Head of Financial Planning and Analysis

Job summary

The National Archives are partnering with Roberson Bell to recruit to this role.

The Organisation

The National Archives is home to 1,000 years of our nation’s histories, from Domesday to Downing Street tweets, our vast collection of archival treasures is as varied as it is inspiring.

Our mission is to collect and preserve the public record, to connect citizens with their history through unrivalled collections and to partner with archives everywhere. In 2038 we will celebrate the bicentenary of the founding of the Public Record Office, and our 2038 vision is for The National Archives to be the living digital archive of the state.

To find out more visit: Our role - The National Archives

The role

Operating within the Finance and Performance Directorate, as Head of Financial Planning and Analysis, you will lead the Finance Business Partner and Senior Management Accounts team. You will develop the financial planning and analysis capabilities of the team that will better support financial decision making across the organisation and effective risk management. You will lead on The National Archives’ financial planning through Spending Reviews and Fiscal Events; ensuring these are reflected and managed internally through budgets, efficiencies and multi-year business planning.

Job description

• Leading the Finance Business Partner and Senior Management Accounts team, providing clear direction, coaching, and support to ensure high-quality professional finance support and advice is provided to the organisation and development of team members.
• Deputising for the Finance Director as required and help lead the Finance and Performance team through periods of change.
• Leading The National Archives’ financial planning at single-year and multi-year levels Spending Reviews and other fiscal events.
• Overseeing the annual business planning process to ensure an effective process that allocates budgets and defines key business priorities, and building financial modelling capabilities to support senior managers.
• Delivering timely and accurate management accounts and re-forecasts, presenting key insights and recommendations to the Executive Team, Board, and Committees.
• Acting as a Finance Business Partner, supporting Directorates and budget holders to ensure financial responsibilities are understood, business cases are robust, and governance processes are followed.
• Building strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including Directors, Heads of Department, and HM Treasury, ensuring finance is trusted and influences decision-making.
• Promoting and realising the benefits of our ERP system across Directorates and the wider finance function.

Full details please refer to the candidate pack, available from Robertson Bell

Person specification

The successful candidate will

• Be qualified with CCAB, CIMA or equivalent with significant financial experience over an extended period of time, including experience in a relevant strategic financial role.
• Have significant experience of leading and motivating a team of finance professionals to deliver against their personal and team objectives and promote excellence.
• Will be an initiative-taking and an effective organiser, which will allow you to work fluidly in a demanding environment, remaining flexible at all times.
• Have the ability to influence and make impact at senior levels and across the organisation through excellent interpersonal and communication skills including building and maintaining networks and relationships.
• Have an excellent personal presentation and written communication skills, including the ability to put complex financial issues into plain language for non-specialist audiences and build this capability within the team.
• Adopt a collaborative approach to problem solving and the ability to consider a number of options and scenarios in order to achieve effective outcomes.
• Have strong analytical skills to identify and interpret trends and improve financial forecast data.
• Be able to lead, promote and embed the use and value of data and analytics. Be able to identify additional data sources and tools to support specific programmes or areas of spend. Keep abreast of any developments and changes, including changes in technology.

Desirable criteria:

Public sector experience and a strong understanding of the dynamics and differences of leading and working in the public sector.

Location & Working Pattern

This position will require the postholder to travel to our Kew site for a minimum of 60% of their working time.

Closing date for applications: 29th March

How to Apply

Please apply to Robertson Bell via the apply link on this page or contact Katie Moore at

katiemoore@robertsonbell.co.uk

020 3824 7100

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £70,000, The National Archives contributes £20,279 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.Generous benefits package, including pension, sports and social club facilities, onsite gym, discounted rates at our on-site cafe and opportunities for training and development.

Any move to The National Archives 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;

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

Reasonable adjustments:

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 us via the Contact Point below as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs

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.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 : Katie Moore
• Email : katiemoore@robertsonbell.co.uk
• Telephone : 020 3824 7100

Recruitment team

• Email : careers@nationalarchives.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 The National Archives via email: careers@nationalarchives.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitm…