About the job

Summary

DLUHC is at the heart of this Government’s central domestic agenda to level up communities across the entirety of the UK. We have a broad and ambitious set of objectives, making sure that economic opportunity is spreading equally across the country. We are looking for two Head’s of Finance to support this mission.

Job description

Safer Greener Buildings

The work of the Safer Greener Buildings Group is a key priority for the department and for our Secretary of State. It includes the department’s work on building safety, including ensuring that leaseholders do not have to pay for dangerous cladding; improving standards for the private rented sector and leasehold properties; and ending homelessness and rough sleeping.

The post-holder can be expected to manage a small team to support these areas, which comprises three G7 Senior Finance Business Partners and three Finance Business Partners/Management Accountants, providing expert financial advice and insight to policy makers. They will also be the lead Finance Business Partner for our DG for Safer, Greener Buildings.

The line manager for this post is Gareth Caller (Gareth.caller@communities.gov.uk) Please contact Gareth to discuss the post further.

Levelling Up Strategy, Union and Elections

As part of the department’s levelling up mission, we have introduced a new Director General: Strategy, Data and Analysis role and associated Group, focusing on developing the government strategy on levelling up, driving delivery and measuring impact across the United Kingdom. Our new department also hosts responsibilities for the Union, Elections and Constitution (including the Electoral Integrity Programme) reporting to our Second Permanent Secretary, Sue Gray.

This new G6 Head of Finance post has been introduced to build, develop and lead a small team to support some of these areas, being the lead Finance Business Partner for our new DG for Strategy, Data and Analysis, and for our Second Permanent Secretary. You will be responsible for setting up and managing a small team, expected to comprise two G7 Senior FBPs and two FBP/Management Accountants.

The line manager for this post is Kate Mieske (kate.mieske@communities.gov.uk). Please contact Kate to discuss the post further.

Both of these posts are exciting, high-profile G6 roles, working with some of our most senior policy stakeholders. Postholders will also be expected to identify and establish priorities for where finance can make a real difference in an evolving landscape.

Responsibilities

Working to a Deputy Director, your responsibilities will include, but may not be limited to:

• Leading and managing a small team of Finance Business Partners and Management Accountants to provide a top-quality service to the Department – setting clear roles and responsibilities, enabling flexibility to changing requirements, and developing your staff;

• Providing expert business partnering support for new policy development, including advising on value for money, feasibility and delivery plans – ensuring taxpayers’ money is spent well;

• Providing advice for our Accounting Officer (the Permanent Secretary, who is accountable for ensuring value for money) on whether the rules of Managing Public Money are being met in policy development.

• Assessing business cases, and facilitating approvals within the department and by HMT; ensuring that the monthly reporting process provides Directors and Directors-General with the information they need to monitor performance and take decisions;

• Providing quality financial information to allow the Secretary of State to take prioritisation decisions;

• Working closely with HR Business Partners to help Directors to manage their admin budgets;

• Building strong and trusting relationships with the most senior policy customers, helping them to navigate departmental, Cabinet Office, and HM Treasury requirements;

• Line management of team members, overseeing their work and supporting their development;

• Playing a corporate role in Finance through one of our corporate workstreams, such as Diversity and Inclusion.

You will also be a member of the G6 and SCS leadership team for the two Finance Business Partnering divisions, and will be expected to set a culture in the divisions and Finance Directorate of inclusivity, staff development, high performance and flexibility. As part of this leadership team, as the new department’s structure is finalised, you will be part of ensuring our Finance Business Partnering and Management Accounting support is best structured to reflect it; and so flexibility on portfolios will be required. You will also need to work closely with your G6 colleagues to ensure flexibility around peaks and troughs of work across your teams.

Essential Criteria

You can expect a high-profile, fast-paced role, requiring working closely with senior colleagues from a range of disciplines across the Department. The successful candidate should:

• Be a qualified accountant or actively studying for an accountancy qualification (an accountancy allowance is available to successful CCAB or CIMA qualified candidates).

• Be a highly numerate critical thinker who is able to apply the principles of value for money, feasibility, propriety and regularity to new ideas to shape policy decisions.

• Be a strong leader, with the proven ability to develop and lead a team to deliver at pace in a complex environment, prioritising keenly and flexibly.

• Be able to personally deliver to tight timescales, get up to speed quickly with a varied brief, work under pressure and respond positively and flexibly to demands; while planning ahead wherever possible.

• Be a thoughtful manager, with a track record of supporting staff to develop and championing wellbeing.

• Be able to build trusting, collaborative relationships with senior leaders, with the confidence, composure and credibility needed to challenge and influence senior stakeholders in a considered and professional manner.

• Be a strong communicator, someone who can draw insights from data and bring complex concepts to life for non-experts.

• Have a keen eye for spotting improvements, and the determination to drive through change.

Behaviours

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace