Assistant Finance Business Partner

Job summary

Do you want a career where you can make a real difference? Do you want to have an impact on the UK and beyond? If yes, then a career at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) could be for you.

Here at DESNZ we are delivering our mission to make the UK a clean energy superpower, with clean electricity by 2030 and accelerating the UK’s journey to net zero.

Our work is helping ensure clean energy for all, keep bills down and seize the opportunities to lead the world in new green industries, taking back control of our energy with Great British Energy and encouraging greater energy efficiency across the UK. The work of the department has never been more timely or relevant, and by joining us you will be part of making that difference.

Our work is varied, interesting and most importantly it's impactful. Our DESNZ Values are interwoven into everything we do; we are bold, we are collaborative, we are inclusive, and we learn. As a department we are committed to these values to build a culture where everyone can thrive.

We work in an agile way. This means that, as our priorities evolve, your work may adapt to meet emerging needs and help us deliver our mission. This approach offers opportunities to develop your skills, gain new experiences, and contribute where you can make the greatest impact. This relates to the nature of the work rather than contractual terms, such as location or working pattern.

We offer great working benefits including a world-class pension, flexible working options and a career where your learning and development is taken seriously. We are enormously proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We support candidates with adjustments throughout our recruitment process. Information about disability confidence and just some examples of the adjustments that you can request can be found in the reasonable adjustment section below.

Find Out More

We regularly run events where you can find out more about the department and tips for the application and interview process. You can sign up for upcoming events here: https://forms.office.com/e/pqUhdr3L72

You can also follow our LinkedIn Careers Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/desnz-careers/

Job description

The Government's energy and net zero policy remain highly prominent, with a heightened emphasis on ensuring the UK's energy security and advancing the nation towards its net zero goals.

These roles sit within the Finance Business Partner team. As a trusted financial adviser, you will bridge the gap between policy teams and central finance, supporting essential Government initiatives focused on achieving net zero targets and energy security.

You will collaborate closely with policy and delivery colleagues, alongside specialists such as analysts, legal and commercial experts. As an AFBP, your role is to ensure that all colleagues across the Department are equipped with the necessary knowledge and support to effectively develop new policy with financial implications and manage expenditure, thereby contributing strongly to the achievement of the Department's broader objectives.

These roles provide a unique opportunity to engage with the entirety of our operations. While certain aspects of the role are driven by demand, there is flexibility to tailor the position according to your unique skills and interests. We offer a dynamic, fulfilling career path that promises diversity and excitement. Moreover, we are committed to supporting your professional growth through comprehensive training and development opportunities.

Person specification

• Ensure Senior Responsible Officers (SROs) for policies and programmes receive excellent financial advice such that DESNZ programmes are likely to succeed: meet strategic objectives, well-planned and governed, deliverable, value for money, affordable and correctly accounted for.
  
• Provide expert advice and challenge helping policy groups to stay within their delegated budgets, whilst maximising the value they deliver.
  
• Assist the business in developing realistic forecasts that consider financial risks and opportunities, and deliver financial reports to senior management furnishing them with the tools to make good decisions.
  
• Provide guidance to policy colleagues during the development of policy and when seeking financial clearance, including ministerial submissions and business cases.
  
• Share insights within the policy or Corporate Services teams and with the Senior FBPs to optimise business planning outcome for the Department as a whole, including challenging assumptions where necessary.
  
• Collaborate to enhance financial capability and understanding across business areas.

Essential Criteria

• Demonstrated capability to cultivate trusting relationships with stakeholders and effectively influence them with impact and professional credibility.
  
• Experience of communicating financial performance and management information for decision makers and advising on associated opportunities and risks.
  
• Experience of successfully applying accounting principles and explaining them with clarity to non-financial audiences.
  
• Experience of, or an ability to rapidly acquire an understanding of, central government finance policies and protocols (for example Managing Public Money, and Consolidated Budgeting Guidance).
  
• Evidence of being solution-focused with the ability to influence and work as part of a team, motivating and inspiring others to achieve a common goal.
  
• Ability to bring concepts and details together and have the confidence to decide when to delve into the specifics and when to focus on the broader perspective.
  
• Ability to work on own initiative and under pressure with competing demands to tight deadlines.
  
• Impeccable professional and ethical standards.

Desirable Criteria

• CCAB (or equivalent) qualified accountant status is desirable but not essential for this role. Non-qualified candidates with the relevant skills and experience will be considered for the role and will be supported.
• Experience using Oracle financial systems
  
• Previous finance business partnering or management accounting experience within the Civil Service.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £43,765, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero contributes £12,678 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).

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero offers a competitive mix of benefits including:

• A culture of flexible working, such as job sharing, homeworking and compressed hours.
• Automatic enrolment into the Civil Service Pension Scheme, with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per yea