Finance & Commercial Team Leader

Job summary

The Department for Business and Trade is one of the lead departments for economic growth. We support businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities across the country.

This role sits with the Office for Investment (OfI) which is central to delivering the Government’s Industrial Strategy by unlocking transformative investments, strengthening investor confidence and positioning the UK as a globally competitive destination for long-term investment.

This is an operational role leading the Office for Investment’s strategic financial management and commercial activities. Managing the Office for Investment’s financial and business services enquiries hub we strive to deliver exceptional customer service and ensure compliance with departmental corporate governance.

Job description

Your role will be to make sure the financial and commercial management of the Office for Investment’s budget and contracts compiles with departmental corporate governance and follows set procedures. The OfI Finance & Business Service Enquiries Hub is a key function to the operational running of the Office for Investment and demands a high level of customer service for the organisation.

• Financial management of Office for Investment budget reporting to Director General
• Financial forecasting, monitoring, and risk management
• Strategic financial business planning lead for Spending Reviews & annual budget planning.
• Commercial lead for contract negotiations, performance & account management
• Management & leadership of the OfI Business & Finance enquiries hub
• Line management of 2 staff

Person specification

We are looking for someone who has excellent financial & commercial acumen, essential criteria.

The below criteria are essential and will be assessed at application stage;

• Is competent with using the Financial Forecasting Tool (FFT) or similar budget management tool and will be able to articulate a financial narrative to explain strategic impact.
• Can analyse financial data to identify financial risk and then work with budget holders on mitigation options
• Has experience in procuring and managing commercial contracts
• Has successfully completed Foundation level Cabinet Office Commercial Contract Management qualification, or willing to
• Has leadership experience managing an enquiries service delivering a high-quality customer service experience
• Has line management experience

It would be helpful, but not essential if you are:

The below criteria are desirable only. These will not be assessed throughout the recruitment process, but will be used in the event of tied scores between candidates;

• Familiar with people data management system (ECL) or similar and Information management system (SharePoint)
• Quaified Information Manager

Personal Attributes & Skills

The below is a list of characteristics which may be helpful in this role. These will not be assessed throughout the recruitment process, but are laid out to help candidates understand more about the role.

This role would generally suit someone who;

• Enjoys working with numbers and has a keen eye for detail
• Has excellent communications & interpersonal skills to engage with stakeholders and customers at all levels
• Has leadership experiece and can support staff to develop their skills and achieve career goals
• Cares about customer service excellence & corporate compliance
• Can manage a team with diverse responsibiities and competing priorities

Behaviours

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £57,511, Department for Business and Trade contributes £16,660 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).

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including ethnic minorities, people with a disability, and people with gender diverse identities.

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

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Interviews for this vacancy will be conducted virtually. We will, however, consider in-person interviews by exception.

Please ensure that you check your emails regularly as all updates from us will be sent to you this way.

To apply for this post, you will be asked to complete the following as part of the online application:

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Provide employment history that relates to the essential criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages.
• A Personal Statement of up to 500 words, explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential criteria.

Your application will be sifted against the Experience criteria of the Civil Service Success Profiles.

It is likely that the sift will take place 1-2 weeks after the closing date and interviews 3-5 weeks after the closing date, though this is subject to change.

We aim to sift both the CV and the Personal Statement but, in the event of a large number of applicants, an initial short sift may be conducted on the Personal Statement only. Candidates who pass the initial sift of the Personal Statement will either progressed to a full sift where the CV is then assessed, or progressed straight to further assessment/interview.

Candidates who pass the sift will be invited to interview, where we will assess you on the Success Profiles elements of Behaviours & Experience.

Reasonable Adjustments

We are committed to supporting candidates so they can perfor