Senior Strategic Financial Advisor

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP); Camden Town; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK government department is seeking a key member for its financial team to provide strategic advice, manage stakeholder relationships, and lead efficiency strategies. The ideal candidate will hold a recognized chartered accountancy qualification and possess strong analytical and leadership skills. This role involves negotiation with HM Treasury and contributing to financial planning and strategy development. Competitive benefits including funded development and health support are offered.

Benefits

Interest-free season ticket loans

Cycle to work scheme

Health and wellbeing support

Funded learning and development

Family friendly policies

Qualifications

• Hold a full chartered level qualification from a UK-recognised accountancy body.
• Eligibility criteria for part-qualified accountants: must be studying with a UK-recognised body.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Departments efficiency strategy and financial strategy.
• Negotiate with HM Treasury on budget flexibilities.
• Support the development of departmental efficiency plans.

Skills

Strategic Financial Leadership

Stakeholder Management

Analytical Capability

Education

Chartered Professional Qualification (CIMA, ICAEW, ACCA, etc.)

Job description

As a key member of the PFER Team, you will provide strategic advice and analysis on financial impact, performance and risk to senior stakeholders and through this contribute to the strategic direction of the Department. You will maintain strong relationships with senior and wider stakeholders, including HMT, bringing insight and influence through effective communication. The successful candidates will:

Responsibilities

• Lead on the Departments efficiency strategy, delivering DWPs 2030 strategy. Develop and execute the appropriate monitoring, governance and escalation routes, ensuring DWPs financial strategy reflects the appropriate incentives. This includes leading on advice to Investment Committee, the Executive Team and Secretary of State.
• Lead on HM Treasury engagement on the Departments in-year DEL position. Negotiate any budget flexibilities with HMT through the Supplementary Estimates to address in-year and future year financial challenges.
• Lead on the development and costing of fiscal event (DEL) measures, and facilitate the appropriate governance and assurance of emerging proposals. Consider funding requirements in light of the wider Departmental finances, and conduct negotiations with HMT.
• Act as the Strategic Finance lead on the Departments pay and workforce strategy.
• Lead contact to one or multiple DG areas through the budget allocations process, providing expert support to FBPs and planning leads, ensuring a joined-up view of plans across the Department.
• Support the development of plans to reprioritise and increase efficiency across the department. Recent examples include the Efficiency and Savings Review and the Civil Service headcount cap. You will need to use your analytical and stakeholder management skills to contribute to the development of new ideas and proposals.

Qualifications and eligibility

• You must hold a full chartered level professional qualification awarded by a UK-recognised accountancy body: CIMA, ICAEW, ACCA, CIPFA, ICAS or Chartered Accountants Ireland. Your membership of one of these institutes must be up to date and live on the day you submit your application. If you are invited to interview, you will be asked to provide evidence of both your qualification status and your membership being current on the date you applied. Membership of AAT or other technician level qualifications does not satisfy the qualification criteria for this role. If you are unsure whether you meet the qualification criteria, you should confirm with our recruitment team before proceeding with your application. If you hold a chartered level accountancy qualification with an overseas body, you will not be eligible to apply for this role. However, most of the UK-recognised accountancy bodies operate reciprocal agreements and pathways programmes which allow people with overseas qualifications to apply for membership. We would recommend pursuing this if you are interested in a career in UK government finance.
• Eligibility criteria for part-qualified accountants: You must be studying for a qualification with a UK-recognised accountancy body: CIMA, ICAEW, ACCA, CIPFA, ICAS or Chartered Accountants Ireland. You must have passed (or been awarded an exemption from) a minimum of 8 exams so far, and your last exam sitting must have been within 12 months from the date you submit your application. Your student membership of your institute must be up to date and live on the day you submit your application. If invited to interview, you will be asked to provide evidence of both your exam passes/exemptions to date and your membership being current on the date you applied for the role. Membership of AAT or other technician level qualifications does not satisfy the part-qualification criteria. If you are unsure whether you meet the part-qualification criteria, you should confirm with our recruitment team before proceeding. You will be expected to complete your studies and become a fully qualified accountant within a reasonable timeframe. If you do not achieve full qualification, you may be moved to a different role that does not require a professional finance qualification.

Behaviours

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

Technical skills

• Written Exercise to test Financial Skills, Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme.
• Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly).
• Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 year’s continuous service.
• Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes.
• An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Womens Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more.

Additional information

Selection process details: This vacancy uses Success Profiles and will assess Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills. Personal Statement: a statement of up to 1000 words and a basic CV are required. Further details are on the application form. The sift panel will use your Personal Statement and CV to assess your skills against the Essential Criteria. You will receive an overall score at the sift outcome. The panel may use a single Lead Criteria in high-volume applications. If you pass the initial sift, you will be progressed to full sift. Interviews: online via Teams with a written assessment and behavioural/strength-based interview. Civil Service employment terms apply, including salary placement rules and childcare/voucher considerations. Nationality requirements and diversity information are specified in the advert. The Civil Service is committed to equal opportunity and inclusion, including Disability Confident Scheme and Redeployment opportunities. Reasonable Adjustments and accessibility support are available via the recruitment team.

Security: Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check and baseline personnel security checks. This position is open to UK nationals and specified categories of other nationalities; see the advert for full details. The Civil Service Code applies to all civil servants and emphasizes merit-based recruitment and ethical conduct. The Civil Service also promotes diversity and inclusion and provides guidance for veterans and prison leaver recruitment where applicable.

This role offers a strong candidate profile with an emphasis on strategic financial leadership, stakeholder management and rigorous analytical capability.