Head of Financial Analysis

Markets, Sourcing and Suppliers is one of the Central Commercial teams. The Directorate is focused across the commercial lifecycle - from the start, ensuring we have the right policies in place, to understanding the commercial environment, to partnering with our Strategic Suppliers. We provide best practice and training to ensure Government sourcing decisions maximise value for money and minimise risks to the delivery of public services. Markets, Sourcing and Suppliers play a crucial role in supporting the Government Commercial Function Strategy.

The Financial Analysis team support the assessing of the financial health of strategic suppliers, provide advice to contracting authorities on their financial analysis of suppliers, corporate events, as well as horizon scan for distress, and are the subject matter experts for the “Assessing and monitoring the economic and financial standing of bidders and suppliers” guidance note.

The Head of Financial Analysis leads the Financial Analysis team in delivering the Financial Analysis function within the Markets, Sourcing and Suppliers Directorate.

• Leading support and guidance to the Strategic Partnering Programme (Commercial Analysts, Strategic Partnering Managers and Crown Representatives) in the financial analysis of Strategic Suppliers, including consideration of commercial implications for suppliers and stakeholders. Leading in-depth reviews and assessments of Strategic Suppliers deemed higher risk and managing ongoing monitoring of suppliers through the delivery and continuous improvement of analysis submitted to the Commercial Relationships Board.
• Leading the team’s delivery of a cross-government consultancy service for queries relating to the financial analysis of suppliers, translating between commercial and financial considerations, including working with Commercial Finance colleagues when queries concern the implementation of EFS guidance as required.
• Leading various elements of the Markets, Sourcing and Suppliers response in relation supplier corporate events (eg distress or merger activity), in support of the Deputy Director.
• Working with stakeholders across government on the further development of response to urgent situations.
• Supporting the Deputy Director in overall risk management, including leading regular reporting against the risk of supplier failure, delivering strategic insight to risk registers and other risk commissions.
• Providing subject matter expertise to the ongoing development of Playbook EFS policy and guidance, and any associated procurement policies, guidance or templates such as the Model contracts, working with Commercial Finance and Policy teams.
• Supporting the team’s ongoing development of horizon scanning for supplier distress across HMG, working closely with other cross-Whitehall stakeholders to identify financially distressed sectors or suppliers, where Government would have an interest.
• Managing a small team of financial analysts, providing feedback, support and challenge to team members that helps them develop and demonstrate where they have met or exceeded their objectives.
• Promoting and representing the team across HMG and seeking opportunities to influence other departments, and managing relationships with suppliers and senior stakeholders across Whitehall.

• Evidence of the use of strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills to identify and communicate complex and often technical issues clearly and concisely to senior colleagues, with a proven record of using effective working relationships to influence across government or a large organisation. Communicate with clarity, honesty and enthusiasm. (Communicating and influencing)
• Able to bring a government-wide perspective to delivery and risk management, bringing together the diverse needs of stakeholders and ensuring activities reflect wider strategic priorities and communicate effectively with senior leaders to influence future strategies. (Seeing the big picture)
• Builds strong personal relationships, actively building and maintaining networks while ensuring that they address the various needs and utilise the skills of their team effectively. Able to collaborate and lead across organisational boundaries to deliver results. (Working together)
• Able to use sometimes incomplete evidence from a wide range of sources to support decisions, while considering implications and risks of advice associated with the best option, and make decisions confidently even when they may be unpopular. (Making effective decisions)
• Familiarity with the Sourcing Playbook is highly desirable.
• Experience of managing risks and/or contingency planning are desirable but not essential.

Specialist skills

• Qualified CCAB (or equivalent) Accountant is essential.
• Experience in financial analysis and monitoring of companies is highly desirable.
• Experience in working with stakeholders across government is desirable.

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

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

• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• An environment with flexible working options.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
• A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and average employer contributions of 27%.
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30.

Job contact :

Name :
Kris Hamson
Email :
kris.hamson@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

Email :
cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk