Deputy Finance Business Partner

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is a small government department with a big mission: to keep food safe, ensure it is what is says it is, and that it’s increasingly healthy and more sustainable. The broad and complex work we carry out, and that we contract others to carry out, is key to our goal of delivering ‘food you can trust’.
We are looking for a Deputy Finance Business Partner who can support key areas of this work, ensuring that our colleagues within the FSA manage their finances effectively, efficiently and responsibly. You’ll be a critical member of the Strategic Finance and Business Partnering team, helping to lead provision of strategic financial advice and support for the organisation’s important work., As well as building effective working relationships with stakeholders and helping colleagues in the Operations directorate understand and take ownership of their finances, you’ll have a rare opportunity to build valuable experience in complex and varied areas.
You’ll be heavily involved with work around our Delivery of Official Controls contract, which is valued at over £50m per annum, offering you the chance to take on a role that will develop your skills in supplier management, financial assurance and a range of associated responsibilities. You’ll also work on our annual project to calculate the cost of providing our Official Controls, ensuring that we continue to deliver meaningful value to the taxpayer.
If you are looking for a role that enables you to deliver meaningful input in an important government function while also developing your career, apply today to join the FSA as a Deputy Finance Business Partner.
Working pattern guidance
If applying as a job share partnership, you should both complete separate application forms on Civil Service Jobs, but should make it clear that you are applying as job sharers. Further details on job sharing can be found here JSF – What is the recruitment process for job sharers? , Civil Service Careers (civil-service-careers.gov.uk), We will also assess you against a number of Civil Service Strengths – these are not disclosed prior to interview.
Assessment exercise
As part of the interview process, you will be asked to prepare a seen presentation. Further information will be provided to you on the invitation to interview email.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application or used during interview, including your CV and any statements or examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.
Expected Timeline
Advert closes: 11 November 2024 (23:55)
Sift: Expected to take place 12 – 15 November 2024
Final panel interview: Expected to take place during week commencing 25 November 2024
Interviews will be held remotely via MS Teams. (If you do not have the Microsoft Teams application installed on your computer, you can join on the web without installing the application).
Please note that indicated dates may be subject to change.
Childcare Vouchers
Any move to the Food Standards Agency 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.
Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Reserve List
A reserve list will be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointment may be made.
Candidates that do not pass the interview but have demonstrated an acceptable standard may be considered for similar roles at a lower grade.
Visa Sponsorship
Please note that the FSA does not hold a licence to sponsor any visa applications and we are unable to provide any advice about visas.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements
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)

Working for the Civil Service
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.

Diversity and Inclusion
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).

Part-qualified CCAB or CIMA accountancy qualification (or equivalent) and working towards full qualification, We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Changing and Improving
+ Delivering at Pace

Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
+ Part-qualified CCAB or CIMA accountancy qualification (or equivalent) and working towards full qualification., + Lead criteria: Experience of providing advice, insight and analysis on financial performance and risk to business stakeholders - including presenting financial information to inform and influence decision making. Confident building and maintaining strong relationships with the ability to challenge stakeholders regarding their financial management.
+ Experience of working with large and complex data sets, using available tools to analyse and draw out key insights, and communicating these effectively to colleagues and stakeholders.
+ Comfortable and confident in proactively working at pace, either independently or as part of a team, to manage a full workload with conflicting short and long-term priorities.
+ Experience of delivering continuous improvement, proactively identifying opportunities to increase efficiency and effectiveness in processes, models and ways of working.
Technical
+ Part-qualified CCAB or CIMA accountancy qualification (or equivalent) and working towards full qualification.
Desirable criteria
Experience
+ Experience providing financial support and insight on large contracts, including working with Commercial colleagues and service delivery partners.
Lead Criteria An initial sift will take place on the Lead Criteria.
In the event that we receive a large number of applications, the minimum pass mark for the Lead Criteria may be raised at shortlisting stage. Candidates who apply under the DCS, GPTW or RIS schemes and meet the minimum requirements will be unaffected by the pass mark raise.
Interview
If successful at shortlisting stage, you will be invited to a final interview in which we will assess you against the following Experience and Strengths requirements of the role and Civil Service Behaviours.
Experience
+ Experience of providing advice, insight and analysis on financial performance and risk to business stakeholders. (Assessed via assessment exercise – seen presentation)
+ Experience of working with large and complex data sets.
Behaviours
+ Changing and Improving
+ Delivering at Pace

Alongside your salary of £39,611, Food Standards Agency contributes £11,475 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Our candidate pack details the benefits that the FSA has to offer. Please also refer to the attached Terms and Conditions statement.