At a Glance
- Tasks: Support departmental priorities in finance and policy, providing analysis and financial advice.
- Company: Join the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, a key player in government policy.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, flexible working, and a generous pension scheme.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team driving change and innovation in public finance.
- Qualifications: Strong problem-solving skills; prior finance experience is a plus but not essential.
- Other info: Opportunities for professional development and a supportive work culture.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Location
Bristol, Darlington, London, Manchester, Wolverhampton
About the job Are you a strong advocate for change and continuous improvement?
Would you bring strong influencing skills and be comfortable in pushing back to your stakeholders when required?
If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you to join our team at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and we\’d love to hear from you!
MHCLG Finance is an exciting and varied place to work. We work closely with teams across the department, including policy and finance, and externally, such as HMT, to develop government policy on issues ranging from the government’s local growth agenda, building more homes, and tackling homelessness and rough sleeping. We ensure policies are value for money, deliverable and provide analysis, translate data and offer financial advice to provide insight.
We are friendly teams who prioritise development and wellbeing with ample chance for stretch in these roles. Successful candidates will have access to extensive professional development resources as part of the Government Finance Community, including career development. support We are constantly seeking to improve how we work and welcome innovation. We are looking forward to hiring people with a range of backgrounds and perspectives to bring new expertise and fresh thinking.
Job description
The post holder will be supporting a range of Departmental priorities in policy areas. Finance Business Partner (FBP) There are two FBP Teams.
The Finance and Performance: Corporate, Communities and Local Government team leads on supporting delivery of the local government, growth and communities agenda to revive the fortunes of overlooked parts of the country. It also supports delivery of integration programmes, resilience and emergencies, building safety , as well as directly supporting the Chief Finance Officer and the critical role of our corporate functions.
The Finance and Performance: Housing division leads on supporting delivery across a range of high-profile multi-billion programmes covering housing supply, regeneration, social housing and humanitarian resettlement. As part of this team, you will be engaging with senior leaders across the department in shaping how the department’s strategic objectives are delivered, and Homes England, MHCLG’s largest Arm’s Length Body, in overseeing and scrutinising performance against delivery metrics.
Strategic Finance is a high-performing, high profile team that sits at the heart of the MHCLG Finance Directorate – one of the highest regarded finance functions in Whitehall that is consistently at the centre of decision making. We regularly advise ministers on how we find the budgets to deliver on emerging priorities, as well as how we best fund all our existing commitments. We are responsible for negotiations with HM Treasury at fiscal events and for setting long-term financial strategy for the department. There are significant amounts of senior and external exposure with opportunity for stretch in the teams.
The main responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Building strong relationships through being confident and credible with stakeholders to ensure you become a trusted advisor, ensuring principles such as value for money and wider objectives are considered effectively, during for example policy development and fiscal events.
- Working closely with central strategy, policy, and finance colleagues across the department to bring together complex information on the financial implications of policy options, demonstrating a willingness to be a team player.
- Providing clear financial advice, analysis and challenge to support effective decision-making across the department, including consideration of overarching principles.
- Liaise with a diverse range of stakeholders to help develop high quality business cases for new funding schemes, providing expert advice for business cases on Green Book and Managing Public Money principles.
- Demonstrating strong communications skills and supporting directorates in maintaining an understanding of their budgeting position whilst producing robust forecasts, providing advice and support to colleagues whilst ensuring issues are identified and correctly dealt with as required.
- Ensure the financial systems containing forecasts and working budgets are kept up to date with clear audit trails and running the necessary financial reports, identifying trends and providing insight to senior stakeholders.
- Independently producing high quality outputs at pace, being flexible to emerging priorities and pressures, with a strong attention to detail then being able to confidently and effectively present this information.
Person specification
Candidates will have a strong problem solving, collaboration and communication skills with the ability to deliver at pace whilst effectively managing competing priorities. Prior experience working in a business partnering or strategic finance role is desirable but not essential. We are also interested in hearing from candidates from a policy background who are willing to develop their finance skills.
Strengths we are looking for are:
- Providing insight and strategic understanding to ensure financial objectives are embedded into the decision-making process. Analysing and interpreting numerical information and communicating it clearly, making the connection with real-world outcomes and political needs.
- The ability to build a network across MHCLG and other government departments that support collaborative working in order to deliver high quality outputs, for example on excel, that can be used to present to senior stakeholders.
- Demonstrating the confidence, composure and credibility needed to challenge and influence senior stakeholders in a considered and professional manner, influencing them effectively when required.
- Recognising change as an opportunity to deliver efficiency and innovation acting as an agent for change when you identify the chance to protect, drive and add value.
- Independently work at pace to tight deadlines – you will be responsible for delivering multiple pieces of work simultaneously, needing to be proactive in managing your workload.
- Be a qualified accountant or have a demonstrable willingness to qualify, ideally through actively studying for an accountancy qualification (an accountancy allowance is available to successful CCAB qualified candidates: CIMA, CIPFA, ACCA, ICAEW, ICAS, ICAI)
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £40,669, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government contributes £11,781 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
- Learning and development tailored to your role
An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- ACivil Service pensionwith an employer contribution of 28.97%
For more information and to apply, please visit our website via the apply button below.
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Finance Business Partner (various), Financial Strategy and Fiscal Events Advisor employer: Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
Contact Detail:
Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Finance Business Partner (various), Financial Strategy and Fiscal Events Advisor
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the key policies and priorities of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Understanding their current initiatives, especially around local growth and housing, will help you engage in meaningful conversations during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals already working in finance roles within government departments. Attend relevant events or webinars to connect with them, as they can provide insights into the role and potentially refer you internally.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to demonstrate your influencing skills by thinking of examples where you've successfully navigated stakeholder relationships. Be ready to discuss how you’ve managed competing priorities and delivered results under pressure.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your analytical abilities by being prepared to discuss how you interpret financial data and its implications for policy decisions. Highlight any experience you have with business cases and financial forecasting to stand out.
We think you need these skills to ace Finance Business Partner (various), Financial Strategy and Fiscal Events Advisor
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience and skills that align with the Finance Business Partner role. Focus on your problem-solving abilities, collaboration, and communication skills, as these are key strengths the Ministry is looking for.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your enthusiasm for the role and the organisation. Discuss how your background in finance or policy can contribute to the department's objectives, and provide specific examples of how you've influenced stakeholders in the past.
Highlight Relevant Qualifications: If you are a qualified accountant or currently studying for an accountancy qualification, make this clear in your application. Mention any relevant certifications and how they relate to the responsibilities of the role.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills: Demonstrate your ability to analyse and interpret numerical information by providing examples from previous roles. Highlight how your insights have led to effective decision-making or improved processes, which is crucial for the Finance Business Partner position.
How to prepare for a job interview at Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
✨Understand the Role and Responsibilities
Make sure you thoroughly read the job description and understand the key responsibilities of the Finance Business Partner role. Be prepared to discuss how your skills and experiences align with these responsibilities, particularly in areas like stakeholder engagement and financial analysis.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
During the interview, be ready to provide examples of how you've tackled complex problems in previous roles. Highlight your ability to analyse numerical information and communicate it effectively, as this is crucial for the position.
✨Demonstrate Your Influencing Abilities
The role requires strong influencing skills, so prepare to discuss situations where you've successfully influenced stakeholders or driven change. Use specific examples to illustrate your confidence and credibility in challenging discussions.
✨Prepare Questions for Your Interviewers
Having thoughtful questions ready shows your interest in the role and the organisation. Ask about the team's current projects, challenges they face, or how they measure success in the Finance Business Partner role. This will also help you gauge if the company culture aligns with your values.