Financial Planning Analyst in London

The UK Space Agency (UKSA) is a directorate within the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) and provides technical advice on the government’s space strategy, supporting the UK space sector to deliver the government’s vision.

Space is a part of everyday life. Satellites underpin our national economy, from agriculture and banking to aviation and shipping, and support our national security. Space science provides critical data to understand and address global challenges such as climate change, while missions to explore our solar system unite nations and advance humanity’s horizons.

We support a thriving space sector in the UK, which generates an annual income of £16.5 billion and employs 47,000 people across the country. Through our portfolio of programmes and projects, we encourage the development of national space capabilities and are an early‑stage investor in space research and development. We also promote the UK space sector’s interests and achievements; make connections to join up industry and academia; and represent the UK in international space programmes.

We have a powerful global voice, partnering with institutions across the world, including the European Space Agency. The integration of the UK Space Agency (UKSA) into the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) represents a significant organisational transformation aimed at strengthening strategic alignment, improving efficiency, and enhancing ministerial accountability for the UK’s space ambitions.

As a result, UKSA needs a robust financial planning and analysis function to help support and shape the direction of UKSA in the future. We’re working towards a vision of being Trusted Experts at the heart of the agency’s decision making; catalysing delivery, not just keeping score.

Within the portfolio division, the role holder will support the UKSA’s financial planning activity including maintaining the Agency’s long‑term financial model to support delivery of the UKSA portfolio. They will deliver IPA and aqua book compliant financial models to support the Agency’s larger business cases and provide guidance and advice to standardise financial modelling for smaller cases.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintaining a long‑term financial plan across the portfolio, including refresh of data, mapping and assumptions, which contribute to Spending review and corporate plans.
• Providing analysis on financial impact, performance and risk to senior stakeholders, contributing to the strategic direction of the Department.
• Preparing accurate multi‑year financial forecasts and plans, including portfolio whole life costs.
• Building strong relationships with relevant functional stakeholders across the Agency and wider HMG, to encourage alignment and cooperation, and the most efficient use of public finance.
• Supporting on fiscal events and other negotiations with the department, coordinating bid development across UKSA.
• Supporting effective relationships within the Department’s Finance team, including co‑ordination of DSIT, HMT and CO commissions.
• Contributing to the drafting on UKSA financial matters for briefing to seniors (Senior Civil Servants) and Ministers.
• Developing Should Cost Model and Cost Estimating, working closely with programme teams to consider a wide range of data sets and assumptions.
• Supporting briefing packs for the UK input into the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Administrative & Finance Committee meetings.
• Contributing to UKSA’s centre of expertise on ESA, including delivering training across the Department.

Essential Criteria

• Ability to develop analysis and insights for stakeholders, including financial modelling;
• Excellent verbal and written communication, particularly drafting formal communications and papers;
• Excellent data and analysis interpretation skills;
• Excellent influencing skills across internal and external stakeholders;
• Evidence of proactive problem resolution;
• Experience using 5‑case model business cases (or equivalent) and understanding of HMT Green Book standards;
• Experience providing modelling for projects and programmes;
• Experience utilising complex financial and non‑financial datasets to produce models;
• Ability to understand cost drivers and evidence of financial risk development;
• Experience utilising financial and non‑financial datasets;
• Experience in identifying and implementing process improvements.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience in public sector organisations and understanding of Accounting Officer Responsibilities under Managing Public Money;
• Experience working in a portfolio environment, including Lean management/Sixth sigma experience;
• Experience producing should cost models and cost estimation, for a Government Major Projects Portfolio programme or equivalent;
• Experience in data management and visualisations on Power platforms (e.g. Power Query, Power BI).

Behaviours

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Technical Skills
• Competency: Financial Planning