Responsible for providing timely, accurate and clearly communicated financial management and analysis to the executive to drive efficiency and effectiveness through value added insight and advice.
SCS1s are expected to become an integral part of the senior executive team for a large business unit or group. They develop and maintain strong, collaborative and influential relationships with budget holders, both across the business and with wider senior stakeholders. They set the correct financial tone at the top of the operation and ensure finance is at the heart of all key decision making through oversight, support and challenge. SCS1 FBPs focus on protecting, driving and adding value.
SCS1 FBPs are expected to be an integral part of the operational executive. They maintain strong collaborative and influential relationships, both across the business and with wider senior stakeholders. They set the correct financial tone at the top of the operation and ensure finance is at the heart of all key decision making through oversight, support and challenge. They focus on protecting value, driving value and adding value.
Only suitable for staff with the required skills and/or experience in a Strategic Financial Role.
Essential:
Responsible for providing timely, accurate and clearly communicated financial management and analysis to the executive to drive efficiency and effectiveness through value added insight and advice.
Providing strategic advice and analysis on financial impact, performance and risk to senior stakeholders and through this, contributing to strategic direction of the wider business area. This includes supporting accurate current and multi-year financial plans and leveraging a strong understanding of the business.
Championing financial assurance, governance and compliance across the business and in the finance community. To include promoting stewardship of the assets of the operation and compliance with financial control.
Developing and maintaining strong, collaborative and influential relationships with budget holders, and more widely across the business with senior stakeholders and externally including Ministers, DGs, Permanent Secretary and finance committees.
Acting as a catalyst for change to improve financial processes, innovation and value for money, ensuring advances in data and analytics are fully utilised to support financial reporting.
Working closely with leads on major projects and programmes to ensure sound business cases are developed with strong commercial focus, options appraisal, realistic benefits and risk management with appropriate governance.
Work with peers to enable delivery of departmental strategic objectives.
For details of Behaviours read the Success Profiles guidance on GOV.UK.
Seeing the Big Picture
Leadership
Communicating and Influencing
Making effective decisions
Working Together
Managing a Quality Service
Developing Self and Others
Ability to influence and make positive impacts at highest levels through excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including by building and maintaining networks and relationships.
Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to put complex financial issues into layman's terms for non-specialist audiences.
Ability to collaborate and seek constructive outcomes in discussions, balancing a firm stance with a willingness to compromise when beneficial to the operation.
Ability to lead, motivate and develop a diverse finance team and promote excellence.
Championing the use and value of data and analytics, embedding this as part of Senior level reporting. Keeping up to date with available tools and development in data and analytics, adapting to changes in technology to make the best use of available data and tools at all levels within Finance teams and more widely in departments.
Key for Levels of Professional Skills
A = Awareness
W = Working
P = Practitioner
E = Expert
| Subheadings | Professional Skills | Level | Learning Resources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core | Budgeting, Forecasting and Costing in a government finance context | P | |
| Commercial acumen | P | ||
| Investment appraisal and evaluation | P | ||
| Strategic analysis and insight | P | ||
| Performance and Risk management | P | ||
| Accounting officer responsibilities | P | ||
| Oral and Written Presentation skills | E | ||
| Useful | Taxation | W | |
| Interpretation of accounts | W | ||
| Government financial reporting | W | ||
| Supporting the PAC agenda | W | ||
| Understanding the role of NAO | W | ||
| Risk management and Fraud | W |
Essential:
Experience in a relevant strategic financial role
Accelerated qualification is available for G6s and SCS1 with the relevant experience.
This role may be suitable for FBP G6s and other individuals at G6 and SCS1 with strong relationship building, numeracy and analytical skills and strategic thinking.
This role is not suitable for non-finance professionals.
Staff in this role typically move into other SCS roles in Finance or progress to SCS2 roles.