Finance Systems, Data and Technology | Senior Executive Officer

Summary

Role summary

Financial Systems, Data and Technology SEOs are expected to provide expert advice regarding systems and technology to internal stakeholders. They work with stakeholders to identify and solve issues and identify better ways of working including reviewing systems/processes for data specific non-compliance and monitor data quality. They develop and update systems guidance and training packages, designing training courses to upskill users on processes and systems. They lead the development of financial systems technologies, being a focal point for change and a subject matter expert.

Typical Role Responsibilities

SEOs are expected to:

Systems:

Manage the financial systems controls and user support processes.

Ensure that systems and process documentation is up to date, including the creation and maintenance of process maps.

Design and deliver training courses to upskill users on processes and systems.

Develop and update systems guidance and training packages for ad-hoc processes.

Lead the development of financial system technologies being a focal point for change and a subject matter expert.

Data Management:

Provide expert advice regarding data management to internal stakeholders.

Ensure the integrity and accuracy of data in use across all financial systems through application of appropriate system controls, regulatory standards and policies.

Intelligent Customer Function:

Provide expert advice regarding systems and technology to internal stakeholders.

Work with stakeholders to identify and solve issues and identify better ways of working.

Manage aspects of financial system contract.

Entry Route

Suitable for candidates from:

Finance
Government Digital Service - GOV.UK (previously known as Digital Data and Technology)
Project Delivery
Analysis & Insight

Typical Qualifications

Recommended:

Level 4 qualification with?AAT, CCAB, CIMA?or equivalent?

Hold a relevant qualification in Digital or Project Delivery with significant exposure to Financial / Finance Enterprise Resource Planning Systems dependent on the role/departmental structure

Or?

Extensive financial expertise

Please see desirable criteria on the detailed grade page.?

Responsibilities

Tasks

Managing financial systems' user support, including risk and issue management.?
Managing requests on chart of account codes, ensuring valid business requirements and overseeing consistency across all relevant systems use. Leading on maintaining data quality, such as data cleansing.
Taking responsibility for the overall processes underpinning the maintenance of user accounts and permissions, ensuring requests are correctly authorised and adhere to GDPR guidance as issued by Information Assurance specialists in Government Security.
Maintaining and developing adequate financial system controls.
Defining the systems element of month-end tasks, such as open and close periods on the finance system and period-end reconciliations.
Managing specific aspects financial systems implementation and improvement, such as requirement setting with external suppliers.
Becoming an expert in specific systems' end to end processes. Ensuring that systems and process documentation is up to date, including the creation and maintenance of process maps.
Developing and designing financial systems' training materials and initiatives to upskill users for ad hoc processes. Delivery of training to users including show and tells, video help guides, and leading classroom training.
Developing automated processes to deal with repetitive and complex finance tasks; refining existing machine learning algorithms and generative AI tools to generate insights and predict future outcomes based on historical data. Integrating AI tools into traditional financial models to enhance accuracy and efficiency.
Ensuring the integrity and accuracy of data in use across all financial systems through application of appropriate system controls, regulatory standards and policies, utilising modern analytic tools.
Developing/specifying business intelligence reports and dashboards for the business where appropriate, using advanced and interactive data visualisation and analysis tools such as Microsoft Power BI, Excel, SQL etc.
Summarising data sets and visualising data by advanced data analytic tools to identify patterns, trends and extract meaningful insights to support effective decision making, drive efficiency and effectiveness.
Assisting/managing aspects of financial system contracts (intelligent client function) including contract extension.
Engaging with stakeholders to provide support and identify opportunities for continuous improvement or transformational change and generating problem statements for assessment.
Providing expert professional advice regarding financial systems and technology to internal stakeholders.
?

Please note - The above list includes typical tasks at this grade.

To see the role responsibilities, please visit Finance Systems, Data and Technology for more info.

Expectations

Behaviours

For details of Behaviours read the Success Profiles: Civil Service behaviours - GOV.UK

Working together
Managing a quality service
Delivery at pace
Communicating and influencing
Changing and improving
Making effective decisions
Developing self and others

Interpersonal Skills

Effective?customer service skills and ability to engage with internal and external stakeholders effectively.?
Effective communication skills and ability to work with their team effectively to ensure delivery of outputs including design documentation and delivery of presentations.?
Time management, organisation and prioritisation skills to deliver and manage competing and changing priorities whilst adhering to strict deadlines
Strong problem solving ability and work with others to collaboratively to identify problems. Provide solutions and implement them through delivery plans.?
Strong attention to detail and excellent record keeping skills.?
Excellent people management skills with previous direct line management experience.

