and departmental outcome plans. Responsible for assessing the holistic financial performance and risks across the breadth of the organisation, providing expert financial analytics and insights to produce and communicate strategic level management information at Senior levels and ensure organisational affordability. Finance lead with external stakeholder relationships including DHSC, HM Treasury, Other Government Departments and Ministers.

Location

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) offers hybrid working – this means that whilst the role will be based in one of our London or Leeds offices, there will be opportunities to work from home. Your contracted time will be 60% in the office.

You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process.
Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available

Job description

Financial Analytics & Insight provides strategic management reporting to Senior internal and external stakeholders, adding value to financial information to inform Organisational and Departmental decision making. UKHSA Financial Analytics & Insight works intrinsically with UKHSA Senior leaders to understand the in-year financial performance of the organisation and make recommendations on the effective use of funding available and risk exposure. Undertake all tasks and activities related to producing financial information for all Senior governance forums, including ExCo, Advisory Board and Sponsorship Accountability Meetings. Required to forge strong and influential relationships the wider finance community and DHSC Finance.

Key Responsibilities:

The role of Financial Reporting Lead (Analysis & Insight) is to provide insight into the monthly financial position of UKHSA and highlight the key UKHSA financial issues, risks and opportunities.

Monthly reporting cycle. Overseeing the delivery of prompt, accurate Management Accounts (in accordance with Government Accounting Principles) translating data into meaningful outputs reporting across internal and external environments.

Financial performance reporting. Production of organisational financial performance reporting and dashboards to Senior stakeholders to effectively communicate the position and risks.

Insight. Review financial performance and gather commentary to provide incisive narrative and summaries for senior management using compelling language to influence and challenge.

Analysis. Intelligent analysis of complex financial information drawing out common themes and understanding linkages and dependencies.

Person specification

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of no more than 1000 words (max) that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following criteria:

Essential Criteria:

• Qualified with CCAB, CIMA or equivalent qualification with financial experience over an extended period of time.
• Knowledge of all aspects of financial management with a thorough understanding of management accounting principles.
• An expert with financial modelling and reporting software, as well as financial and accounting issues including regulatory reporting and accounting standards.
• Experience of providing advice on value for money, financial planning, financial reporting and risk management.
• Experience of being able to engage and operate with seniors with confidence and credibility with excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to manage internal and external stakeholders.
• Can demonstrate intelligent analysis of complex financial information, drawing out common strategic themes, understanding linkages and dependencies.

Benefits

Working for the UKHSA

For more information on the UKHSA please visit: UK Health Security Agency - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
• Range of health and wellbeing support

Any move to UKHSA 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 Childcare Choices , 30 Hours Free Childcare, Tax-Free Childcare and More , Help with Costs , GOV.UK

Things you need to know

Selection process details

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT: 

You will be required to complete an application form and a statement of suitability. Your Statement of Suitability should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, against the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section). Your Statement of Suitability must not exceed 1000 words.

You will also be asked to provide information within the ‘Employer/ Activity history’ section of the application form. This is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV, setting out your career history. The sift selection panel will only consider relevant career history information from the last 5 years.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview.

STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW:

This competition will involve an interview via Teams.

As part of the process, candidates will be invited to interview which will involve an in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification.

The Success Profiles framework will be used at interview to assess and recruit the most suitable candidate.  The following behaviours will be used at the interview:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions

Candidates might also be required to prepare and deliver a 5-minute presentation to the panel. This will be followed by a question-and-answer segment.  The presentation will be designed to assess each candidate’s experience in line with the requirements of the role. Full details will be provided prior to the interview.

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs 1st January 2024 – unfortunately, late applications will not be considered. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Interviews: 12th January

Please note these dates could be subject to change.  

Eligibility Criteria

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.

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.

Security clearance level requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.  Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard.  People working with government assets must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard checks.

For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, new entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. For existing Civil Servants and roles advertised across government, the rules of transfer apply, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive a 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest. 

Please Note

This role is to be appointed under Civil Service Terms & Conditions. Full details on the T&Cs are found https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

Are you already a civil servant, or employed by a Civil Service Commission accredited public body? Please state home department on your application form.

Do you meet the nationality requirements for this post? https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: Complaints1@ukhsa.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website. 

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.