Finance Manager – Commercial (Qualified)


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Details

Reference number

315051

Salary

£56,230 – £67,492
The salary range is from £56,230 to £67,492 (for National based locations only). Civil Servants applying on promotion will usually be appointed to the salary minimum or within 10% of existing salary

Job grade

Grade 7

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

DWP – Finance Group – Commercial Directorate

Type of role

Accountancy
Commercial
Corporate Finance
Finance
Procurement and Contracts Management

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

Number of jobs available

3

Contents

Birmingham – 3 Arena Central, Bridge Street, Birmingham B1 2AX, Blackpool Peel Park – Brunel Way, Blackpool FY4 5ES, Glasgow Atlantic Quay – Glasgow G2 8SP, 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.

Job summary

We are hiring for a Finance Manager – Commercial (Qualified) to join us our Commercial Finance team in Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

We’re a small team with a broad reach. We work across critical commercial and procurement categories and projects – we provide colleagues with financial guidance and support, before and during the life of commercial contracts.

As a team we’re responsible for providing financial support to major procurements projects and post contract award support, which includes Open Book analysis, supplier viability analysis, payment modelling, and financial Strategy development.

We lead and support commercial finance engagement on major program procurement activity, with associated contractual values up to £billions in value.  

As our new Commercial Finance Manager –  you’ll support different workstreams across commercial finance. Currently, that means working with DWP’s Employment, Health and Estates teams. 

Job description

Tell me more about the position

You’re a senior, trusted and expert voice on Commercial Finance. You’ll provide specialist and strategic commercial finance advice to senior decision makers and ministerial advisors.

Our team supports over £6bn of public sector tenders. We help our customers in designing payment methodology for new procurement activity, drive the financial evaluation strategy, and leading in procurement dialogue and contract negotiations.

DWP is a huge organisation, and we have a complex stakeholder network. You’ll collaborate with, coach and support senior stakeholders within Commercial, operational and Policy communities. You’ll provide analytical insight and data-driven recommendations to them, and help develop and implement our wider approach to commercial finance.

You will lead your team, setting the direction so we can turn commercial policy into standard practice and growing the capability and expertise of our commercial finance community.

Career Development & Learning

Colleagues have joined us from a variety of backgrounds, sectors and specialisms; they enjoy the exposure and stretch opportunity this position provides. 

Your learning, development and career growth journey doesn’t end when you join DWP. It’s just getting started. Everyone in DWP gets a guaranteed 5-days learning per year when they want to expand their accounting skills, and the reality is you’ll have access to as much learning as you want.

DWP Finance has a significant remit to implement the Government’s welfare and economic growth so there is lots of opportunity to progress.

We have a highly supportive and collaborative finance and commercial community here – you’ll be able to tap into that expertise through coaching and mentoring programmes and the collaborative nature of your work.

Person specification

The roles and responsibilities for this position include, but are not restricted to:

What can I expect to be doing day-to-day?

  • Lead and manage financial analysis and cost intelligence projects across high-value procurement activities together with assessing supplier financial viability
  • Lead and support commercial finance engagement
  • Support the architectural design of financial models for procurement tender rounds, providing ‘should cost’ and payment modelling analysis to assess both risk and value for money for DWP and the taxpayer.
  • Contract/In-life Management – lead and design financial analysis during tender rounds and in-life contract management, including open-book contract management.
  • Provide specialist advice and guidance to senior stakeholder and the wider organisation – including payment models, investment, make or buy decisions, ‘should cost’, financial due diligence and contractual terms.
  • You and your team will work to raise financial and commercial awareness across the organisation, providing guidance and training to key stakeholders as required.
  • Our work assesses the financial impact of contract award decisions and associated funding requirements.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS

The application process will involve uploading a CV and personal statement. To be successful, you must demonstrate your experience matching ALL of the Essential Skills listed below. Further information under ‘Application process’.

What do we need to see from you?

To be successful in joining DWP Commercial Finance you should be able to demonstrate the following Essential Skills, as part of our application process:

  • Hold a full chartered level professional qualification awarded by an IFAC recognised accounting body for example ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or ICAEW, and to hold full membership of that body
  • An understanding of the Commercial Finance impact across the full Commercial / Procurement lifecycle including knowledge/understanding of commercial / procurement policies.
  • Experience of leading and delivering change effectively.
  • Have strong leadership skills and experience of leading individuals and teams effectively in delivery of large scale or complex commercial / procurement projects and programs across a diverse portfolio.
  • Display the ability to work in an agile and flexible manner in order to manage changing priorities and competing challenges.
  • Demonstrate previous experience of working collaboratively across a range of stakeholders and gaining buy-in using appropriate communication and influencing skills, preferably in a finance context.

