Finance Business Partner (+£5k for CCAB or equivalent qualified candidates)

In DHSC, we are proud of our purpose - to enable everyone to live more independent, healthier lives for longer. To achieve this, and create a great place to work, we have four values: we are inclusive, we constantly improve, we challenge, and we are agile. If this sounds like an environment you'd like to work in, we'd love to hear from you., The role is based in the Finance Business Partnering and Transformation Directorate within the Finance Directorate and represents an exciting opportunity to take ownership of a wide-ranging finance business partnering portfolio. Finance Business Partnering teams in the Department comprise a mix of finance and policy professionals. This role will cover an interesting and varied portfolio, supporting the Government's priorities for health and care.,

• Building relationships and developing a thorough understanding of the business, its stakeholders and deliverables.


• Engaging proactively and early with stakeholders at the start of new ideas/projects, and development of policy and associated business cases - taking a solutions-focused approach and ensuring value for money for the taxpayer.


• Engage the business on delivery plans and spending forecasts, including flagging implications of variances and changes to plan, identifying risks and opportunities.


• Provide business insight to support central finance forecasts and effective risk management.


• Engage and support the business on strategic planning and budgeting including spending reviews and internal business planning exercises, optimising the allocation of funding to create value and ensure alignment with wider priorities.


• Reviewing and providing input to business cases/ strategic documentation.


• Reviewing and providing input to Ministers and Director Generals - ensuring that advice is financially sound and any financial risks and issues are accurately reflected.


• Working with the financial management team to ensure effective in-year reporting.


• Providing advice on compliance with finance policy, standards, accountabilities and controls and signposting to specialist financial functions where required.


• Being open to learning from team members but also bringing expertise to the team and a willingness to help others (including providing ad-hoc support to other members of the team)., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:


• Making Effective Decisions


• Delivering at Pace


• Working Together


• Communicating and Influencing, If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes., This role is being advertised on a permanent basis. If preferable, Loan or Secondment options will also be available for existing Civil Servants (Loan) and applicants from accredited NDPBs or any other employer (Secondment). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.


Terms and Conditions

Candidates should note that DHSC's Terms and Conditions of employment changed from 1 October 2013. It is the candidate's responsibility to ensure they are aware of the terms and conditions they will adopt should they be successful.

New Entrants to the Civil Service

New entrants appointed in grades AA to G6 will receive DHSC's modernised terms and conditions:

• Annual Leave: 25 days on entry rising by one day for each completed year of service to a maximum of 30 days and pro-rata for part-time staff


• Privilege Leave: 1 day - for the King's birthday


• Hours of Work: 37 hours (net) per week for full time staff in all geographical locations, including London and pro rata for part-time staff


• Occupational Sick Pay (OSP): one month full pay/one month half pay on entry, rising by one month for each completed year of service to a maximum of five months' full pay and five months' half pay


• Mobility: Mobility clause in contracts allow staff to be mobile across the Civil Service


• Probation: 6 month probation period


Existing Civil Service staff transferring from another Government department, on either level transfer or promotion

All staff moving to DHSC will transfer onto DHSC's modernised terms and conditions (as outlined above).

Existing DHSC staff, appointed on either level transfer or promotion

If DHSC's modernised terms and conditions are already held, the employee will retain those terms and conditions. If DHSC's pre-modernised terms and conditions are held, the employee will transfer onto DHSC's modernised terms and conditions (as outlined above).
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.,
• 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
  
  The post holder will lead and support the Directorates within Global and Public Health which cover a wide variety of topics, including the emergency response capability for any threat, international and EU issues, supply shortages. Global and Public Health also covers a range of public health issues, including smoking, obesity and addictions. The role has a broad remit and the post holder will have opportunities to demonstrate and develop a mix of financial partnering and strategy skills in a supportive team environment.


The post holder will build strong and credible relationships with business areas in their portfolio, putting customers and outcomes at the heart of everything they do. They will be able to influence and negotiate across all levels, internally and externally and have strong communication and facilitation skills. They will be able to translate and present complex financial information clearly. They will become the 'business expert' and trusted advisor by building an in depth understanding of their portfolio business area, its strategic goals and delivery mechanisms. They will be able to work in an agile way, comfortable managing a diverse portfolio with a range of stakeholders. They will be able to translate between business and financial agendas, including facilitating and challenging long-term planning, budgeting, and forecasting and scrutiny of financial information and reports.

The role provides an excellent opportunity to function with a large degree of independence and autonomy within a supportive team. The team is made up of a mix of both qualified accountants and those that do not have a finance qualification. A finance qualification is advantageous but not essential for this role (a wide range of applicants are encouraged; the required key skills and experience are set out below). This role attracts a market pay supplement if CCAB or equivalent qualified. We are supportive of candidates who are seeking to become qualified, either starting their qualification through an apprenticeship, or in supporting individuals who are part way through their studies.,
• A solutions-focused professional with a "can do" attitude, with excellent problem-solving skills and ability to work to tight deadlines.


• Ability to establish strong relationships with stakeholders from various professional backgrounds and all levels of seniority. Excellent communicator, with the ability to influence and inform.


• Ability to synthesise wide-ranging material and provide clear and concise briefing to various stakeholders, including outlining options available to decision makers with recommendations, assessing benefits and risks with advice on suitable risk management and mitigation.


• Highly proficient in using and interpreting quantitative information to support decision making (including identifying gaps in data and working with colleagues to develop additional reporting as required).


• Fostering a culture of knowledge sharing and collaboration between business areas, finance and other corporate services.


• Knowledge of public sector finance (for instance, Managing Public Money).


• Previous relevant finance experience (for instance, working as a finance business partner, management accountant, strategic finance role, business manager role, etc).


Desirable:

• CCAB/CIMA qualified (or part-qualified) accountant or international equivalent. Note, a finance qualification is desirable but NOT essential. Applicants will need to demonstrate through experience that they have gained relevant experience that can be applied effectively in the role.


• IMPORTANT NOTE: Those that hold a full CCAB, CIMA or equivalent qualification will be eligible for an annual market pay supplement of £5k. This payment is in addition to the advertised baseline salary. The Department also provides support to become qualified.


Your normal place of work will be your contractual primary workplace, usually either London or Leeds. Within DHSC we offer non-contractual hybrid working. The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time spent in the office, enabling in person interaction and collaboration and enhancing team working, learning, and support.

You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas and some travel may be required across the DHSC estate.

Opportunities for some working from home may be available; other flexible working options may be discussed with the hiring manager in line with individual circumstances and business need., Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

DHSC leads the health and care system, working collaboratively with a range of arms-length bodies (ALBs), such as NHS England. The Department's total group budget (including NHS England) is approximately £180 billion this year.

The Finance Directorate is a dynamic function that works across a full range of stakeholders in a range of different functions across the group. We are agile providing customer-focused partnering support across a range of complex policy and strategy areas, including system recovery from Covid-19, delivery of NHS services and wider delivery objectives of our ALBs. We work to ensure value for money to the taxpayer, effective financial stewardship, and accountability to Parliament - ensuring finance is at the heart of decision making. We add value to strategic decision-making by applying a financial lens and effective financial support to DHSC policy teams.

You will be joining an inclusive and supportive team comprising a mix of finance and qualified and non-qualified professionals. We are committed to providing an environment for all to thrive. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds. The team has offices in Leeds and London and operates a hybrid working policy.

Alongside your salary of £53,116, Department of Health and Social Care contributes £14,341 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• 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