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Finance Innovation and Professionalism Lead

Hybrid in London·Added today (last checked 13 Nov)

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ)

9 open roles

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Our summary

Salary
£58,835 - £71,930 a year

About £3,720 - £4,360 a month after tax.

Work mode
Hybrid, London
Closing date
Apply by Wednesday 2 December
Holiday
25 days holiday
Pension
28.97% employer pension

Skills

Nice to have

Requirements

What we're looking for

We would love to hear from creative finance professionals with a continuous improvement mindset who are passionate about delivering innovation to finance functions. Please ensure your application sets out how you meet these essential requirements:

  • Fully qualified CCAB or equivalent (such as CIMA, ACCA etc.)
  • Strong understanding of financial processes, systems, and best practices.
  • Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
  • Change and Project/Programme management skills, with a proven track record of delivering innovation and continuous improvement.
  • People management skills. Proven ability to provide coaching and support the development of team members.

Nice to have

  • Hands-on experience designing and delivering AI-enabled solutions using the Microsoft 365 and Power Platform ecosystem (or a willingness to learn - Essential)
  • Change or Project/Programme management qualifications.

Education & certifications

Fully qualified CCAB or equivalent (such as CIMA, ACCA, ICAEW etc.)

Pay & benefits

What you'll get

£58,835 - £71,930

National: £58,835 - £66,575; London: £64,540 - £71,930 (pro-rata for part-time hours) + Accountancy allowance - £4,645

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Alongside your salary of £58,835, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero contributes £17,044 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero offers a competitive mix of benefits including:

  • 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 & professional development opportunities, which all staff are actively encouraged to pursue.
  • Access to a range of retail, travel and lifestyle employee discounts.

Visa & relocation

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)

The role

DESNZ Finance is transforming to become a Future Ready Finance Function: innovative, digitally enabled, professionally excellent and equipped to grasp the transformation opportunities facing government finance.

As Finance Innovation and Professionalism Lead, you will play a key role in creating the conditions in which innovation can thrive and finance colleagues can continually develop the skills needed to deliver exceptional outcomes for ministers, taxpayers and the public.

This is an exciting time to join the team. You will shape how Finance maximises the opportunities presented by technologies such as AI and automation, support transformation delivery, strengthen Finance capability across the department, and build a culture of continuous improvement.

You will play a key role in the Finance Directorate's centre of expertise for innovation, professionalism, organisational change and capability development, co-ordinating and supporting related activity across the directorate.

What you'll do

Develop the conditions for effective innovation

  • Develop a structured approach to building Directorate capability, including training pathways in relation to AI and other digital tools as well as change management and systems thinking;
  • Design and implement interventions and activities to establish a culture where innovation, continuous improvement and systems thinking are embedded into day-to-day business;
  • Champion the exploitation of AI, automation, data analytics and digital technologies to improve financial management and productivity. Including using cross-government networks and looking across industries to identify good practice and opportunities;
  • Create the conditions for local teams to identify and deliver their own improvements through an effective innovation ecosystem.

Finance transformation and change:

  • Lead cross-cutting change and transformation activity across the Finance Directorate. Develop effective change approaches and collaborate with different teams and stakeholders in the business. This will include playing a key role in supporting the successful adoption of a new ERP system and associated processes as part of the Matrix programme;
  • Develop and oversee the Finance change portfolio. Identify and prioritise change and innovation opportunities, working with the Senior leadership team to shape the Directorate's overall change portfolio;
  • Support and enable local team level change activity. Provide advice, specialist support and capacity to support Finance teams deliver change and innovation.

Professionalism and capability:

  • Oversee the Directorate's professionalism agenda and provide advice to Finance leadership on capability and workforce development;
  • Support alignment with Government Finance Function (GFF) standards, career frameworks and professional expectations;
  • Develop and maintain a comprehensive capability strategy covering technical, digital, leadership and behavioural skills;
  • Oversee the Finance Community, professional networks, talent initiatives, apprenticeships and learning offers;
  • Promote professional qualifications, continuing professional development and structured career pathways.

