Deputy Director Finance, People and Performance - ICS

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero; Salford; Hybrid; GBP 81,000; Full time

Job summary

A key government department in the UK is seeking a Deputy Director of Finance, People and Performance. The role involves leading the finance function, ensuring compliance with government requirements, and driving operational efficiency. Candidates should be financially qualified with substantial experience in a senior role. The department offers a competitive salary of £81,000 plus pension contributions, flexible working arrangements, and opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Civil Service Pension Scheme with 28.97% employer contribution

Minimum of 25 days annual leave

Learning and professional development opportunities

Employee discounts on retail, travel, and lifestyle

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a senior finance role within a complex organisation.
• Strong understanding of people management and performance frameworks.
• Ability to deliver at pace and make decisions in ambiguous settings.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership of the finance function and ensure compliance with HMG requirements.
• Lead continuous improvement of all business services.
• Manage significant budgets, contracts, and service level agreements.

Skills

Financial management

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic thinking

People management

Decision-making

Influencing change

Education

Financial qualification (CCAB, CIMA or equivalent)

Job description

Integrated Corporate Services (ICS) provides essential shared services to key government departments and their Arm's Length Bodies through an innovative model with significant growth potential. This includes Digital, Security, Estates, and elements of Commercial, HR, and Finance to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ), the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT), and other connected organisations. Some services are delivered in partnership with third parties such as the Government Property Agency (GPA) and UK Shared Business Services (UKSBS).

ICS is also a key partner in the Matrix programme, preparing to manage the intelligent client function for the new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution (Neo) across five departments over 2026-2027. This initiative enhances our role as an expert manager of shared services and expands our service delivery to new departments and their Arm's Length Bodies. We are leading the transition to new digital platforms, improving efficiency, transparency, and value for money across the government.

As a pivotal role, the Deputy Director of Finance, People and Performance reports to the Managing Director and is a member of the Senior Leadership Team. The role focuses on ensuring highly effective financial processes and systems that support our service delivery across multiple government departments within a complex system of partnership.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership of the finance function, delivering consistent, high-quality finance and internal controls services across the organisation.
• Ensure compliance with all HMG requirements and strive for best practice in financial governance.
• Lead the response to driving efficiency in all operations and scaling up strategy through the organisation’s contribution to efficiency initiatives.
• Use strategic and commercial acumen to champion effective decision‑making and risk management.
• Lead the PMO, ensuring programme delivery, risk, business continuity, and performance and reporting processes are robust, effective, and provide value for money.
• Provide overall leadership to the People team, ensuring workforce planning, people development, and engagement processes align with the organisation’s strategic objectives.
• Lead continuous improvement and the modernisation of all business services, striving for business excellence across the organisation.
• Engage and collaborate across multiple government departments and partner organisations to advocate for shared and innovative resourcing approaches.
• Manage significant budgets, contracts, and service level agreements with a clear focus on value for money and continuous improvement.
• Be an active contributor to the senior leadership team, championing the organisational vision and values of creativity, connection, and capability.

Assessment Process

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to undertake a staff engagement exercise prior to a final interview panel. This assessment is designed to support the panel’s decision-making and highlight areas for further exploration. For further information about the assessments please visit https://scs-assessments.co.uk/

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. For an overview of the application process, please visit the Civil Service Careers website.

Assignment Duration

This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. Acceptance of this role includes an expectation of remaining in the same post to deliver on key business outcomes. This expectation is not a contractual change to your terms and conditions.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check and meet the security requirements before appointment. The required level of security is a security check. See our vetting charter. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks.

Nationality Requirements

• UK nationals
• National of the Republic of Ireland
• National of a Commonwealth country with the right to work in the UK
• National of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members with settled or pre‑settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS), or who have made a valid application for settled or pre‑settled status under the 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 with accrued right to work in the Civil Service

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. Recruitment is by merit on the basis of fair and open competition. The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities, including a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attracting, retaining and investing in talent wherever it is found. For more information, see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

Qualifications

• Financially qualified (CCAB, CIMA or equivalent) with proven experience in a senior finance role within a complex organisation, ideally a multi‑organisational system.
• Strong understanding of people management and performance frameworks.
• Demonstrable strategic thinking and delivery within an ambiguous and changing environment.
• Experience building and leading high‑performing, collaborative and diverse teams capable of influencing across and beyond organisational boundaries.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement and relationship‑building skills, with proven ability to influence change in policy and practice at senior level.
• Ability to deliver at pace, make and support decisions in ambiguous settings and prioritise team workloads to achieve results.

Benefits

• A culture of flexible working, such as job sharing, homeworking and compressed hours.
• Automatic enrolment into the Civil Service Pension Scheme with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.
• An extensive range of learning and professional development opportunities.
• Access to a range of retail, travel and lifestyle employee discounts.
• A hybrid office/home‑based working model where staff will spend a normal 40‑60% of their time in the office (minimum 40%) over a month, with flexibility depending on business and individual needs.

Alongside a salary of £81,000, the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero contributes £23,465 towards your membership of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.