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About the job
Job summary
Job description
As a government department offering vital services that protect the public interest and wellbeing, the FSA must look not only to effectively deliver food we can trust, but also to do so in a way that offers the most value to the consumer. As Deputy Director of Finance and Planning, youll be responsible for supporting this by reporting our financial position and supporting us in our efforts to effectively plan and position ourselves so that we can best deliver against our strategic goals.
Leading on the delivery of FSA year-end published accounts from across the organisation, and other formal external reports including Estimates and Spending Review submissions for HM Treasury and Parliament, youll ensure that we are providing clear and accurate information.
A champion for financial assurance, governance, and compliance, you will help colleagues across the organisation to understand the value of effective reporting. Your strategic advice and analysis regarding the financial impact of decision making and potential risks affecting the FSA will represent an invaluable contribution to our processes, and your efforts around developing your team will help to build a strong financial reporting and planning function that will support the FSA for years to come.
In order to bring together colleagues from across the FSA and deliver effectively, youll need to be a brilliant communicator who can influence others and demonstrate the value of all that your team does. Youll have a firm understanding and working knowledge of financial and risk management and will be able to clearly convey these concepts to those outside of the field.
If you are an expert in delivering insightful and coherent reports that have been drawn from diverse and complex data and can help us identify the bigger picture and mould our strategy around what is needed, and what best serves the public, apply today for this fantastic opportunity to play a significant role in supporting all that the FSA does.
This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by.
Person specification
Please read the attached Candidate Pack to discover further details about the role, our organisation, who we are looking for and the criteria we will assess against during the selection process.
We look forward to receiving your application and wish you every success.
Technical skills
We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Technical Criteria: Qualified with CCAB, CIMA
Benefits
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Full details of the selection process are detailed in the attached candidate pack.
Application and shortlisting
You will be asked to provide personal details (not seen by the Panel) and to confirm your eligibility to apply for the role.
You will then be asked to complete an application which will be used to assess you against the following essential criteria.
Experience
- Lead criteria: Experience of providing strategic oversight on key financial matters focusing on maximising efficient delivery. Overseeing strong financial controls and leading on strategic business planning and performance reporting, monitoring and ensuring the effective delivery of the strategic plan.
- Excellent analytical skills leading to the ability to understand causal factors / financial drivers that create deviations from budgets and forecasts and the ability to create a strong and compelling narrative in creating a case for change.
- Strong leadership skills, and the ability to motivate and develop a diverse finance team. Promoting consistent excellence in the team’s output, whilst balancing working at pace to manage a full workload with conflicting short and long-term priorities.
- Experience of building strong, trust-based relationships with multiple internal and external stakeholders including at the highest levels or organisations – demonstrating the communications skills, impact and gravitas to effectively collaborate, challenge assumptions and influence direction.
- A proven ability to lead change and transformation, identifying opportunities to improve and innovate and leading the design, delivery and implementation of new ways of working.
Technical
- Qualified with CCAB, CIMA.
Lead Criteria An initial sift may take place on just the identified Lead Criteria indicated.
In the event that we receive a large number of applications, the minimum pass mark for the Lead Criteria may be raised at shortlisting stage. Candidates who apply under the DCS, GPTW or RIS schemes and meet the minimum requirements will be unaffected by the pass mark raise.
Staff Engagement Exercise
If successful at shortlisting stage, you will be invited to take part in a Staff Engagement Exercise (SEE), before going on to attend a panel interview on a different day.
Interview
If successful at shortlisting stage, you will be invited to a final interview in which we will assess you against a blend of Behaviours (Level 5) and Experience, details of which will be shared on the invitation to interview.
As part of the selection process, you will be asked to prepare for the SEE / prepare a seen presentation. Further information will be provided to you on the invite to interview email.
Shortlisted candidates will be offered the opportunity to meet (remotely) with the Director of People and Resources, Ruth Nolan, prior to the final selection panel interview to learn more about the organisation and role; further details of this will be confirmed with the applicant.
Expected Timeline
Advert closes: 24 September 2023
Sift meeting: Expected to take place during week commencing 25 September 2023
Staff Engagement Exercise (SEE): Expected to take place during week commencing 9 October 2023
Informal discussions: Expected to take place during weeks commencing w/c 9 and 16 October 2023
Final panel interview: Expected to take place during week commencing 23 October 2023
Interviews will be held remotely via MS Teams.
Please note that indicated dates may be subject to change.
The FSA is dedicated to a policy of equal opportunity for all.
Being truly reflective of our society and building a culture where everyone can perform at their best is critical to the work of the FSA. We are looking to recruit from the widest possible talent pool and encourage candidates to apply from a diverse range of backgrounds. We are proud to be an inclusive, equal opportunities employer and are committed to ensuring that all candidates are treated fairly throughout the recruitment and selection process and beyond. All appointments are made on merit.
Please be assured that diversity or socioeconomic information requested during the course of your application plays absolutely no part in our selection processes and is not seen by anyone assessing applications. Any information provided is anonymised and used for statistical purposes only.
We actively review the deployment of talent on a periodic basis in the interests of optimising personal development and the achievement of business plans.
Childcare Vouchers
Any move to the Food Standards Agency 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
Reserve List
A reserve list will be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointment may be made.
Visa Sponsorship
Please note that the FSA does not hold a licence to sponsor any visa applications and we are unable to provide any advice about visas.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them
to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through
building your depth of expertise.
As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above.
This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions.
Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and
conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your
personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any
absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you
to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Apply and further information
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Sue Milligan
- Email : sue.milligan@food.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : hr.recruitment.campaigns@food.gov.uk
Further information
