Senior Finance Business Partner

Job summary

Working towards sustainable futures. Championing diversity in the workplace. At the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), it’s all in a day’s work. From HR to Finance, Policy to Communications, this is work that sustains and supports, where everyone’s voice is heard, and our customers are at the heart of everything we do. For a career packed with possibility, a comprehensive benefits package, where we live by our values and have the opportunity to improve the lives of people across the country, look no further.

Supporting people who need it most. That’s our purpose. Start your own career today.

Places for Growth and Social Mobility

As part of the Places for Growth Programme, we are committed to delivering a more geographically diverse Civil and Public Service that will better serve the public and ministers.

As part of this initiative, we are continuously reviewing how we recruit into each location.

The Financial Management & Partnering Directorate support the business to develop credible multi-year plans that deliver business objectives, supported by robust financial forecasts. We also work with the business to ensure that financial matters are considered in long-term policy and service delivery decisions.

Financial Management & Partnering are organised into teams supporting each of the DWP Director Generals. These vacancies are roles on the teams supporting the Digital and Transformation Group Director General, the Jobs and Careers Service Director General and the Policy Group Director.

This is a fantastic opportunity for fully qualified accountants to join the Financial Management and Partnering Directorate with a proven track record in finance, a passion for delivering high-quality professional services with the needs of our customers and stakeholders at its heart and a passion for making a significant impact to the lives of millions of people across Great Britain.

The Department is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and which promote equality of opportunity. As an employer we are also committed to equality and valuing diversity within our workforce.

Job description

Job description

As a key member of the senior finance team, the Senior Finance Business Partner will provide leadership as well as professional, evidence-based decision-making support, challenge, and professional advice.

As a Senior Finance Business Partner, you will need to:

• Build and maintain key relationships, in particular developing trust and rapport. This includes managing the expectation of senior managers and stakeholders.
• Developing a good understanding of the business, seeking out opportunities to better understand the commercial and operational drivers
• Provide strategic advice and analysis on financial impact, performance and risk to senior stakeholders and through this contribute to the strategic direction of the wider business area. This includes supporting accurate current and multi-year financial forecasts and plans.
• Responsibility for providing timely, accurate and clearly communicated financial management information and analysis, making full use of available data and analytics tools, to support recommendations to drive efficiency and effectiveness through value added insight and advice.
• Working closely with leads on major projects, policies and programmes to ensure sound business cases are developed and monitored with strong commercial focus, options appraisal risk management, internal control and that governance procedures are followed.
• Lead a Business Partner team effectively to ensure effective support and advice to the business, effective engagement with other Finance teams, and opportunities for continual improvement are identified and pursued.
• Establish a positive and collegiate working environment, supporting and motivating team members to achieve their full potential.
• Become the Lead and/or SME for new Financial ERP system implementation for the team, covering workforce planning, project accounting, process/system design, testing and driving business change activities.
• Act as Senior Finance Lead for strategic workforce planning activities, providing financial insight and challenge to support departmental decision -making.
• Oversee refresh of demand forecasting biannually, ensuring accurate outputs are presented with financial assumptions for sign off.

Hybrid working

This role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is 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.

If a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for the role and for you, you will normally be required to spend a minimum of 60% of your contracted working hours from your DWP office.

These roles can only be worked in the UK.

If you have a disability, caring responsibilities, or other circumstances that may affect your ability to meet the minimum office attendance requirement, please discuss this with us using the contact details in this advert.

Working Pattern

DWP are committed to flexible working patterns, and keen to support alternative working patterns where business needs allow. The working hours we can support will depend on which role you are offered (if there is more than one role now or in the future) and if there is capacity to operate the role part-time or job share.

Visas

For these vacancies, we strongly recommend that applicants consult with an immigration specialist or qualified advisor to assess their eligibility for Visa Sponsorship before deciding to apply. Please note that while we consider sponsorship requests in accordance with current DWP guidance and Home Office policy, sponsorship cannot be guaranteed.

Locations

You will be asked for your preferences for up to 3 locations, these will tell us where you would prefer to work if you are successful. Please do not select a location unless you are prepared to accept a role in that location.

