Unity Programme - Finance Process Lead

Job summary

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The Unity programme aims to deliver the tools in Human Resources (HR), Finance, Payroll, and Procurement to enable the user to complete administration tasks quickly and with minimal effort by modernising our IT Platform, bringing together our shared services teams, standardising our data and streamlining processes to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

Glasgow and Preston are listed as locations which are not Finance Hubs. Please note if you are appointed in a non-finance hub location, development and career opportunities maybe limited.

Job description

The Finance & Procurement process team is a key component of the Unity Programme in developing the Finance & Procurement processes for Department for Transport, HMRC and the MHCLG under a single Shared Services umbrella.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Finance Process specialist to help deliver a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution for the Unity cluster, supporting Department for Transport, HMRC and the Department for Housing and Levelling up Communities.

In this dynamic position you will be responsible for the development of Finance processes and functional requirements for enhancing our system platforms. This involves collaboration with operational teams and a newly established intelligent client function within HMRC and DFT. Ultimately supporting the planning, execution, and management of system changes and improvement initiatives throughout the transition period.

The overarching aim of the Finance & Procurement workstream is ensuring a smooth transition and minimal disruption to operations during implementation phase.

There will be travel involved in this role and occasional need to attend conferences, cross-government meetings.

Key Responsibilities

1. Develop, analyse and the implementation of Finance processes in line with best practice and Cabinet Office directives.
2. Project Planning: Develop comprehensive project plans outlining process tasks, timelines, resources, and dependencies for system changes/improvement ideas across the three government departments.
3. Stakeholder Management: Collaborate with deputy transformation lead, key stakeholders, to gather functional requirements, provide updates, and address concerns throughout the transition process.
4. Leading detailed design, build and deployment workshops ensuring key design decisions are driven to closure within agreed SLA’s.
5. Providing Finance expertise in allocated workstream(s) to key stakeholders, including helping SME’s understand how the design meets requirements captured.
6. Work with Unity Programme Change and Organisational Design teams to ensuring impacts captured are mitigated by providing functional expertise and supporting associated workshops.
7. Risk Management: Identify potential risks and issues that may impact the transition process and develop mitigation strategies to minimise disruptions.
8. Quality Assurance: Ensure that system changes and potential enhancements meet quality standards and adhere to government regulations and compliance requirements.
9. Documentation and Reporting: Maintain accurate documentation of project activities, including meeting minutes, progress reports, and lessons learned. Provide regular updates to senior management on project status, risks, and achievements.
10. Continuous Improvement: Identify opportunities for process improvement and optimisation within Finance, driving efficiencies and enhancing functionality to meet the evolving needs of departments.
11. Work closely with Data, Reporting and Tech teams across the programme advising on cross cutting impacts. Supporting seamless embedding and landing of system changes into each department.

Person specification

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in Finance, with deep expertise in core processes such as Record to Report, Planning Budgeting & Forecasting or Project Accounting. They will bring experience of working in complex transformation programmes, ideally within government or public sector shared services, and will be confident navigating change in fast-paced environments.

They will demonstrate hands-on experience with ERP systems, particularly SAP S/4HANA, and be comfortable working across design, testing, and deployment phases. A strong understanding of how finance processes integrate with wider business operations is essential.

Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills are key, with a proven ability to build, manage, and lead cross-departmental stakeholder networks. The successful candidate will be a collaborative team player, able to translate complex information into clear, actionable insights for a range of audiences.

Adaptability, resilience, and a proactive approach to problem-solving will be critical to success in this role, as will a commitment to continuous improvement and delivering high-quality outcomes.

Essential Criteria:

• Proven experience leading complex finance process transformations across departments or organisations, delivering measurable improvements using structured methodologies.
• Strong functional expertise in one or more of the following areas: Record to Report, Project Accounting, and Financial Planning & Reporting — for example, general ledger, period‑end close, or management/financial reporting.
• Hands-on experience with ERP systems, preferably SAP S/4HANA or Oracle, including involvement in design, testing, and deployment phases.
• Demonstrated ability to capture and translate business requirements into system and process solutions within large-scale programmes.
• Excellent communication skills with a track record of building and managing stakeholder networks across diverse teams and departments.
• Experience working in fast-paced, multi-stakeholder programme environments, showing adaptability and resilience under pressure.

Desirable Criteria:

• Demonstrated leadership experience, including leading cross-functional teams within a matrixed or multi-departmental organisation.
• Experience managing end-to-end finance operations, with a strong understanding of operational controls and service delivery.
• Part or full professional qualification in accountancy (e.g. CIMA, ACCA, or equivalent).

Leeds Locations

Moves Adjustment Payment will be available for this role, provided the successful applicant is a current HMRC colleague in Bradford and meets the eligibility requirements outlined in the HMRC’s Moves Adjustment Payment guidance.

