Commercial Finance Manager

Job content

Summary

About the job

You will be working in the Commercial Finance team within BDUK’s Commercial function. As a Commercial Finance Manager, you will play an essential role in supporting successful contract, supplier and programme management. To do this, the Commercial Finance function is looking for applicants from financial, analytical, or commercial disciplines, with relevant experience in at least one of these areas.

The role involves delivering commercial evaluation, analysis, and assurance across each stage of the procurement and contract lifestyle. You will work with complex data sources from a variety of stakeholders and use cloud computing and data analysis tools to provide vital analysis to the programme delivery and commercial teams.

If you are applying with a financial skill set, you will focus on financial evaluation and assurance of public subsidy projects.

If you are an experienced analyst, you will work on preparing detailed analysis and reports to provide insights to a variety of stakeholders.

If you have experience in commercial or contract management, you will manage contractual change and closure from a financial perspective.

You will also have excellent communication skills to explain complex financial and analytical results to a variety of stakeholders.

Job Description

Consistently applying Commercial and Value for Money standards to commercial risks and challenges

Detailed evaluation and assurance through all stages of the procurement and contract lifecycle utilising sound commercial judgement to make recommendations

Offering Value for Money support and guidance to colleagues by effective communication of costs and risks

Managing a variety of internal and external stakeholders to achieve good commercial outcomes

Identifying and implementing improvements to existing reporting tools and templates

Creation of documentation and user guides for all reporting tools and templates

Identifying and continually refining requirements that support BDUK’s functions, specifically with the creation of automated processes, reports, and forecasts

Sharing technical knowledge and skill within the Commercial Finance team and other teams in BDUK

Depending on your technical specialism, you will focus on one of the below key areas. You will also provide support as needed to the areas outside of your specialism which may extend beyond those listed here.

Commercial

Working with contract managers and suppliers throughout the contract lifecycle to ensure adherence to financial principles.

Assessing contractual change requests to ensure adherence to value for money principles.

Managing end of life financial controls and ensuring all financial obligations are met.

Analytical

Analysing financial and delivery data from multiple commercial sources to create insightful performance reporting and recommendations.

Using analytical techniques such as forecasting and regression to predict financial outcome of contracts.

Applying best practice to document all analytical tools and results.

Financial

Evaluating bid pricing submissions and assessing value for money representation in those bids.

Assessing supplier financial standing and viability to meet contractual obligations.

Assessing validity and performance of actual cost data to give insights, challenge performance, and effect improvements.

Responsibilities

Essential Requirements

Good understanding and experience of contractual agreements

Good understanding and experience in financial techniques

Highly numerate with strong problem solving skills and attention to detail

Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain complex concepts to a variety of stakeholders

Ability to be detail-oriented and a big picture thinker, as appropriate to the situation

Project management and planning skills

Desirable Skills

Awareness of telecoms marketplace and competition regulations

Awareness of ultrafast broadband technologies

Technical Requirements

Commercial

An understanding of public sector procurement procedures and regulations

Experience in contract and/or supplier management from a cost and value management perspective

Analytical

Data cleansing and handling, particularly large datasets from several sources in a cloud-based environment

Using complex analytical techniques and statistical methods to provide forecasting, modelling, and performance reporting

Financial

An understanding of investment appraisal techniques and terminology

Studying for, or willingness to study for, an Accountancy Qualification

Behaviours

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
  

Benefits

You’ll receive over 30% of your total compensation package in benefits:

Flexible working arrangements and Flexi-time

26.5 days annual leave on entry increasing to 31.5 days after 5 years’ service.

Exceptional contributory pension scheme

5 days of paid leave for L&D

3 days of paid volunteering

Parental leave up to 9 months on FULL pay

Occupational sick pay

Brilliant and engaged staff networks to join including the LGBT+, BAME, Mental Health and Wellbeing and Women’s Network.

Access to one of the world’s largest learning and development platforms

Masterclasses and talks through the DCMS Academy

Season ticket loan, Cycle to work scheme and much more!

SCS T&C’s will vary, please refer to the attached candidate information pack to find out more.

Things you need to know

Security

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check.See our vetting charter.

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Please submit your CV and supporting statement (maximum 500 words) by 23:55 on 8th November 2021 via the CS Jobs portal. Your CV should set out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements.

Your Supporting Statement (max. 500 words) should explain which specialism you are applying for, how your personal skills, qualities and experience make you a suitable candidate for the role. It may be possible to offer an additional Professional Allowance of up to £5,000 subject to applicants providing evidence of an approved qualification or partial qualification from an appropriate professional body. Examples of acceptable qualifications include: CIPFA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPS, Badging from a Government Analytical Profession. Include relevant details if you think this may apply to your application.

Part of the application process will require you to complete a diversity questionnaire. You will have the option to select ‘prefer not to say’ but this information is very important to the Civil Service.

Should you encounter any issues with your online application please get in touch with: dcmsrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

If you do not receive acknowledgement of your application within 48 hours, please contact the above email address.

Applications will be reviewed by a panel who will look at the Qualifications, Skills and Experience provided in the submitted CVs and Supporting Statements. Please note, your application must provide evidence of the skills & experience outlined in the key criteria and one of the technical areas to be progressed to the next stage.

Review

Candidates successful at the review stage may be invited to attend an interview.

Interview

During the interview process, candidates will be asked to provide further evidence of their technical skills and experience. Interviews may also include an additional assessment or presentation exercise. The interview will be a blended assessment consisting of a series of questions against the Civil Service Success Profiles Behaviours and Strengths.

The following behaviours will be tested at interview: Seeing the Big Picture, Making Effective Decisions, Communicating & Influencing

Please note feedback will only be given if you attend an assessment or interview

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service/Disclosure Scotland /Access NI on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prioragreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying

Any move to DCMS will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

A reserve list will be held for 6 months from which further appointments can be made.

The expectation within DCMS is that staff will normally remain in post for a minimum of 12

months for band C, 18 months for band B and 24 months for band A/AU and will not apply for

DCMS roles on level transfer during that time

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to

a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about

employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to

employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had

their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made

within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Interviews are held remotely and successful candidates get to experience our bespoke remote on-boarding process. Although initially remotely, the role will be based at the location stated in this advert.

DCMS has a London and a National pay scale. For more information on this, including the circumstances in which each pay scale will apply, please see the candidate information pack

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ’contact point for applicants’ section

Reasonable adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via DCMSRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Nationality requirements

This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups

• UK nationals
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

Further information on nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :Name : BDUK Recruitment TeamEmail : bdukrecruitment@dcms.gov.uk Recruitment team :Email : dcmsrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact ( recruitment.team@dcms.gov.uk ) in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/civilservicerecruitmentcomplaints/