About the job

Job summary

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is one of the largest Departments in Whitehall, providing services and support to around 20 million people. It is responsible for delivering benefit payments worth over £290 billion a year and, to administer this system, we have a DEL budget of more than £9 billion in 2024/25. The Planning Fiscal Events and Reporting team sits at the heart of the Department, bringing insight and challenge to all areas of DWP’s work. The team is responsible for securing funding to achieve the Department’s strategic objectives, in particular by planning and delivering activity as part of major fiscal events such as the Budget and Spending Review. The team also has a key role in scrutinising how that money is being spent, ensuring that we live within our financial settlement whilst maximizing outcomes to our citizens. It is a high-profile and exciting work area where team members routinely provide advice to DWP Ministers and the Executive Team on issues related to financial strategy and financial management. It is imperative the post holder is independent and proactive, adept at acting on their own initiative whilst making a meaningful contribution to the work of the wider team.   The successful candidate will be joining a highly committed, supportive and sociable team with a proven track record of achievement and progression. You will be working with motivated and ambitious colleagues from a broad range of professional backgrounds. Postings Successful candidates will be posted in merit order based on your location preferences and the geographical requirements of the business. A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made. Reserve list candidates will be posted in merit order by location. Standard promotion rules will apply, and successful candidates will be placed on the pay scale and terms and conditions of DWP. The roles available will be based in: ·       Blackpool Peel Park, Brunel Way, Blackpool FY4 5ES ·       London – Caxton House, 6-12 Tothill Street, London, SW1V 9NA. ·       Leeds – Quarry House, Quarry Hill, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7UA. ·       Manchester – 2 St Peter’s Square, Manchester, M2 3AA. ·       Newcastle – Benton Park View, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE98 1BA. ·       Sheffield – Hartshead Square, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S1 2FD. Some travel will be required.

Job description

This role sits in the Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) Spending Team who lead the Department’s medium-term financial strategy. This includes setting and executing the strategy for Summer and Winter Planning Rounds and supporting fiscal events, as well as leading preparations and developing a spending review strategy for the department to maximise funding for DWP objectives. The role balances financial and analytical capabilities, alongside strategy and stakeholder management.

The successful candidate will:

• Provide strategic advice and analysis on financial impact, performance and risk to senior stakeholders and contribute to the strategic direction of the Department. You will maintain strong relationships with senior and wider stakeholders, including HM Treasury, bringing insight and influence through effective communication.
• Lead on the Department’s medium-term financial strategy, this includes setting and executing the strategy for Summer and Winter Planning Rounds. This includes leading on advice to the Executive Team and SoS on the key trade-offs required for DWP to live within its budget.
• Lead on the development of DWPs Spending Review bid, build positive relationships and prove expert support to FBPs and planning leads, and ensuring a joined-up view across the Department.
• Support the development of plans to reprioritise and increase efficiency across the Department. Recent examples include the Efficiency and Savings Review and the Civil Service headcount cap. You will need to use your analytical and stakeholder management skills to contribute to the development of new ideas and proposals.
• Line manage one or two direct reports.

 This role is part of our finance function but does not require a professional finance qualification. However, the post-holder should be aware of the following:

Where decisions or advice require an understanding of relevant International Financial Reporting Standards so that the Department can apply the correct financial accounting treatment to its transactions, those decisions will need to be approved by a qualified accountant in your business area.

Where a complex accounting matter requires external professional opinion, you can refer to a qualified accountant in your business area who can access the technical advisory services offered by their accountancy institute.

Hybrid working

This job role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in their DWP office and part of the week from home.

This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and your office will be your contractual place of work. The number of days that anyone will be able to work at home will be determined primarily by business need, but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account. 

Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.

Person specification

Candidates should be able to demonstrate the Essential Criteria outlined below: Lead Criteria: A strong track record of delivering challenging projects at pace, prioritising longer-term work alongside shorter-term asks. The ability to deliver through others and maintain professional standards in the face of pressure. Excellent inter-personal communication, relationship-building and influencing skills. Proven ability to communicate complex financial information to a non-financial audience. The professional and personal credibility to operate as a finance leader, generating confidence in senior stakeholders. Sound working knowledge of the key principles of financial management. Strong strategic thinking skills, particularly in a financial and budget setting environment.

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%

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.

Sift stage:

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a Personal Statement of no more than 1,000 words, and complete a CV. 

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

The CV in an on-line tool accessed through the Civil Service Jobsite and there is no requirement to upload your personal CV. 

The sift panel will use your CV and Personal Statement to assess your skills and experience, so please set out how you meet the Essential Criteria that are listed for this position. The CV will be scored as part of the sift.

In the event of a large number of applications we will use the Lead Criteria to initially assess your application during the sift stage:

"A strong track record of delivering challenging projects at pace, prioritising longer-term work alongside shorter-term asks. The ability to deliver through others and maintain professional standards in the face of pressure."

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

Interview stage:

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview. This will be a video interview held vis MS Teams. The interview panel will be a minimum of two people.

The interview will assess Behaviours Strengths and Experience. The interview aims to be more of a conversation exploring the candidate’s capability for the role.

There will be a requirement to deliver a 5-minute presentation at the interview stage, followed by 5 minutes for questions.

Further information will be provided to those who are invited to interview.

Application sift is planned to be carried out week commencing 29th July 2024

Interviews are planned to be carried out week commencing 12th August 2024.

Please be advised that the above dates are indicative only and are subject to change.

Further Information

Find out more about Working for DWP

A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to DWP 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

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

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

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

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.

Before applying for this vacancy, current employees of DWP should check whether a successful application would result in changes to their terms & conditions of employment, e.g. mobility, pay, allowances. Civil Servants that would transfer into DWP from other government organisations, following successful application, will assume DWP's terms & conditions of employment current on the day they are posted, unless DWP has stated otherwise in writing.

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. Applications will be screened and if evidence of plagiarism or copying examples/answers from other sources is found, your application will be withdrawn. Internal DWP candidates may also face disciplinary action.

Reasonable Adjustment

At DWP we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.

We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:Contact Government Recruitment Service via DWPRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

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

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

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.