Financial Planning Advisor (Ref: 21591) in Sheffield

This position is based nationally.

The Finance Strategy and Planning Team is responsible for setting MoJ's financial strategy and delivering our medium-term financial plan. We work with colleagues in every area of the department at every level, to make sure that finance is at the heart of decision making, and that when developing our strategic plans, we understand and have gained buy-in from policy, operational and corporate colleagues. We also represent the department to HM Treasury, for whom we are the main link, including in negotiations over the department's financial settlement. Our work is fast paced, high priority and strategic, regularly reporting directly to the Executive Committee, the Permanent Secretary and the Secretary of State, and influencing all areas of departmental planning.

Key work will include planning for, negotiating and delivering the recently announced Spending Review, assisting Ministers in forming their plans and priorities over this Parliament, managing the annual budget allocations process, and continuing to scrutinise and challenge how funding supports delivery of the department's key objectives. FSP is a friendly multi-disciplinary team, representing policy, finance, and strategy experience. We work hard to foster an inclusive atmosphere and value a broad range of experiences in the team. We have a good record of colleagues leaving these roles on promotion and to other high-profile roles in Private Office and at the centre of Government.

About the Role

SEO Financial Planning Advisors are expected to own the leadership of processes and products to support Financial Planning, Fiscal Events and build and maintain the single point of contact relationship with their counterparts in the department's business groups. They often have project management type roles to lead the delivery of set pieces, commissioning work, leading the collation of responses/outputs, and resolving issues presented. They are required to understand the big picture of the delivery for their team and commission and collate with confidence, often asking senior stakeholders in the Department to complete delivery, sometimes on short deadlines.

Main Activities / Responsibilities

• Developing a strategic understanding of the business, its stakeholders, and deliverables.
• Clearly communicating technical, business and financial information to internal and external stakeholders, using the most appropriate methods, including leading on drafting for briefing to seniors (Senior Civil Servants) and Ministers.
• The post holder will be responsible for building and maintaining effective key stakeholder relationships within their own areas of responsibility and the wider business area.
• Leading on areas of ownership for preparation and delivery of Spending Review and Fiscal Events, e.g., may represent a specific area of the Department.
• Own strategic product development and leadership, including embedding improvements in analytical capability across the team (including experience of or willingness to develop skills on Power BI or similar data analytical tools).
• The post holder will support the business to manage their budgets effectively, providing challenge to decisions to help provide assurance that decisions being taken by stakeholders are making the most effective use of resources through the analysis of financial data to support key discussions across the Department and with HMT.
• Providing guidance and coordination with other finance functions on HMT priorities and requirements.
• Helping to build financial and commercial awareness of non-finance staff within the business by providing ad-hoc analysis and additional insight on specific issues and be confident in presenting to the business and across finance functions.
• Leading responses and developing resolutions as required for ad-hoc enquiries including PQs / FOIs.
• Working closely with the management accounting team to ensure join-up, particularly through ongoing dataset alignment, and effective handovers of future-year information for in-year management.
• Coordinating and as appropriate contributing to completing of commissions that support central financial processes such as annual budget build and the spending review.
• Support the G7 in delivery of responsibilities, deputising for them as appropriate.
• The post holder will be required to work in a flexible way and undertake any other duties reasonably requested by line management which are commensurate with the grade and level of responsibility of this post.

Person Specification

Able to work independently, proactively, passionately, and confidently on high-profile areas across the Department and lead others to achieve quality and on time delivery of outputs. Comfortable and confident in working at pace to manage a full workload with conflicting short and long-term priorities. Building positive relationships with partners in other teams, and influencing others through excellent interpersonal and communication skills, tailored to the recipient. This includes the ability to critically consider and confidently challenge stakeholders regarding their delivery or information and translating across functions to obtain a joined-up approach. Influencing policy development and decisions, using analytical skills and different evidence sources to provide ministers or senior officials with high-quality advice. Transferable experience for providing written and oral briefings to Ministers and/or senior officials. Leading collaboratively with structure, by constructing clear timelines and processes, with interdependencies and owners, to lead others to successful delivery with clear products and outcomes for the process. Fostering and leading a culture of knowledge sharing and collaboration between policy, programmes, the business, finance, and other corporate services.

Essential Criteria

Candidates will be assessed against the following Core Professional Skills:

• Strategic analysis and insight - P
• Oral and written presentation skills - E
• Data and analytics interpretation - W
• Influencing Senior Leaders and Ministers (including drafting skills) - E
• The Budgeting Framework - W
• Proactive problem resolution - W
• Understanding the role of the NAO - A
• Negotiating with Pragmatism - W
• Support the PAC Agenda - W
• Government Financial Reporting and governance requirements - W

Desirable Criteria

Budgeting, Forecasting and Costing - W
Risk management and fraud - A
Taxation - A
Performance and risk management - W
Commercial acumen - W
Investment appraisal and evaluation - W

Application process

You will be assessed against the Civil service success profiles framework.

Sift Behaviours

• Communicating and Influencing (Lead Behaviour)
• Working Together
• Leadership
• Managing a Quality Service

Please provide examples of how you have met each of the behaviours (or list other criteria) below: Statement of Suitability for the role 500-word limit.

Contact Information

For more information about the role please contact Rosie.Lloyd@justice.gov.uk

Benefits

Alongside your salary of 42,914, Ministry of Justice contributes 12,432 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Access to learning and development. A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance. A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity. A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%. Annual Leave. Public Holidays. Season Ticket Advance.