Behaviours

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

• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £58,541, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £16,959 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

HMRC operates both Flexible and Hybrid Working policies, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments. We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, considering our operational and customer service needs.

We offer a generous leave allowance, starting at 25 days and increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days.

• Pension - We make contributions to our colleagues’ Alpha pension equal to at least 28.97% of their salary.
• Family friendly policies.
• Personal support.
• Coaching and development.

To find out more about HMRC benefits and find out what it’s really like to work for HMRChear from our insiders or visitThinking of joining the Civil Service

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.

How to Apply

As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide the following:

• A name-blind CV including your job history. Your CV should be up to 250 words on key responsibilities.
• A 750-word Personal Statement. Your Personal Statement should be used to describe how your skills and experience would be suitable for the advertised role,

Please complete a separate statement (Max 250 words) for the Desirable Criteria where applicable. This is not essential for the role but may be considered by the vacancy-holder where candidates have the same scores at interview.

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

Sift

In the event of a large number of applications being received, an initial sift may be held on the CV.

At full sift your CV, and your Personal Statement, will be assessed, with the successful candidates being invited to interview.

We may also raise the score required at any stage of the process if we receive a high number of applications.

Interview

During the panel interview, you will be asked a combination of behaviour and technical questions based around the essential criteria.

Behaviours

• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a Quality Service

Interviews will take place via video link. Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Eligibility

Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake with your eligibility form, or have withdrawn yourself in error and need your application reinstated whilst the campaign is still live, please contact us via: unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk – Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example – ‘Please re-open my application – [insert vacancy ref] & vacancy closing date [insert date]’.

To check that you are eligible to apply for this role, please review the eligibility information before submitting your application.

The HMRC app can help you with your application

The HMRC app can provide you with your past 5 years' employment history, making the process of filling in your application quicker and easier.

If successful in your application, you will need your National Insurance number for the onboarding process.

Download the HMRC app now and save your National Insurance number to your digital phone wallet.

How to download the HMRC app and sign up for an account

Download the free HMRC app from the App Store or Google Play store.

If you have an HMRC online account already, sign straight in using your ID and password. If not, you can prove your identity by answering some questions or providing your photo ID.

You’ll then be able to access the app quickly and easily by signing in using a 6-digit PIN, your fingerprint, or facial recognition.

You can find guidance for technical issues on GOV.UK: Technical support with HMRC online services.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles – if this applies to you, we’ll let you know via your Civil Service Jobs account.

Merit List

After interview, a single merit list will be created, and you will only be considered for posts in locations you have expressed a preference for. Appointments will be made in strict merit order in line with the set number of roles in each location.

Criminal Record Check

Applications received from candidates with a criminal record are considered fairly in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice and the Recruitment of ex-offenders Policy.

Hybrid working at HMRC

HMRC is an office-based organisation, and colleagues are expected to spend 60% of their working time in the office. Our offices provide opportunity for interaction, collaboration which aids learning and development and a sense of community. Where the role allows it, and where the home environment is suitable, colleagues can work from home for up to 2 days a week, averaged over a calendar month (or a proportionate amount of time for colleagues who work less than full time).

Reasonable Adjustments

We want to make sure no one is put at a disadvantage during our recruitment process. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact the UBS Recruitment team via unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.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.

Important information for existing HMRC contractual homeworkers:

This role may be suitable for existing HMRC employees who are contractual homeworkers. Occasional attendance to the office will be required where there is a business need. Please consider the advertised office locations for this role when applying and only select locations from the ‘location preferences’ section that you can travel to.

Terms and Conditions

Customer facing roles in HMRC require the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English and/or Welsh where required. Where this is an essential requirement, this will be tested as part of the selection process.

HMRC has a presence in every region of the UK. For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations.

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. The evidence you provide in your application must relate to your own experiences.

Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant application(s) will be withdrawn from the process.

Recording of interviews is prohibited unless explicit agreement is sought in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulations.

Questions relating to an individual application must be emailed as detailed later in this advert.

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.

New entrants will join on the minimum of the pay band.

Please note that, if you are applying for roles on a part-time basis, the salary agreed will be pro-rata, reflective of the working hours agreed within your contract.

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

For more Information for people applying for, or thinking of applying for, roles at HM Revenue and Customs, please see link: Working for HMRC: information for applicants - GOV.UK.

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 : Tariq Benkhayal
• Email : tariq.benkhayal@hmrc.gov.uk
• Telephone : 07860626457

Recruitment team

• Email : unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel there has been a breach of the Recruitment Principles. In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly via ubsrecruitmentcomplaints@hmrc.gov.uk. Please note that we do not accept complaints or appeals regarding scoring of outcomes of campaigns, unless candidates can provide clear evidence that the campaign did not follow the Recruitment Principles. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their website.