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Job summary

The Finance Directorate aims to ensure that MHCLG makes the best possible use of resources to deliver for the public. ​

The directorate is friendly and welcoming, with a mix of finance, delivery, reporting, systems, and other professionals, and a strong emphasis on collaboration and inclusion. We have five main offices: Darlington, London, Manchester, Bristol and Wolverhampton; offices in Nottingham, Leeds, Cambridge and Plymouth to ensure we are based in all the English regions; offices in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast; and a specialist finance operations office in Hemel Hempstead.​

There are four divisions in Finance Directorate. You would lead the Regeneration, Housing and Planning Finance and Value division. This team provides expert advice, challenge and support to these areas in the department, playing a key role in these Government priorities – helping to maximise value for money and the chances of successful delivery and to ensure the protection of the Accounting Officer. ​

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The other divisions are:​

Another Finance and Value (business partnering) division covering Communities, Resilience, Growth and Corporate teams​

The Strategic Finance division is responsible for aligning the Departmental Group’s financial resources and strategy, including negotiating with HMT, allocating and controlling overall budgets, and co-ordinating the Estimates processes. Fiscal events (Budgets etc) are co-led by this division and Strategy division. As Finance and Performance DD you will lead on the elements within this which your business partnering team supports along with acting as the finance interface with Homes England and the National Housing Bank.​

The Finance Operations, Reporting and Transformation division is responsible for finance data, processes and systems, our finance operations shared service, and the Annual Report and Accounts. It sits at the heart of how we operate as a finance function and leads our cross-cutting work on continuous improvements.

Job description

This is a high-profile Deputy Director role at the heart of the Department, working closely with senior colleagues across the Regeneration, Housing and Planning DG Group, Homes England, the Planning Inspectorate and a number of smaller Arms Length Bodies, as well as HM Treasury, to ensure the Department is making the best use of its resources to enable successful delivery for citizens. ​

You will cover a wide and varied agenda, ranging from long-term strategic questions to urgent matters. The role covers: the Social and Affordable Housing Programme, national and place-based housing and regeneration activity including the New Towns programme, Homes England and the National Housing Bank; planning reform and the Planning Inspectorate; Homelessness and Rough Sleeping; Resettlement; Private Rented Sector and Leasehold including supporting the government’s ambitious legislative programme for leasehold and renters’ reform.​

Finance is at the heart of all these agendas, with appetite for innovation, and a strong focus on ensuring delivery. You will lead your team to act as a constructive partner in the design and delivery of policy, providing expert advice, challenge and support to secure successful delivery and value for money.​

MHCLG has one of the largest financial transactions portfolios in central Government. You will provide strategic leadership for the department’s Financial Transactions Centre of Excellence including working with HM Treasury on updates to relevant accounting and governance frameworks.​

You will lead a division of around 25 people, with three direct reports, developing and motivating them all to deliver at their full potential. ​

You will also play a full part in the senior leadership team of the finance directorate.

You will be responsible for: ​

• Providing strategic advice and analysis on finance, performance and risk to senior stakeholders, supporting the Department to achieve its strategic objectives and deliver successful programmes.
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• Providing advice to SROs, the Director General and the Accounting Officer (Permanent Secretary) to ensure sound policy is developed which is well-planned and governed, deliverable, value for money, affordable and correctly accounted for, meeting the standards Parliament expects.
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• Providing strategic leadership for the FT Centre of Excellence.
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• Ensuring key finance and accounting issues are identified, understood, escalated if necessary, and resolved, including liaising and negotiating with HM Treasury
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• Shaping a consistent financial strategy for your areas of responsibility, including at fiscal events (Autumn Statements, Budgets and Spending Reviews)
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• Ensuring your diverse and geographically dispersed team is engaged, motivated and delivering at its best, with a commitment to continuous improvement
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• Playing a full part in running the Finance directorate, in particular developing a first class business partnering function, building capability across the department, supporting our own continuous improvement and contributing to the wider government finance function

Person specification

This role requires an ability to think strategically and analytically, to engage in complex problem solving, and to work with stakeholders at all levels. ​

You will be comfortable working with numbers and budgets and be able to advise with confidence on Managing Public Money. You will be able to work with others to enable successful programme delivery, as well as demonstrating integrity in all you do. ​

You will have a strong focus on leading and developing your team to perform at its best, providing excellent customer service, giving constructive advice and challenge, and acting as trusted adviser and gateway into other professions (e.g. digital, analytical, commercial, legal) where needed.​

You will be a strong collaborator, working closely with and influencing policy, finance and other professionals to deliver the best outcomes for taxpayers and citizens. ​

You will understand and be able to apply core planning and delivery principles (for example, supporting teams to articulate what they are trying to do and the relationship to financial and other inputs, outputs and outcomes). ​

You will champion the use and value of data and analytics in decision-making and reporting, and make the best use of available data and tools. You will be comfortable with interpreting and assessing risks and opportunities arising from technical financial data related to delivery through use of financial transactions. ​

We particularly encourage applications from those of an ethnic minority background and those with disabilities, as well as those based in locations outside of London, who are underrepresented at this level in MHCLG.​