Leadership and people:

  • Provide direction, support and development for at least one Senior Executive Officer and contribute to fostering an inclusive, collaborative team environment;
  • Develop strong relationships with key stakeholders within the Directorate, other Functions and externally to influence and enable the delivery of priority workstreams;

As a line manager, you will be responsible for working with your members of staff to define their objectives, as well as managing their development and performance.

How you'll work

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Darlington, Edinburgh, London, Salford

We work in an agile way. This means that, as our priorities evolve, your work may adapt to meet emerging needs and help us deliver our mission. This approach offers opportunities to develop your skills, gain new experiences, and contribute where you can make the greatest impact. This relates to the nature of the work rather than contractual terms, such as location or working pattern.

The Department operates a discretionary hybrid working policy, which provides for a combination of working hours from your place of work and from your home in the UK. The current expectation for staff is to attend the office or non-home based location for 40-60% of the time over the accounting period.

DESNZ does not normally offer full home working (i.e. working at home); but we do offer a variety of flexible working options (including occasionally working from home).

Reference number

490214

Job grade

Grade 7

Contract type

Permanent

Number of jobs available

1

Find Out More

You can also follow our LinkedIn Careers Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/desnz-careers/

Behaviours

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

  • Changing and Improving
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Developing Self and Others
  • Seeing the Big Picture

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Feedback

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

Job contact

  • Name : Matthew Cavanagh
  • Email : Matthew.cavanagh@energysecurity.gov.uk

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Hiring process

Apply before 11:55 pm on Wednesday 2nd December 2026

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

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Please use your personal statement (in no more than 1000 words) to describe what experience or skills you possess that would aid you in delivering impactful finance change and professionalism activity that will help us to develop a future ready finance function.

In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the personal statement only.

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

The interview will consist of behaviour questions.

Interviewees will be asked to deliver a presentation; further details will be provided nearer the time.

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

About Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ)

Industry
Government Administration

In their own words

About the company & team

DESNZ - Corporate Delivery Group - Finance

Accountancy
Business Management and Improvement
Digital
Finance

Do you want a career where you can make a real difference? Do you want to have an impact on the UK and beyond? If yes, then a career at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) could be for you.

Here at DESNZ we are delivering our mission to make the UK a clean energy superpower, with clean electricity by 2030 and accelerating the UK's journey to net zero.

Our work is helping ensure clean energy for all, keep bills down and seize the opportunities to lead the world in new green industries, taking back control of our energy with Great British Energy and encouraging greater energy efficiency across the UK. The work of the department has never been more timely or relevant, and by joining us you will be part of making that difference.

Our work is varied, interesting and most importantly it's impactful. Our DESNZ Values are interwoven into everything we do; we are bold, we are collaborative, we are inclusive, and we learn. As a department we are committed to these values to build a culture where everyone can thrive.

We offer great working benefits including a world-class pension, flexible working options and a career where your learning and development is taken seriously. We are enormously proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We support candidates with adjustments throughout our recruitment process. Information about disability confidence and just some examples of the adjustments that you can request can be found in the reasonable adjustment section below.

  • Email : desnzresourcing.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Additional information

We are proud to be a disability confident leader and we welcome applications from disabled candidates and candidates with long-term conditions.

Information about the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) and some examples of adjustments that we offer to disabled candidates and candidates with long-term health conditions during our recruitment process can be found in our DESNZ Candidate Guidance. A DESNZ Plain Text Version of the guidance is also available.

We encourage candidates to discuss their adjustment needs by emailing the job contact which can be found under the contact point for applicants section.

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

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

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

A location based reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.

Candidates who meet the minimum benchmark may be placed on a Reserve List for consideration for similar roles, including those at a lower grade. Candidates who narrowly miss the benchmark and are not placed on the Reserve List may still be considered for an offer in a similar role at a lower grade.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

Any move to the Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero 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.

DESNZ cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. DESNZ holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service/Disclosure Scotland 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 Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

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.

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.

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

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 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.

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment principles, and wish to make a complaint, then you should contact in the first instance DESNZrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission/Complaints

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