Assistant Finance Business Partner WSD London & South

Government Property Agency; Leeds; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a detail-oriented Assistant Finance Business Partner to join their dynamic team. This role is crucial for ensuring financial integrity within government property management, where you will produce insightful management accounts and support budget holders in making informed decisions. You will work closely with various stakeholders to enhance financial processes and contribute to the overall efficiency of operations. If you are passionate about finance and want to make a meaningful impact in the public sector, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Benefits

Civil Service Pension with employer contribution

Generous annual leave

Flexible working options

Learning and development opportunities

Inclusive workplace culture

Qualifications

• Experience in management accounting, ideally in a public sector context.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to analyze financial data.

Responsibilities

• Producing management accounts and supporting budget processes.
• Partnering with budget holders and analyzing financial performance.

Skills

Management Accounting

Financial Analysis

Stakeholder Management

Budgeting

Microsoft Excel

ERP Systems

Education

CCAB or equivalent qualification

Tools

PowerBI

Business Central

Salesforce

Job description

Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester

Job Summary

The Government Property Agency is the largest property holder in government, with more than £2.1 billion in property assets and over 55% of the government’s office estate.

We are transforming the way the Civil Service works by creating great places to work, leading the largest commercial office programme in the UK, working towards halving carbon emissions from government offices, and achieving greater value for taxpayers. And we are looking for innovative, solutions-focused people to join our team.

Representing the best covenant in the UK – His Majesty’s Government – we are leading transformational programmes such as the Government Hubs Programme, Whitehall Campus Programme and Net Zero Programme, as well as delivering modern, cost-effective real estate service solutions.

Innovation and progress are at the heart of our behaviours. We foster a culture of lifelong learning, where curiosity and self-improvement are encouraged. And we’re dedicated to becoming a leading, inclusive employer both in the external market and throughout the Civil Service. Our strong emphasis on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) is not just about driving inclusion across our organisation, it is also about ensuring our services meet the needs of government departments and the civil servants who use our spaces.

Join our dynamic and diverse team that leads with purpose, improving sustainability, nurturing social value, driving inclusivity and flexibility, and kickstarting economic growth. We are driven by purpose, and you can be part of it too: where you make a meaningful impact; where you influence; where your voice really matters; where you help to shape our future direction.

The GPA is committed to representing the communities we serve by making Diversity, Equality and Inclusion part of everything we do.

To ensure that we are always recruiting and retaining a diverse mix of talent, we are particularly inviting applications from candidates who are disabled, ethnically or gender diverse, and people who identify as being part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Job Description

The Assistant Finance Business Partner role in the GPA is integral to ensuring that the GPA’s accounts are accurately recorded and present a high degree of integrity, producing insightful management information, forecasts and supporting the business and GPA clients to make informed decisions.

The WSD AFBP London & South will be responsible for working with internal regional and contract management teams, suppliers and clients to ensure an accurate and robust month end process is followed, presenting financial information to regional management teams and providing suitable challenge and support to their decision making, contributing to the annual building budget process, contributing to process improvements within the team and working across GPA to resolve any client related issues.

There are 3 roles in the team, reporting in to the Finance Business Partner Workplace Service Delivery – the London & South regional lead will work alongside a counterpart for the North & Central regions who are both responsible for working with the regional teams and involved in the contract management of the Hard FM, Soft FM and Security providers; and a central Performance and reporting lead, responsible for the Performance Partner relationship and leading on Workplace Services’ management reporting provision delivery to the operational and leadership teams as well as client finance and BNP interaction. The three team members will be expected to work closely together, to ensure consistency and efficiency across the national operation, and to work effectively with the central management accounting team.

Key Responsibilities

• Producing management accounts for relevant budget holders and contributing to GPA’s client budget process.
• Partnering with budget holders in the London & South Region.
• Provide advice on financial treatment of project costs to ensure that all items are correctly assessed for capitalisation, and that the treatment of abortive costs and feasibility works are appropriately treated as RDEL, while being allocated to the correct projects.
• Contributing to property reconciliations to ensure all expenditure has been fully recovered from tenants.
• Attendance at monthly stakeholder meetings to support the management of projects, supply chain and client relationships.
• Supporting any client discussions as required to ensure recovery of billed amounts, keeping accrued income minimal and controlled.
• Building a network internally with other finance teams to ensure smooth transition of data and knowledge between interlinked processes, and contributing as part of the wider finance team.
• Promote continuous improvement by developing and improving accounting processes and procedures relating to projects and other expenditure.
• Preparing balance sheet reconciliations including accruals and prepayments.
• Analysing financial performance to identify variances and ensuring transactions are accounted for correctly.
• Preparing and processing journals.
• Supporting internal and external audits.
• Facilitating forecasting and reporting.
• Identifying trends, risks and opportunities in the financial data.
• Ensuring Record to Report principles are embedded within the GPA.
• Deputise for the Finance Business Partner as required.
  
  

The post holder may be required to undertake additional responsibilities as expected in relation to the role and grade.

The Assistant Finance Business Partner role in the GPA is integral to ensuring that the GPA’s accounts are accurately recorded and present a high degree of integrity, producing insightful management information, forecasts and supporting the business and GPA clients to make informed decisions.

The WSD AFBP London & South will be responsible for working with internal regional and contract management teams, suppliers and clients to ensure an accurate and robust month end process is followed, presenting financial information to regional management teams and providing suitable challenge and support to their decision making, contributing to the annual building budget process, contributing to process improvements within the team and working across GPA to resolve any client related issues.

There are 3 roles in the team, reporting in to the Finance Business Partner Workplace Service Delivery – the London & South regional lead will work alongside a counterpart for the North & Central regions who are both responsible for working with the regional teams and involved in the contract management of the Hard FM, Soft FM and Security providers; and a central Performance and reporting lead, responsible for the Performance Partner relationship and leading on Workplace Services’ management reporting provision delivery to the operational and leadership teams as well as client finance and BNP interaction. The three team members will be expected to work closely together, to ensure consistency and efficiency across the national operation, and to work effectively with the central management accounting team.

Key Responsibilities

• Producing management accounts for relevant budget holders and contributing to GPA’s client budget process.
• Partnering with budget holders in the London & South Region.
• Provide advice on financial treatment of project costs to ensure that all items are correctly assessed for capitalisation, and that the treatment of abortive costs and feasibility works are appropriately treated as RDEL, while being allocated to the correct projects.
• Contributing to property reconciliations to ensure all expenditure has been fully recovered from tenants.
• Attendance at monthly stakeholder meetings to support the management of projects, supply chain and client relationships.
• Supporting any client discussions as required to ensure recovery of billed amounts, keeping accrued income minimal and controlled.
• Building a network internally with other finance teams to ensure smooth transition of data and knowledge between interlinked processes, and contributing as part of the wider finance team.
• Promote continuous improvement by developing and improving accounting processes and procedures relating to projects and other expenditure.
• Preparing balance sheet reconciliations including accruals and prepayments.
• Analysing financial performance to identify variances and ensuring transactions are accounted for correctly.
• Preparing and processing journals.
• Supporting internal and external audits.
• Facilitating forecasting and reporting.
• Identifying trends, risks and opportunities in the financial data.
• Ensuring Record to Report principles are embedded within the GPA.
• Deputise for the Finance Business Partner as required.
  
  

The post holder may be required to undertake additional responsibilities as expected in relation to the role and grade.

Person specification

• Build and maintain relationships with clients, budget holders and wider stakeholders.
• Use facts and evidence, while tailoring their communication style for the audience, equally comfortable with financial and non-financial stakeholders – able to “speak the language” of finance to business and vice versa.
• Strong aptitude for applying a financial control mindset to all aspects of their work.
• Capable of collaborating as part of a team to deliver efficiencies and eliminate duplication.
• Considerate of optimism bias and acting as a critical friend in the forecasting and business case planning process.
• Strong focus on delivering an excellent service to customers.
• Strong organisational skills to meet deadlines in a fast paced environment.
  
  

Essential Criteria:

Experience & Technical Skills

• Good experience of management accounting, ideally in a public sector context.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to analyse and interpret significant amounts of financial data.
• Good experience of using Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems.
• Proficient using Microsoft Excel and/or Google Sheets.
• Ability to communicate complex financial information to non-finance stakeholders.
• Ability to work in a geographically dispersed team.
• Background in traditional month end accounting cycles.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to analyse and interpret significant amounts of financial data.
  
  

Desirable Criteria:

• Qualified CCAB or equivalent.
• Background in Facilities Management and/or finance business partnering.
• Experience of reporting and financial systems such as PowerBI, Business Central, and CRM Salesforce.
• Have experience with property and project management systems such as MRI Horizon, Yardi Voyager, CAFM systems or similar systems.
• Experience of partnering with non-financial stakeholders.
• Ideally have experience in the property industry within medium to large organisations where customer service is a priority.
  
  

Qualifications And Accreditations

Essential criteria:

• Working towards or, willing to work towards a CCAB or equivalent professional qualification.
  
  

Behaviours

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

• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Changing and Improving
• Delivering at Pace
  
  

Technical skills

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

• Customer Perspective
• Commercial Acumen
• Property Market Knowledge
• Innovation
  
  

Alongside your salary of £41,055, Government Property Agency contributes £11,893 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• 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%
• Generous annual leave
  
  

Selection process details

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

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the communities and wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and well-being and aim to create a sense of belonging in a workplace where everyone feels valued. The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service D&I Strategy.

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).

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.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme (RIS) to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

Sift

The sift is due to take place week commencing 2nd June 2025.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to include a CV and a 500-word personal statement. The personal statement should then align with the person specification.

Please send your CV and 500 word personal statement to [e-mail] and for any vacancy queries email [e-mail]

Interview

GPA policy is for interviews to be held face to face, with virtual interviews only by absolute exception. The date and location will be confirmed if you are invited to interview. If you feel this will be a problem for you, please contact [e-mail] to discuss prior to submitting your application.

At interview, applicants will be scored against 4 behaviours - Managing a Quality Service, Working Together, Changing & Improving, and Delivering at Pace.

Interview questions will be a blend of Behaviour, Experience, Strength and Technical (core skill) questions.

Further Information

Any move to GPA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

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

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances 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 [e-mail] stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Please note: in addition to the standard pre-employment checks for appointment into the Civil Service, all candidates must also obtain National Security Vetting at Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) clearance level for this vacancy. You will normally need to meet the minimum UK residency period as determined by the level of vetting being undertaken, which for CTC is 3 years UK residency prior to your vetting application. If you have any questions about this residency requirement, please speak to the vacancy holder for this post.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
  
  

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).

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.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).

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.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

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 : Robertson Bell
• Email : [e-mail]
  
  

Recruitment team

• Email : [e-mail]
  
  

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact [e-mail]

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission:

Click here to visit Civil Service Commission