Commercial Finance Manager

Job summary

We are excited to announce that we are currently seeking a qualified Commercial Financial Manager to join our Commercial Finance team at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

The Commercial Finance team is a small team with a big remit. Our team plays a crucial role operating across critical commercial projects and procurement activities, providing colleagues with financial guidance and support across the entire life cycle of commercial contracts.

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

The Commercial Finance Manager (SEO) will primarily focus on supporting financial negotiating and assessing financial viability of major contractors, supporting the Health workstreams within the Commercial Finance team.

Job description

The Commercial Finance team is a small team with a wide reach, working currently across the DWP Health Commercial Category, to support our commercial colleagues on sourcing activity and to provide financial support during the in-life management of contracts.

The team supports over £3bn of public sector tenders. We support our customers designing payment methodology for procurement activity, playing a key role in procurement dialogue and negotiations, and providing financial support when monitoring and assessing the financial health of our suppliers during procurement, implementation and live running to ensure we bring out the best value for money in our programmes.

We have an exciting opportunity for an SEO Commercial Finance Manager within the Commercial Directorate. The role will be to support -

1. Commercial finance engagement on major program procurements (ranging from £hundreds of millions to £billions in contractual value)
2. Manage multiple relationships across DWP, in particular, with key senior stakeholders within Finance, Commercial and Policy communities to demonstrate a clear understanding of commercial finance strategic direction and
3. Act as a trusted partner to commercial teams as they manage supplier on commercial agreements.

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

This post is challenging. It will require pro-active and innovative thinking, with excellent communication skills and an outgoing and enthusiastic approach to financial challenges.

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

You’ll be working in a small team of accountants providing advice to the Head of Commercial Finance, on the safe delivery of £bn’s worth of contracted services. You’ll support standardising the approach to commercial finance modelling activities across DWP’s major programmes including:

• Support the delivery of financial analysis and cost intelligence projects across high-value procurement activities together with assessing supplier financial viability.
• Provide support for commercial finance engagement with stakeholders.
• Provide specialist advice and guidance to stakeholders and the wider organisation - including payment models, investment, make or buy decisions, ‘should cost’, financial due diligence and contractual terms.
• Contract/In-life Management – collaborate on the design of financial analysis during tender rounds and in-life contract management.
• Payment methodology and design – working with operational colleagues to support the design of robust and fair payment mechanisms to maximise successful outcomes, whilst managing risk and achieve value for money for the taxpayer.

The post holders will report to one of the Grade 7 Commercial Finance Managers supporting the Commercial Categories and to deliver its key objectives.

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 Criteria as part of our application process:

• Data analysis, supporting the creation of bespoke analysis and comfortable going beyond the numbers to develop a compelling narrative in a project related environment.
• Conducting financial analysis to evaluate the financial health of Suppliers, understanding the risk to the contract to support Commercial Contract Risk Management.
• Financial modelling experience, the ability to scope and work alongside the modelling team to support the development of complex models to provide expert advice and insight.
• Experience in raising financial and commercial awareness across stakeholders through providing advice and training.
• Have experience in working with multiple stakeholders, supporting the understanding and communication of complex commercial finance analysis and recommendations to support Commercial teams in understanding the commercial finance strategic direction.
• Demonstrate previous experience of working collaboratively across a range of stakeholders at all levels, using appropriate communication and influencing skills, with the confidence to challenge and manage stakeholder expectations.
• Strong Excel skills, including the ability to analyse data, use formulas, and present information clearly.
• Confident in creating clear, engaging presentations using PowerPoint, tailored to different audiences.

Professional Qualification Requirement

This role is open to CCAB / CIMA qualified accountants or part-qualified accountants who are still studying. Please note the higher rate of pay is only available upon full qualification.

Qualifications

You must hold a full chartered level qualification, or be studying for a professional qualification, awarded by a UK-recognised accountancy body: CIMA, ICAEW, ACCA, CIPFA, ICAS or Chartered Accountants Ireland.

Memberships

Eligibility criteria for qualified accountants:

You must hold a full chartered level professional qualification awarded by a UK-recognised accountancy body: CIMA, ICAEW, ACCA, CIPFA, ICAS or Chartered Accountants Ireland. Your membership of one of these institutes must be up to date and live on the day you submit your application. If you are invited to interview, you will be asked to provide evidence of both your qualification status and your membership being current on the date you applied. Please note that membership of AAT or other technician level qualifications does not satisfy the qualification criteria for this role. If you are unsure whether you meet the qualification criteria, you should confirm with our recruitment team before proceeding with your application. If you hold a chartered level accountancy qualification with an overseas body, you will not be eligible to apply for this role. However, most of the UK-recognised accountancy bodies operate reciprocal agreements and pathways programmes which allow people with overseas qualifications to apply for membership. We would recommend pursuing this if you are interested in a career in UK government finance. You would then be eligible to apply for our future vacancies, once your membership became active.

