Finance Business Partner - Water Regulator

Job summary

In the Defra group, we deal with a vast range of issues that profoundly impact on people’s lives. We are responsible for England’s environment, our countryside and rural economy, the food and farming sectors and have lead responsibility for protection from a wide range of natural threats and hazards. As a key member of the Defra Group Finance team, you’ll contribute to shaping policies and decisions that have a meaningful impact on the environment.

Following the outcome of the Independent Water Commission recommendations, we’re seeking an experienced and motivated finance professional to provide expert support on the creation and implementation of a new water regulator. This high-impact role ensures strategic alignment across Defra and wider government, while fostering collaboration and driving forward Defra’s financial objectives.

We expect other Policy G7 FBP roles to be available over the coming months and will therefore be establishing a reserve list from this recruitment campaign.

Job description

The creation and implementation of new water regulator is high-profile, fast-paced and challenging, spanning multiple directorates and stakeholders across Defra, wider government and arms-length-bodies. This role offers an exciting opportunity to be at the forefront of change, contributing to the delivery of a programme that will have huge impact on the future of UK water industry. You’ll be supporting on all aspects of implementation of the new water regulator.

What will the successful candidate be doing?

The role provides finance business partner and technical accounting support on Water Regulator programme and other aspects of water reform implementation as required.

You will be responsible for evaluating current spending, new proposals and business case development to ensure they deliver on both departmental priorities and maximum value for money. You’ll also support on the more technical financial accounting and governance aspects of how we merge elements of four organisations into a new single regulator. You'll maintain robust financial controls, while also supporting on developing multi-year planning, forecasting, financial accounting and governance processes.

Working closely with Finance Business Partners, Financial Accounts, Strategic Finance, Defra Investment Committee and HM Treasury you will help develop a regulator that is both affordable in the transition phase and sustainable in the longer-term. Your role will also ensure compliance with Managing Public Money and Consolidated Budgeting Guidance guidelines, providing sound advice to the Accounting Officer on all expenditure in your area.

Key responsibilities will include but not be limited to:

• Working in collaboration with the Water Reform team to establish a sound internal financial control framework which will enable effective financial planning, forecasting and reporting of spend across Defra Group at a project level.
• Providing rigorous financial scrutiny and challenge during the development of business case and investment proposals to support value-for-money outcomes.
• Work with Defra financial accounts team to understand the financial accounts implications, including balance sheet, disclosures, income and asset transfers required when setting up a new organisation.
• Engage directly with senior leaders across Defra, HM Treasury, and the Investment Committee, influencing strategic decisions and providing expert financial advice at the highest level
• Working in partnership with Defra financial accounts team and policy team to support in the design and implementation of robust financial accounting and reporting processes for the new water regulator.
• Building and influencing strong relationships with budget holders and key stakeholders across Arm’s Length Bodies (ALBs), Policy teams, and Group Corporate Services, facilitating effective collaboration and serving as a vital link to the wider finance community.
• Leading finance business partnering activities for Water Reform programme, including preparation for fiscal events, multi-year business planning, submissions and advice to Ministers and HMT and annual budget setting.
• Providing the Accounting Officer with clear, balanced, and pragmatic financial advice to support informed decision-making.
• Supporting accurate financial forecasts and plans through robust challenge and collaborative engagement with budget holders and finance stakeholders.
• Representing the Finance function on project and programme boards and working groups, ensuring financial implications are thoroughly understood and integrated into decision-making processes.

We will be establishing a 12-month reserve list which we will first recruitment from in the event of other Policy Finance Business Partnering roles becoming available.

Person specification

• Full qualified member of an accounting body e.g. (ACCA, ACA, CIPFA or CIMA) or demonstratable equivalent experience in financial reporting and financial governance.
• Strong technical knowledge of IFRS, government financial reporting and governance requirements.
• A track record of influencing and engaging stakeholders at all levels, fostering productive and collaborative relationships.
• Proven ability to use analytical skills and sound judgement and consider the big picture when solving complex problems within uncertain contexts, and ability to develop creative and pragmatic solutions which fit business needs.
• The ability to articulate complex financial concepts and landscapes clearly and accurately to senior leadership and key decision-makers.
• Experienced in evaluating investment proposals, identifying associated risks, and advocating for value-for-money outcomes to support sound financial decision-making.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

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

• Experience of interpreting financial standards, financial reporting and financial governance

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £56,375, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £16,331 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

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, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical Skills.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement, technical example and behavioural statements.

Applications will be sifted on behavioural statements, technical example, CV and personal statement. In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the personal statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment / interview. We may also raise the score required at any stage of the process if we receive a high number of applicants.

Candidates successful at sift stage will be invited to a video interview that will consist of an interview of Technical, Behaviours and Strengths questions. Further information on this will be provided ahead of the interview.

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.#

Further Information

Location

As part of the pre-employment process for this post, successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. The agreed contractual workplace is then the substantive and permanent place of work for the successful candidate(s)

Where the location is ‘National’ the successful appointee should discuss and agree an appropriate contractual location in line with both Defra’s location policy and site capacity, prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.

Successful applicants currently employed by the hiring Defra organisation for this post may choose to remain in their current contractual location or may choose to change contractual location to one of those listed above. This should be discussed and agreed prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.

The agreed amount of time spent at a workplace for this post will reflect the requirement for Civil Servants to spend at least 60% of their working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the remaining time flexibly from home. Working time spent at a workplace may include time spent at other organisational locations including field-based operational locations, together with supplier, customer or partner locations. This is a non-contractual agreement which is consistent with common Civil Service expectations.

Travel costs to non-contractual workplaces will be subject to departmental travel and subsistence policies. Travel costs to contractual workplaces are the responsibility of the employee.

The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location, and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.

Defra includes the core department, APHA, RPA, Cefas and VMD.

Salary

New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. 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.

This post is eligible to be considered for an accountancy allowance up to £3,107 National and up to £4,495 London. The allowance is determined for each level of qualification (part qualified 1, part qualified 2, accountancy qualified). Line managers must see certificates from the professional body to confirm the individual has passed the relevant examinations before awarding the various stages of the allowance. To achieve fully qualified status, the individual must pass the final level examinations and complete the relevant portfolio or logbook which must be certified by the professional body.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Childcare Vouchers

Any move to Defra 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; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

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 defrarecruitment.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 you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Accessibility

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Visa Sponsorship Statement

Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.

Merit Lists

Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be appointed in merit order for each location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.

Criminal Record Check

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 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.

Internal Fraud Database Check

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.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).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 : Charlotte Michael
• Email : charlotte.michael@defra.gov.uk

Recruitment team

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

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact Government Recruitment Services via email: defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: here