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About the job
Job summary
The UK Space Agency (UKSA) is an executive agency of the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) and provides technical advice on the governments space strategy, supporting the UK space sector to deliver the governments vision.
Space is a part of everyday life. Satellites underpin our national economy, from agriculture and banking to aviation and shipping, and support our national security. Space science provides critical data to understand and address global challenges such as climate change, while missions to explore our solar system unite nations and advance humanitys horizons.
We support a thriving space sector in the UK, which generates an annual income of £16.5 billion and employs 47,000 people across the country.
Through our portfolio of programmes and projects, we encourage the development of national space capabilities and are an early-stage investor in space research and development. We also promote the UK space sectors interests and achievements; make connections to join up industry and academia; and represent the UK in international space programmes.
We have a powerful global voice, partnering with institutions across the world, including the European Space Agency.
More information about the Agency is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-space-agency
To discover more please watch this film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbZZ-o0IkVU
Our Inclusive Environment
We have an inclusive culture to make UK Space Agency a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it will help us be more innovative and make better decisions.
We offer first-class flexible working benefits, excellent employee well-being support and a great pension. We are fortunate to have a range of excellent staff networks and are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We will support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive.
We actively welcome applications from anyone who shares our commitment to inclusion.
Job description
UK Space Agency finance is a small, friendly team at the heart of decision making. This is an exciting opportunity for a high-performing finance professional to join us as an Assistant Finance Business Partner. Reporting to the Finance Business Partner, the post holder will work alongside budget holders, business managers and financial accounts team.
Working collaboratively to provide financial challenge and support across the Agency, the role will provide financial guidance to colleagues in UK Space Agency.
Key Responsibilities:
Reporting to the Finance Business Partner (FBP), the Assistant Finance Business Partners duties will include, but are not limited to:
- Supporting budget holders and the FBP in the preparation of monthly and annual financial reporting packs, including the monthly budget, actuals and forecast.
- Analysis of financial performance against targets identifying variances, risks and mitigations.
- The management of key programme delivery budgets for (including budgeting, forecasting, analysis and reporting):
- UK Space Agency resource expenditure. This includes grant expenditure, commissioning budgets, salary, training, accommodation and IT services.
- Payroll, Contractors and cross departmental staff recharges. Working closely with HR colleagues to maintain a dynamic cost model of staff costs for the programme based on up to date FTE data and resourcing plans.
- Travel and Subsistence.
- Analysing the accounts and the preparation of adjustment journals in line with extant financial accounting policies.
- Coordination of the Agencys delegation letters and expenditure approvals process.
- Assist the FBP with central finance and audit queries on management information.
Person specification
Essential Skills, Knowledge and Experience:
- Highly numerate individual with strong analytical skills.
- Good knowledge of Excel.
- Excellent written skills and an ability to explain complex financial information to non-finance audience.
- Ability to communicate across all levels.
- Strong negotiation and influencing skills to influence senior management as well as senior programme leads or technical experts.
- Significant experience of working in a finance team.
- Ability to work on own initiative and under pressure with competing demands to tight deadlines.
- Ability to work proactively to anticipate issues and develop options/solutions in order to prevent escalation.
- Proven interpersonal skills with an ability to work within own team as well as with colleagues in other parts of the organisation.
- Willingness to learn and provide support within the wider finance team.
Desirable Skills, Knowledge, Experience and Qualifications:
- CCAB qualified / part qualified or can demonstrate qualification by experience.
- Advanced knowledge of Excel and accounting systems
- Demonstrable experience of using management information to support and improve overall operational delivery
- Experience/knowledge of Oracle financial system, Purchasing Module and General Ledger Module.
- Experience of working within a central government department and/or a Shared Service Centre environment.
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Technical skills
We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Experience of working as part of a finance team.
Benefits
UKSA offers a competitive mix of benefits including:
- A culture of flexible working, such as job sharing, homeworking and compressed hours.
- Automatic enrolment into the Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%.
- A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.
- An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities, which all staff are actively encouraged to pursue.
- Access to a range of retail, travel, and lifestyle employee discounts
- A generous maternity/paternity and adoption leave package.
- This job role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is an informal, non-contractual and voluntary arrangement, blending a balance of attendance in the workplace (your permanent duty station which is based on business assessment of where the work is best done) and working from home, or elsewhere, as a personal choice (if the role is suitable for this). If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.
- The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
UK Space Agency is undergoing a transformation programme which may impact your role, line manager and/or location in the future. We will share more details with you as they become known.
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement and a number of behavioural statements and a technical skills example.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Please use your personal statement (in no more than 500 words) to provide evidence of relevant experience to support your application and CV, identifying strengths and experiences that make you suitable for this position
Please note – the CV incorporated into the application form is for information purposes only and will not be scored.
The Sift will be assessed on behaviours, personal statement and technical skills
In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the lead behaviour – Communicating and Influencing.
Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
The Interview will be assessed on behaviours and technical skills
Sift and interview dates
Expected Timeline subject to change
Sift dates: w/c 02/10/2023
Interview dates: w/c 16/10/2023
Interview Location: MS Teams.
Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.
Further Information
This post is advertised as a Fixed term or Loan contract for a period until 31/01/2025
Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). 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.
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.
Reasonable Adjustment
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.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
Contact Government Recruitment Service via uksarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the Assistance required 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 youre 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.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe carried out.
Any move to UK Space 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 https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/
A reserve list will be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.
Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
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 circumstance 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-Employment.Checks@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
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 applicants 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.
Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
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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).
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Harminder Chana
- Email : harminder.chana@ukspaceagency.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : uksarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