As one of the Department’s senior leaders, you will also be a visible role model for the Civil Service leadership behaviours. These can be found in the Civil Service Leadership Statement which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-leadership-statement/civil-service-leadership-statement

Essential Criteria:

• A track record of providing excellent strategic advice to secure effective delivery, value for money and strong stewardship of public resources.
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• Proven ability to operate as a trusted strategic partner to senior leaders, shaping policy and delivery decisions to achieve successful outcomes, including in complex environments.
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• Experience developing and leading diverse, high-performing teams to deliver results at pace and adapt to changing circumstances, embedding continuous improvement.
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• Ability to influence effectively at all levels – including senior levels – through excellent communication, judgment and relationship-building skills. This includes the ability to communicate financial issues to non-specialist audiences.
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• Ability to oversee the design and implementation of governance and assurance frameworks to secure effective delivery through stakeholder bodies and through deployment of financial transactions. ​

• A relevant professional finance qualification (CCAB, CIMA or equivalent).

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £95,000, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government contributes £27,521 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).At MHCLG we offer many benefits that range from tailored career pathways and flexible working to MyLifestyle Staff Benefits Scheme and Cycle to Work Schemes. For more information, please click here.

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

How to Apply - To apply you will need to submit a CV and Statement of Suitability via the Be Applied link. Your CV (up to two pages) should set out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years. Your Statement of Suitability (up to two pages) should explain how your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential and desirable criteria for the role.

Equal Opportunities - We encourage candidates to complete the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Data via Be Applied. The data will be treated in the strictest confidence and used for monitoring and statistical purposes only.

Interview Schemes - MHCLG is a Disability Confident employer and is committed to protecting and promoting the physical and mental health of all colleagues and applicants. We also operate the Great Place to Work for Veterans and Redeployment schemes. Applicants applying under these schemes who meet the essential criteria, will be invited to interview.

The Panel - Finance Director Alice Lakeman, others TBC.

Additionally, the panel may be joined by one of our staff representatives from a pool of volunteers as part of our commitments to diversity and inclusion.

Shortlist - Applications will be sifted after the closing date and shortlisted candidates will be invited to the next phase of assessment and interview. Your CV and Statement of Suitability will be assessed against the essential criteria, these will also be used to form the basis of the panel’s final interview questions. Desirable criteria will only be used to determine the merit order of candidates who rank evenly against the essential criteria.

Assessment - Shortlisted candidates may be invited to attend a Staff Engagement Panel, designed to provide insight into how you engage and interact with your team. Feedback from the session is passed to the panel for consideration alongside your final interview.

Candidates may also be invited to meet with a Senior Stakeholder. This is not a formal part of selection, but an informal chance to find out more about the role and organisation.

Shortlisted candidates may also be invited to give a short presentation or complete an exercise at interviews - further details will be provided when invited to interview.

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

Expected Timeline

• Advert closes: 09/08/26

• Shortlisting: W/C 10/08/26

• Assessments W/C 17/08/26

• Interviews: W/C 31/08/26

*Please note that we try to offer flexibility where possible, but it may not always be possible to offer alternative interview dates.

Salary​ - For external appointments, remuneration for this role is advertised at £95,000 pa plus a bonus opportunity depending on performance (within the normal Civil Service pay arrangements) and attractive pension. ​

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For existing civil servants, the usual policy on level transfer and promotion will apply and is non-negotiable. If appointed on promotion you would get the higher of 10% uplift or the new minimum for SCSPB1 – Deputy Director. Please also note that, if successful, any existing specialist allowances you currently receive will not automatically transfer or be retained upon moving to this role.​

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Future pay awards will normally be made in line with current SCS performance-related pay arrangements.​

Eligibility​ - This post is advertised on level transfer or promotion to existing civil servants, and externally.

Full Information & Benefits - Find out everything you need to know before applying here.

You must review the following information from the MHCLG Career's Site before submitting your application. This step is essential to ensure your eligibility for the role and that your application is completed correctly.

• Security Clearance Requirements

• Civil Service Nationality Requirements

• Right to Work

• Civil Service Code and Recruitment Principles

• CV Declaration

• Sponsorships

• Salary and Grade

• Existing Civil Servants

• Conflict of Interest

• Location and Flexible Working

• Fixed Term Contracts

• Internal Fraud Database

• Appeals and Complaints

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise.

As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.

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 security 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

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 : SCS Recruitment
• Email : scs.recruitment@communities.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : scs.recruitment@communities.gov.uk

Further information

If you are unsure about any part of the process or require additional information about the post to enable you to progress your application, you should speak to the Resourcing team - scs.recruitment@communities.gov.uk. Candidates can appeal at any stage of the recruitment process if they believe there has been:

a procedural irregularity

an infringement of the Civil Service equal opportunities policy

exceptional circumstances which were not notified to the interview panel which might have affected performance on the day.

It is important to note that these are appeals about the process not the decision. In the first instance, an appeal should be directed to the MHCLG SCS Recruitment Team at scs.recruitment@communities.gov.uk.

If the SCS Recruitment Team is unable to satisfactorily resolve your complaint, you may contact put your complaint in writing to the Civil Service Commission, Room G8,1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ or by email to: info@csc.gov.uk