Eligibility criteria for part-qualified accountants:

You must be studying for a qualification with a UK-recognised accountancy body: CIMA, ICAEW, ACCA, CIPFA, ICAS or Chartered Accountants Ireland. You must have passed (or been awarded an exemption from) a minimum of 8 exams so far, and your last exam sitting must have been within 12 months from the date you submit your application. Your student membership of your institute must be up to date and live on the day you submit your application. If you are invited to interview, you will be asked to provide evidence of both your exam passes/exemptions to date and your membership being current on the date you applied for the role. Please note that membership of AAT or other technician level qualifications does not satisfy the part-qualification criteria for this role. If you are unsure whether you meet the part-qualification criteria, you should confirm with our recruitment team before proceeding with your application. If you are successful in applying for the role, you will be expected to complete your studies and become a fully qualified accountant within a reasonable timeframe. If, ultimately, you do not achieve full qualification with your institute, you may in future be moved into a different role that does not require a professional finance qualification.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

Pay, benefits and culture

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 £44,447 – £54,772 (National based locations), an attractive civil service pension with employer contributions of over 28% into a defined benefit pension scheme and a generous leave package of 25 Days, rising to 30 Days over time.

Our offer to successful candidates will be based on an assessment of your skills and experience as demonstrated at interview.

Existing Civil Servants who secure a new role on lateral transfer should maintain their current salary.

Existing Civil Servants who gain promotion may move to the bottom of the grade pay scale or 10% increase in salary whichever would be the greater.

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

• Working patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
• Generous annual leave – at least 25 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (pro–rata for part time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave.
• Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme.
• Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly).
• Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 year’s continuous service.
• Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes.
• An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Women’s Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more.

This job role is suitable for hybrid working, 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 needs, but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be considered. 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. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

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 (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Please apply on the Civil Service Jobs website. You will be required to:

• Provide personal information.
• Enter your CV in the space provided, setting out your employment history.
• Complete a personal statement (maximum of 1250 words) which should demonstrate how you meet ALL the ESSENTIAL CRITERIA 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.

Please note that you are not required to produce behaviour-based examples in the content of your CV or personal statement as these are not assessed at sift. Applications will be sifted and scored based on the information supplied in both your CV and personal statement and entered as one overall score within the results.

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 and the Behaviours listed below.

Interview Assessment Elements (Success Profiles):

We will assess the following Behaviours at interview:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

Candidates invited to interview, will be expected to deliver a 5-minute presentation to the interview panel during the interview. The presentation will be a maximum of 5 minutes plus up to 5 minutes 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: 1st March
• Sifting Panel: week commencing 2nd March
• Final Panel Interviews: week commencing 30th March and 6th April

Please be aware that these timescales are indicative and could be subject to change.

Further Information

At the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.

Find out more about working for DWP on the DWP Careers Hub.

Postings

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.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.

If you are placed on a reserve list but we cannot immediately offer you a post, please note:

• If you are later offered the role you applied for, in a location you have expressed a preference for, and you decline the offer or are unable to take up the post within a reasonable timeframe you will be withdrawn from the campaign and removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances (e.g. a contractual Part Time Working Pattern cannot be accommodated in the initial role offered or in cases of serious ill health).
• If DWP makes an offer of an alternative role or location to that which you originally applied for, and you decline that offer, you will be able to remain on the reserve list.

The role available will be based in:

• 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

Some travel may be required, but individuals’ circumstances will be considered.

Disability Confident Scheme

If high application volumes are received, the benchmark for candidates to proceed to the next stage may be raised. In line with our commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS), we aim to advance all candidates applying under the DCS who meet the minimum standard. However, we may only progress those candidates who best meet the required standards.

Reasonable Adjustments

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 the 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.

Integrity, plagiarism and Civil Service Principles

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.

Examples of plagiarism can include:

• Presenting the work, ideas and experience of others as your own
• Copying content or answers from an online or published source that is not your own

Disclosure and Barring Service and Internal Fraud Database Checks

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

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.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check will be carried out.

Important

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

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. If you are a current employee and are successful you must be able to be released from your current post within four weeks.

Those on protected TUPE/ COSoP terms and conditions applying on promotion or voluntary permanent level move will adopt DWP’s Terms and Conditions and this may have a different impact on pay and allowances. Please review this prior to acceptance of a role.

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. Accepting a post will be taken to mean acceptance of revised terms & conditions.

Civil Servants applying on promotion will usually be appointed to the salary minimum or within 10% of existing salary.

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 the Childcare Choices Website.

Visa

Please note that for these vacancies we recommend that applicants seek specialist advice on their eligibility for Visa Sponsorship (if applicable) when considering whether to apply for any role. We can never guarantee sponsorship, requests will be considered in line with the relevant DWP guidance and Home Office policy in place at the time.

Feedback

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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

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 : judith.hann-greaves@dwp.gov.uk

Recruitment team

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

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact DWP by email: HR.BUSINESSASSURANCE@DWP.GOV.UK.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission. Click here to visit the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

Commercial Finance Manager Opens in new window (pdf, 1187kB)DWP Terms and Conditions January 2024 Opens in new window (docx, 17kB)Success-Profiles-Candidate-Overview Opens in new window (pdf, 635kB)