Financial Strategy Lead
2 days ago
London
The United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is a system leader for health security; taking action internationally to strengthen global health security, providing trusted advice to government and the public and reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health.UKHSA’s remit, as an agency with a global-to-local reach, is to protect the health of the nation from infectious diseases and other external threats to health. As the nation’s expert national health security agency UKHSA will:- Prevent: anticipate threats to health and help build the nation’s readiness, defences and health security- Detect: use cutting edge environmental and biological surveillance to proactively detect and monitor infectious diseases and threats to health- Analyse: use world-class science and data analytics to assess and continually monitor threats to health, identifying how best to control and mitigate the risks- Respond: take rapid, collaborative and effective actions nationally and locally to mitigate threats to health when they materialise- Lead: lead strong and sustainable global, national, regional and local partnerships designed to save lives, protect the nation from public health threats and reduce inequalities.Job overviewFinancial Strategy sits at the heart of organisational decision making and straddles finance and policy communities. The team works closely with UKHSA Senior leaders to protect the Accounting Officer in accordance with Managing Public Money. Main duties of the jobThe post holder will be required to forge strong and influential relationships with both internal and external stakeholders, including strategy, policy, HR, commercial and operational colleagues. The post holder will need to work across the organisation at all stages of policy development and delivery, ensuring cohesive organisational strategic decisions and investment approval, and compliance with delegated authority.Working for our organisationWe pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce. UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all. Please visit our careers site for more information pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce. UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all. Please visit our careers site for more information job description and main responsibilitiesAs part of the main duties, you will be expected to:- be a trusted expert on Organisational and Cross Government Spending controls. Add insight to evidence-based decision making, ensuring the financial position and implications of policy options are clear, and financial risks understood. Challenge, seek assurance and provide recommendations on value for money and return on investments.- Provide strategic financial advice to inform Ministers, Senior Officials, and decision-making bodies on the financial position and the policy and operational choices.- Keep the Accounting Officer safe by ensuring they can justify and defend the use of public funds to Parliament. Lead financial clearance of ministerial submissions, ensuring affordability and value for money, alignment with strategic priorities and effective consideration of Accounting Officer assessment criteria.- Lead on securing budget settlements and supporting business planning activities. This may include forecasting and modelling.- Develop strong, collaborative relationships with DHSC finance and policy teams and contribute to the monthly and quarterly sponsorship accountability governance processes, understanding and considering the Departmental position and risks.- The role also includes working closely across the finance function on annual budgeting process to ensure the organisation’s financial and budget planning aligns with the departmental strategy and is reflected on UKHSA financial systems- Represent UKHSA in cross-government engagement including HM Treasury, Cabinet Office and Other Government Departments to inform cross-cutting strategic policy decisions and financial affordability of emerging government priorities.- Own the relationship with HM Treasury, enabling them to conduct reviews, assurance and approval's effectively and ensure all HM Treasury stipulated conditions are met.- Lead on financial reviews of the organisation with senior stakeholders.- Providing coaching and feedback proactively to identify gaps in the financial knowledge of the business.- Horizon scanning to identify potential issues and helping Directorates develop solutions.This is not an exhaustive list.Essential Criteria- Strategy or policy experience in a complex organisation.- Strong stakeholder management skills - this includes the ability to build positive and collaborative working relationships at all levels.- Strong communication skills. In particular, around influencing policy and strategy teams to improve value for money.- Confident challenging stakeholders to ensure a quality outcome.- Comfortable advising senior people about difficult business decisions, often with very tight deadlines.- Ability to work collaboratively across business areas to deliver organisational objectives.- Have knowledge of financial frameworks and budget setting- Able to demonstrate financial and budget planning experience using finance systems, development of and administration using budgeting tools- Able to demonstrate experience of the maintenance of over-arching budget control schedules across a similar organisational environment - Track record of delivering across multiple projects and under pressure. Ability to maintain resilience and a can-do attitude, in a very fast paced environment.- Good numeracy skills – including being able to interpret and analyse, and clearly communicate financial data.- High level of proficiency with Microsoft Excel and proficiency with other Microsoft tools (Word, PowerPoint). Selection SummaryThis vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your behaviours and strengths.Stage 1: Application & Sift You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed essential criteria, and this will be in the form of: - an application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application) - a 750 word supporting statementThis should outline how you consider your skills, experience and knowledge provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria. You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (The application form is the kind of information you would put into your C.V –please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible). Please do not email us your CV. Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 750 words. We will not consider any words over 750 words.Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of: - Meets all essential criteria - Meets some essential criteria - Meets no essential criteria Only those meeting all essential criteria will be taken through to shortlisting. Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on:- Strategy or policy experience in a complex organisation- Strong stakeholder management skills - this includes the ability to build positive and collaborative working relationships at all levelsIf you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview and assessment.Please do not exceed 750 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number. Feedback will not be provided at this stage. Stage 2: Interview You will be invited to a face to face interview at our Canary Wharf offices. In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview. Behaviours and strengths will be tested at interview. You will be required to prepare a 5-10 minute presentation as part of the interview. The presentation details will be sent to you prior to the interview.The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:- Seeing the big picture (Lead behaviour)- Communicating and influencing- Working at Pace - Changing and ImprovingInterviews dates are to be confirmed. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.LocationThis role is being offered as hybrid working based at one of our Core HQ’s in either Leeds or London (Canary Wharf). We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, averaged over a month).Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport link and benefit from benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).Eligibility Criteria Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants). Security Clearance Level Requirement Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Security Check clearance. For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 5 years as the role requires Security Check clearance. UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder / Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice. Salary Guide- Leeds - Grade 7 (National) £56,185 - £66,581- London - Grade 7 (Inner) £60,494 - £70,566Please note: If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms. Person specificationApplication form and supporting statementEssential criteria- Application form and supporting statementBehavioursEssential criteria- Seeing the big picture- Communicating and influencing- Working at pace- Changing and improvingPresentationEssential criteria- PresentationIMPORTANT - PLEASE READ Artificial Intelligence (AI)Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use. Link below:Artificial intelligence and recruitment | Civil Service CareersThis is a Non-Reserved post under the Civil Service Nationality Rules. To be eligible for employment in the UK Civil Service applicants must meet the Civil Service Nationality Rules (CSNRs) which operate independently of and additionally to the Immigration Rules. Applicants must also meet necessary security and vetting requirements, along with any other relevant pre-employment checks. 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 ServiceFor more information on job nationality requirements and the right to work in the UK, see the Civil Service Nationality rules (opens in a new window) and the UK Visas and Immigration rules (opens in a new window)For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, new entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. For existing Civil Servants and roles advertised across government, the rules of transfer apply, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive a 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest. The Civil Service pay structure and progression is different from NHS Agenda for Change (AfC), most local authority pay grades and other systems that have annual pay increments. For further details, please refer to the Information Sheet- Starting Salaries & Benefits attachment. For AfC or Medical/Dental...