Please note that for candidates requesting to work in Newcastle, Blackpool, Sheffield & London, these locations will be changing:

Newcastle Benton Park View will move to Newcastle Pilgrim Place in Autumn 2027
Sheffield Hartshead Square will start to move to Sheffield 1 West Bar by early 2028

Blackpool, Peel Park will move to Blackpool, Fylde View by April 2028

London Caxton House will move to London Sanctuary Buildings in Summer 2027

Please note London vacancies are only open to DWP staff currently working in either Caxton House or Buildings.

Selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit, on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles here.

Successful candidates will be posted in merit order based on your location preferences, where appropriate, and the geographical requirements of the business. Dependent on your position on the merit list, if none of your location preferences remain at the point we make a job offer DWP may offer you a role at an alternative advertised location. If we are unable to offer you a role in any of your preferred locations, and you are unable to accept a role at an alternative advertised location, we will add you to the reserve list if one is being held.

Some travel may be required, but individuals’ circumstances will be taken into account.

Person specification

The candidate will meet the following essential criteria:

• Lead Criteria - Excellent inter-personal, communication, relationship-building and influencing skills. The professional and personal credibility to operate as a senior financial leader and adviser, generating confidence in senior stakeholders.
• Highly effective analytical and reasoning skills. Sound working knowledge of the key principles of financial management. The ability to procure, assemble, interpret, test and evaluate financial and business information to inform and enhance business decisions with a clear view of the financial implications.
• Proven ability to communicate complex financial information to a non-financial audience, including through the production of high-quality financial reports and briefings.
• A strong track record of delivering challenging projects at pace, prioritising longer-term work alongside shorter-term asks. The ability to deliver through others and maintain professional standards in the face of pressure.

Qualifications

You must hold a full chartered level professional qualification awarded by a UK-recognised accountancy body: CIMA, ICAEW, ACCA, CIPFA, ICAS and Chartered Accountants Ireland. In addition, we accept applications from candidates with a chartered level international qualification where a reciprocal agreement exists with the ICAEW or where the criteria of the ICAEW Pathways programme are met. More information on ICAEW membership agreements can be found via the ICAEW website.

Memberships

Your membership of one of CIMA, ICAEW, ACCA, CIPFA, ICAS or Chartered Accountants Ireland must be up to date and active at the time of application. Please note that membership of AAT or other technician level qualifications does not satisfy the qualification criteria. If you are unsure whether you meet the qualification criteria you should confirm with our recruitment team before proceeding with your application.
If you are invited to interview, you will be asked to provide evidence of both your qualification status and live membership.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

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

• Lead Criteria - Excellent inter-personal, communication, relationship-building and influencing skills. The professional and personal credibility to operate as a senior financial leader and adviser, generating confidence in senior stakeholders’.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £79,722, Department for Work and Pensions contributes £23,095 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

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 23 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.

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, Experience and Technical skills.

Sift Stage

Initial Sift on Lead Criteria

As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide evidence of no more than 250 words against the Lead Essential Criteria ‘Excellent inter-personal, communication, relationship-building and influencing skills. The professional and personal credibility to operate as a senior financial leader and adviser, generating confidence in senior stakeholders’.

We are interested in what you did and how you did it, and what was the outcome, as part of your example.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Only candidates who pass the initial sift on the Lead Criteria will be progressed to full sift of personal statement.

Full sift:

You will be required to complete a Personal Statement of up to 750 words, addressing the remaining Essential Criteria. Please note that references to the Lead Criteria should not be included in this section. Further guidance on what is expected can be found in the application form.

The sift panel will use the information in your personal statement and CV to assess your experience, skills and knowledge against the remaining Essential Criteria. You will receive a combined score for your personal statement and CV if you pass the initial sift.

You will only receive feedback if you are invited to interview.

Interview stage:

If you have been successful in sift stage, you will be invited to an online interview via Teams. You will need to produce evidence of ID at the interview.

The interview will take a blended approach, and you will be assessed against the behaviours outlined in the job advert, as well as experience questions against the essential criteria.

Application sift is planned to be carried out W/C 2nd November 2026.

Interviews are planned to be carried out W/C 23rd November 2026.

Please note these dates are indicative and subject to change.

DWP may consider increasing the overall pass mark at sift or interview stage in order to manage applications and outcomes.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Feedback

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) 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 : Paula Bird
• Email : Paula.Bird@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

25 Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 793kB)Success-Profiles-Candidate-Overview Opens in new window (pdf, 635kB)DWP Terms and Conditions January 2024 Opens in new window (docx, 17kB)