Professional Skills

Key for Levels of Professional skills

A = Awareness

W = Working

P = Practitioner

L3 = Level 3

L4 = Level 4

Subheadings	Professional Skills	Level	Learning Resources
	Communication skills	W/P	"Introduction to communicating effectively"
	Strategic analysis and insight	A/W	"Strategic analysis and insight"
	Commercial acumen	W/P	"The Commercial Journey"
	Financial reporting	W/P	"Finance skills for all"
	Project management	W/P	"Project Planning"
	Change management	W/P	"Managing change toolkit"
	Business analysis	W/P	"Understanding and using business cases"
	User research	W/P	"Customer insight"
	Data analysis	A/W	"Data analysis"
	Systems Testing	W/P	"https://sfia-online.org/en/sfia-8/all-skills-a-z"
	Technical and IT systems understanding	W/P	"https://sfia-online.org/en/sfia-8/all-skills-a-z"
	Project and change management	W/P	"https://www.apm.org.uk/qualifications-and-training/project-management-fundamentals/"
	Risk and issue management	W/P	"https://sfia-online.org/en/sfia-8/all-skills-a-z"
	Data Analysis: Proficiency in tools like Excel, SQL, R, Python, and data visualization tools such as Tableau or Power BI for developing AI models and data analysis; SQL for database management and querying	A/W
	Statistical and Quantitative Analysis: Strong understanding of statistical methods and quantitative analysis techniques.	A/W
	Machine Learning:? Understanding machine learning algorithms and techniques, such as supervised and unsupervised learning, neural networks, and deep learning. Familiarity with platforms like TensorFlow, Keras, and Scikit-learn	A/W
	Natural Language Processing (NLP): Understanding NLP techniques to analyse text data from financial reports, news articles, and social media. Familiarity with NLP libraries like NLTK, spaCy, and Apache OpenNLP.	A/W
Skills for the Information Age (SFIA) Framework	Portfolio, programme and project support PROF	L3	"Portfolio, programme and project support"
	Business Analysis BUAN	L4	"Business analysis"
	Business Modelling BSMO	L4	"Business modelling"
	Requirements definition & management REQM	L4	"Requirements definition and management"
	Business process testing BPTS	L4	"Business process testing"
	Data modelling and design DTAN	L3	"Data analysis"
	Availability management AVMT	L4	"Availability management"
	Service level management SLMO	L4	"Service level management"
	Configuration management CFMG	L4	"Configuration management"
	Relationship management RLMT	L4	"Relationship management"

Qualifications

Recommended:
- L4 qualified with AAT, CCAB, CIMA or equivalent
Or?
- Extensive relevant financial expertise
Or
- Hold a relevant qualification in Digital or Project Delivery with significant exposure to Financial / Finance Enterprise Resource Planning Systems dependent on the role/departmental structure (desirable example below).
Desirable:

1. Project Management
- PRINCE2
- Managing Successful Programmes
- Project Fundamentals Qualification PFQ. | The APM PFQ Course
- Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) Accreditation (now known as National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority - GOV.UK)
2. Digital, Data and Technology
Details of how to gain a finance qualification through an apprenticeship can be found here:
- Apprenticeships on OneFinance
- Apprenticeships on Civil Service Learning

Entry and Progression Routes

Entry Routes

Within Finance

This role may be suitable for Finance Systems, Data and Technology HEOs or other Finance HEOs/SEOs with a extensive experience of financial system administration.

This role may also be suitable for SEO Finance Fast Streamers.?

For more information on qualification, please visit the?Finance Systems, Data & Technology?main page.

From Outside Finance

This role is suitable for:

Established Project Delivery professionals with sufficient previous experience in finance and/or willingness to qualify as a CCAB accountant.
Established Digital, Data and Technology professionals with sufficient previous experience in finance and/or willingness to qualify as a CCAB accountant

For more information on qualification, please visit the?Finance Systems, Data & Technology?main page.

Progression Routes

Staff in this role typically move into a G7 position within Financial Systems & Data Management, utilising an operational knowledge of financial processes and systems to lead excellent services and manage change at a more senior level.

For more information on qualification, please visit the?Finance Systems, Data & Technology?main page.