Job title Head of Performance, Finance and RiskDepartment Department for Business, Innovation and SkillsBusiness Area Finance, PolicyNumber of Vacancies 1Location: City/Town London Location: Building/Site 1 Victoria Street LondonGrade Grade 6Contract Permanent

BIS Grade 6 Head of Performance, Planning and RiskPerson Specification

BIS Finance is looking for a high-calibre candidate with the necessary experience, skills and personal qualities to lead the Department’s performance, planning and risk function. This is a high profile and stretching role in the central Financial Planning and Analysis team, which requires a self-starting individual who can gain credibility with senior officials and Ministers in order to play an important and active part in the strategic direction of BIS.

As a critical friend to the business, the post holder will lead a high performing branch to work across the full breadth of the Department’s policy and delivery responsibilities, to ensure efficient and effective risk management, drive the use of performance metrics to improve decision making and communicate the Department’s objectives and achievements externally. The post holder will partner and collaborate with a range of stakeholders across Government and within the Department, to lead the Department’s critical corporate governance processes and documents.

The role will sit within the Financial Planning and Analysis team. The Performance, Planning and Risk branch is a small, highly regarded team focused on driving the delivery of Ministerial priorities, identifying and resolving blockages and facilitating the highest standards of operational effectiveness. To do this the team has strong relationships with the Permanent Secretary, the Board, Private Offices, and senior management across the wide range of BIS priorities. The branch is also at the forefront of the Department’s engagement with Parliament, promoting how we use our resources to deliver BIS’s objectives.

Key Duties

The key duties of the role will include:

Build in-depth understanding across all of the Department’s business areas (science and research, higher education, adult skills and apprenticeships, business interventions), systems and end-to-end delivery processes in order to establish credibility and apply judgement to broker solutions on specific risk and performance issues.

Transform information into analysis and insight to drive internal decision making, clearly and concisely synthesising complex information in verbal and written outputs to maintain a high quality product for key customers of the branch.

Oversee the strategic communication of the Department’s objectives and performance externally, promoting confident, creative and dynamic approaches, including through the Annual Report and Accounts, Mid-Year Report and overarching Business Plan, and preparing Ministers and Senior Officials for Parliamentary scrutiny.

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Work collaboratively in an integrated and interdependent way across the broader finance community, Strategy and ALB Sponsorship community, to integrate performance and risk management and improve the culture of performance and risk management across the organisation.

Engage as an intelligent customer of the Department’s systems and processes, to proactively identify opportunities to enhance the quality of management information, and promote innovative ways to use performance information to improve delivery.

Formally manage and set strategic direction for a high calibre and high potential team, including 2xG7 and an HEO, to implement an efficient and proportionate risk management process for the department; and drive improvements in delivery across the Department.

Key competencies

Seeing the Big Picture Able to work closely across BIS teams and wider cross-Government stakeholders

(particularly HM Treasury, No.10 and Cabinet Office) to communicate the department’s objectives and performance externally within the context of the Government’s broader strategy.

Ability to review information and evaluate evidence available at a strategic level, understanding the impact on Ministerial priorities and the Department’s operating environment including that of its partner organisations.

Leading and Communicating Provide leadership across the centre of BIS, senior policy officials and with policy groups

to drive the communication of BIS’ achievements and influence improvements to BIS’ performance.

Ability to set the direction of own work area, taking tough and sometimes unpopular decisions, seizing opportunity to add value and implement change and supporting the development of the team.

Confidence and clarity of communication to present regularly to the Department’s Executive Board, Performance and Risk Committee (chaired by DG Finance, Commercial and Digital Transformation), and Audit and Risk Committee.

Making Effective Decisions Working accurately with detail whilst maintaining a strategic overview is essential,

particularly to provide workable solutions to complex problems. An evidence based and objective approach to decision making Proactive approach to understanding latest policy developments and anticipating risks

and challenges. Ability to review information at a strategic level, understanding the impact on priorities,

translating these into overall strategic direction of own work area.

Collaborating and Partnering The candidate must be a strong team player, demonstrating capability to build a network

of colleagues, contacts and organisational partners in order to achieve progress on objectives and shared interests.

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Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to put complex issues into layman’s terms for non-specialist audiences, including senior officials and Ministers.

Ability to seek constructive outcomes in discussions, balance a firm stance with a willingness to compromise when beneficial to progress

Delivering at Pace Maintain effective performance in difficult and challenging circumstances, encouraging

others to do the same Clarify who is responsible for delivering outcomes, monitor delivery and reward success

Qualifications and experience

This role does not require a professional qualification, though support will be available within the Finance Directorate for anyone wishing to pursue formal study towards an accountancy qualification.

Selection process

The selection process will be through a competency based panel interview.

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