Cost Manager

For jobs located in Wales, the ability to speak Welsh is desirable. From the design and development of policies to the delivery of services supporting work, welfare, pensions and child maintenance, DWP is the Government's largest department. People are at the very heart of what we do. We ensure disabled people can live more independent lives; help tackle poverty and homelessness; provide a financial foundation for a secure old age; and support families ensuring children can fulfil their potential. DWP has the largest commercial estate in government and our team is committed to being smaller, greener and better - helping people to work, grow and thrive. Our estate provides accommodation for colleagues who support millions of daily customer interactions in Jobcentres and Health Assessment centres, back of house offices delivering frontline services and hub sites housing expert functions such as Policy, Finance, Digital and HR. The DWP Estates function ensures the smooth and efficient operation of this network on a day-to-day basis. We manage a private sector supply chain that delivers essential services such as security guarding, maintenance, property and leasehold, construction, cleaning and facilities management. Many of these services are business critical and we cannot safely open our offices without them. Our ambitions are to:

• Transition to a smaller, more affordable, and adaptable estate
• Invest in improving DWP's buildings and infrastructure, conducted mainly through an extensive programme of planned replacement works
• Meet our agreed Government Greening Commitments - creating a culture where sustainability is embedded
• Expertly deliver cost effective services
• Create a professional working culture that is best in class across the Government Property world
There is no better time to join us as we transform our estate and make our buildings fit for the future. The role will be responsible for leading the management of the requisition process associated with Estates Services, ensuring requisitions are raised correctly, with the appropriate supporting data / information and within Delegated Financial Authority (DFA) levels. You will ensure compliance with the application of financial rules, VAT rules, financial policies, processes and procedures, including cost category management; and ensuring that supplier invoices are mapped to the correct purchase orders.,
• Review and validate supplier costing for works completed, including pricing and schedule of rates, challenging and escalating where necessary.
• working in partnership with the buying team to ensure purchase orders are raised promptly upon approval.
• provide support to the integrator and senior cost managers to ensure the timely and accurate preparation and validation of the invoice files to enable accurate and prompt payment to the supplier providing the Estates Services.
• Undertake payment critical processes that enable the supplier invoices to be paid each month in accordance with contractual terms.
• Responsible for validating supplier applications for payment.
• Ensure the timely preparation and validation of the invoice feeder files for submission to Shared Services Connected Ltd (SSCL).
• Lead role in the governance and management of the requisition process associated with Estates Services, ensuring the necessary information, approvals and financial rules / policies are being applied by the cost management assistants, providing support and guidance where required.
• Work in partnership with the buying team to ensure the prompt raising of purchase orders upon Budget Manager approval.
• Point of escalation for the cost management assistants when requisition service level agreement timeframe is at risk of being breached to ensure timely approvals are met by DFA holders.
• Point of escalation for delays associated with the raising of purchase orders.
• Show a positive approach to clear the daily notifications and transactions associated with the requisition process, resolving any queries and providing advice, encouraging joined up teamwork within own team and across other groups.
• Undertake lead responsibility for Purchase Order management; GRNI reports, invoices on hold and escalation of outstanding items as needed, identifying risks and resolving issues efficiently.
• Manage cost monitoring to ensure purchase order values are sufficient to prevent a breach of financial compliance.
• Responsible for ensuring the Integrator system holds accurate cost data and information associated with the Estates Service.
• Working in partnership with the Integrator and cost management team to develop and prepare accurate cost data and management information associated with the Estates Services spend, including cost data at property level.
• Build and maintain relationships with the Integrator team, suppliers and OGDs to ensure smooth resolution of invoice and payment queries associated with the Estates Services.
• Encourage collaborative working between teams and directorates to drive innovation and service improvements, associated with the Estates Services cost and finance processes.
• Manage issues using skill and judgement to ensure business continuity and escalate to the Senior Cost Manager and/or Cost Management Lead.
• Preparation of cost information and reports to support the month end process and assure the accuracy of the financial reporting for Estates Services.
• Preparation of information and reports to support Business Assurance and Finance Business Partners Open Book Audits.
• Provide line management and guidance to the Cost Management Assistants and support their commercial and contract knowledge development.
• Build own contract knowledge and commercial awareness of assigned supplier contract(s) and services provided.
  
  Disability Confident
About Disability Confident A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.