Qualifications

Hold a full chartered level professional qualification awarded by an IFAC recognised accounting body for example ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or ICAEW, and to hold full membership of that body

Pay, benefits and culture

You’ll join us in one of our brilliant DWP hub locations of Birmingham, Blackpool, Glasgow, Leeds, Newcastle, Manchester or Sheffield.

Our team loves the ability to balance their life and their work, with flexible hours, flex-friendly, hybrid working (some time in the office, some time at home) and lots more. Flexi-time policy means that at those times when you might need to work longer to get the job done, you build up flexi-credits that you can use to start later or finish earlier or take extra days off.

Our teams are friendly and supportive – the work we do is important, but your life, health and happiness come first.

In return for your skills, we offer salary range of £56,230 £67,492 p.a., an attractive civil service pension with employer contributions of over 27% into a defined benefit pension scheme and a generous leave package of 25 Days, rising to 30 Days over time.

We also have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:

  • Flexible working and family friendly policies
  • Volunteering and charitable giving
  • Discounts and savings on shopping, fun days out and more
  • Interest-free loans to buy a bike or a season ticket, so it’s even easier for you to get to work and start making a difference
  • Sports and social activities
  • Learning and development, including coaching, mentoring, progression opportunities and guaranteed 5-days formal learning per year.
  • And lots more
  • A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

CLICK APPLY for further information and to start an application on Civil Service Jobs.

Selection process details

Please apply on the Civil Service Jobs website. 

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete:

  • Provide personal information.
  • Enter your CV in the space provided, setting out your employment history, education, professional qualifications and giving details of key achievements, including details of the work and projects that you have been involved in. 
  • Complete a personal statement (maximum of 1250 words) which should demonstrate how you meet ALL the essential skills as set out in the job description.

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

Stage 1 Assessment – Sift:

At sift, we will assess your application by using your CV and personal statement only. To be successful, you must demonstrate your experience matching ALL of the Essential Skills listed in the job advert above.

Stage 2 Assessment – Interview:

If you are successful at the sift stage, you will be invited to a video interview using MS Teams, we will assess your relevant experience against the essential skills mentioned above.

You will also be expected to present a 5 minute presentation to the interview panel during the interview. The presentation will be 5 mins plus up to 5 mins for questions.  Slides will be allowed, and the topic of the presentation will be given to those invited to interview ahead of the interview being held.

Indicative Timeline:

Please note that the following dates are only indicative at this stage and could be subject to change. If you are unable to meet these time frames, please let us know in your application.

  • Application closing date is 15th October 2023.
  • Sifting Panel: to be held from w/c 16th October 2023.
  • Final Panel Interviews: to be held from w/c 30th October 2023.

Further Information

Find out more about Working for DWP

Successful candidates will be posted to a specific role and will have the opportunity to express a preference as part of the selection process, although final decisions may come down to business need, and the skills and development needs of candidates. Standard promotion rules will apply, and successful candidates will be placed on the pay scale and terms and conditions of DWP. 

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.

Successful candidates will be posted to a specific role and will have the opportunity to express a preference as part of the selection process, although final decisions may come down to business need, and the skills and development needs of candidates. 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:

Birmingham 3 Arena Central, Bridge Street, Birmingham B1 2AX

  1. Birmingham, 3 Arena Central, Bridge Street, Birmingham B1 2AX
  2. Blackpool Peel Park, Brunel Way, Blackpool FY4 5ES
  3. Glasgow, Atlantic Quay, Glasgow G2 8SP
  4. Leeds – Quarry House, Quarry Hill, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7UA.
  5. Manchester – 2 St Peter’s Square, Manchester, M2 3AA.
  6. Newcastle – Benton Park View, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE98 1BA.
  7. Sheffield – Hartshead Square, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S1 2FD.

Some travel may be required, but individuals’ circumstances will be taken into account.

Places for Growth and Social Mobility 

As part of the Places for Growth Programme, we are committed to delivering a more geographically diverse Civil and Public Service that will better serve the public and ministers.

As part of this initiative, we are continuously reviewing how we recruit into each location.

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 again by location.

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.

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.

If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working, including whether a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for you, will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.

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/Disclosure Scotland 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.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk 

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.
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available.
You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

  • Name : Judith Hann-Greaves
  • Email : commercialdirectorate.recruitment@dwp.gov.uk

Recruitment team

  • Email : dwprecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

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.

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