Summary

Finance is at the heart of decision making in the Department for International Trade.

The Strategic Projects Finance Team within Finance Transformation work across the department’s project portfolio providing expert financial advice to project teams. This includes providing advice and support for the development of business cases, co-ordinating finance input into the Projects and Change Committee, leading the engagement with HMT on project related issues and ensuring DIT and HMG controls and guidance are complied with. The team also includes the Commercial Finance team providing a quality commercial finance function supporting the Commercial team and DIT projects directly with their commercial finance needs.

The Head of Finance – Strategic Projects role would suit a high calibre finance professional looking for a challenging but rewarding role. The role will manage a team of 5 FTE across Strategic Projects and Commercial Finance.

Job description

Key responsibilities will be:

• Building an in-depth knowledge of the projects the Department is currently running, and an understanding of how that landscape could change, understanding the financial and control implications

• Being the conduit between finance and the PCC governance process, and supporting the Finance Business Partners when new projects emerge

• Working across the Finance function to ensure new projects are understood and issues are addressed in a timely manner

• Understanding the impact of financial and project decisions to influence the business to make better use of available funding

• Embedding a value for money culture within the department and supporting financial decisions through the provision of advice and challenge

• Working collaboratively and constructively with colleagues to support the development of business cases, ensuring that HMG controls and guidance are complied with

• Working with project teams and HMT to ensure efficient approvals of DIT business cases and other project related requests

• Representing finance on internal and external project boards

• Ensuring that internal control and governance procedures are understood and followed through the business case process, identifying early where issues may arise

Hybrid Working

The role will be based in either Darlington or London .You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas.

Informal hybrid working arrangements will be available as agreed with the vacancy manager and in line with the requirements of the role.

Most DIT employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending 2-3 days a week (pro rata) in an office, on average. If your office location is London, you will be eligible to receive London weighting.

Appointments will be made to candidates in merit order based on location preferences.

Responsibilities

Essential Criteria

• Experience of Investment appraisal and a thorough understanding of both HMT Greenbook and Managing Public Money principles

• Engaging and influencing colleagues to drive better project outcomes

• Excellent leader

• CCAB qualified or equivalent

Desirable Criteria

• Embedding change and realising benefits across a complex working environment

• Better Business Case Practitioner Level Qualified (if not yet gained you will be encouraged to complete when in role)

Person Specification

The successful applicant will be a strong leader who can work collaboratively and build influential relationships. They will have a broad skill base with a focus on thinking strategically about a wide range of organisational problems and coming up with innovative solutions. Applicants will also demonstrate the ability to work across organisational boundaries in order to deliver with strong communication skills, including communicating complex information to non-specialist audiences and influencing the decision making of senior management.

Crucially we are looking for you to:

• Work collaboratively and sensitively with a wide range of different stakeholders

• Challenge existing ways of working

• Communicate and engage with technical subject matter experts

• Establish network of contacts to gather best practice

• Identify strategic opportunities and prioritise competing demands

• Excellent communicator, both oral and written. Ability to communicate complex technical issues in plain English

• Build momentum and deliver at pace

• Deliver tangible change across geographically diverse organisations

Qualifications

CCAB qualified or equivalent.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Changing and Improving
• Leadership

Technical skills

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

• CCAB qualified or equivalent

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role

• An environment with flexible working options

• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity

• A Civil Service pension