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Executive Director of Finance, MCA

Employer
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Location
Southampton, Hampshire
Salary
£85,000
Closing date
23 Aug 2020

Job Details

Location

This post is based in Southampton. Travel to London and within the wider UK as required.

Summary

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is an Agency of the Department of Transport with responsibility for HM Coastguard, UK maritime regulation and
the UK Shipping Registry.

The Coastguard are the only UK-wide emergency service, and this service is delivered by the Coastguard through coordination of a unique combination of public sector employees, volunteers, charities (eg RNLI) and private sector contracts.

With 1,200 employees, 3,500 volunteers and a £250mpa search and rescue helicopter contract, it is a highly diverse organisation. The MCA is going through substantial change so that it can both better deliver its mission and so that it can support the UK in taking a lead role in decarbonisation and shipping automation.

Job description

As the Finance Director, you will report directly to the CEO and be a member of the Executive Team. You will be responsible for leading the Finance and Audit functions within the MCA, enabling the different parts of the organisation to operate efficiently and effectively whilst ensuring that the audit processes provide an effective safety net for the Executive Team and Board.

As a key member of the Executive Team, you will provide strategic and financial guidance to the Executive Team, to the Board and to the Chief Executive. You will be a key part of the team with operational accountability for the organisation and which works with the non-executive directors on the strategy of the organisation and your input will be fundamental to developing that strategy.

You will ensure the highest quality of management accounting for the organisation, developing and leading a business partner function in the MCA that works alongside individual Executive Directors helping them to shape, manage and deliver results through their teams whilst maintaining the highest financial probity, robust forecasting and demonstrably increasing value for money.

You will be the primary point of interface with the DfT finance team. You will ensure that the MCA is always clear about the financial parameters within which DfT expects it to operate and that DfT always has the clearest possible picture of the current and projected financial performance of the agency.

You will find improved ways in which the finance team can operate, making maximum use of new accounting systems that DfT intend to introduce in the next 3 years. You will lead the MCA input to the specification of these systems.

The MCA has several audit processes. You will take responsibility for these, ensuring that the total audit coverage in the MCA is effective in early identification of issues and that the various processes are coherent and straightforward.

You will be responsible for the delivery of all financial reporting and risk management processes, with budgetary responsibility of c.£350 million. You will lead and support a team of circa 45 to ensure effective resource capability to support the delivery of our strategy.
 

Responsibilities

• Play an active part as a member of the Executive Team, leading the organisation and undertaking corporate duties and demonstrating, as an Executive Team member the highest standard of leadership inside and outside the Executive Team meetings.

• Provide effective and inspiring leadership of the Finance function within MCA. Fostering a high performing culture based on excellence and continuous improvement through effective performance management, communication, colleague engagement and the development of staff.

• Develop a Finance function that is seen by the MCA as helping the organisation to do business as well as ensuring that it spends money wisely and with probity.

• Support MCA in making effective decisions and applying corporate governance, promoting and ensuring compliance with corporate and government standards and
controls.

• As an attendee of Board, fulfil any responsibilities assigned as a Committee executive lead to ensure that the relevant Chair receives the information required to facilitate meetings and make decisions on behalf of the Board.

• Provide Executive leadership for the MCA Audit and Risk Committee, working closely with its non-executive chair to set its forward agenda, ensure the right quality of material and take a key role in its discussions.

• Ensure management accounting processes that meet the needs of managers, supported by a highly effective network of Business Partners who work alongside their areas of the business – both operationally, but also strategically.

• Ensure MCA complies with and maintains appropriate policies that support MCA and DfT financial control frameworks.

• Develop financial KPIs at corporate and directorate levels.

• Ensure there is accurate and timely actual and forecast financial and management information developed and reported within the Business, including to Board,the senior management team, Directorate management teams, and project boards.

• Undertake analysis of management information to drive business insight and intelligence that enhances decision making,identifies risks and issues, and supports robust financial and demand forecasting

• Lead the annual budget process, ensuring credible budgets are developed that withstand scrutiny by the Executive and the Board.

• Financial management reporting of MCA project portfolio and investment in change, providing advice to Senior Responsible Owners (SRO) and Project Sponsors.

Qualifications

You must hold an accounting quali?cation from a recognised CCAB accountancy body or CIMA.

Benefits

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits.

This includes:
- a generous annual leave entitlement,
- attractive pension options,
- flexible working,
- good career development opportunities,
- a variety of career paths,
- inclusive working environments and much more to support a healthy work/life balance.

Things you need to know Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check.

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

Selection process details

To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process by no later than 23:55pm on Sunday 23rd August 2020. You will be asked to submit the following:

1. Some basic, personal information;
2. A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years;
3. A Statement of Suitability (max 1000 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the criteria in the person specification. Please note your statement of suitability is important and is as much the means by which you will be assessed as your CV.

The final selection panel interview is expected to take place w/c 21st September - Interviews are expected to take place virtually.

Reasonable adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via [email protected] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing [email protected] stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Any move to Department for Transport will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You will however have access to the governments Tax Free Childcare scheme.

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Please note that the successful applicant will need to hold or be prepared to apply for CTC or SC level security clearance, and you will need to hold basic clearance (BPSS) before starting in the role.

For further about the role, responsibilities and person specification please refer to the attached candidate information pack.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Company

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is an executive agency of the United Kingdom working to prevent the loss of lives at sea and is responsible for implementing British and international maritime law and safety policy. It is also responsible for land based search and rescue helicopter operations from 2015.

Its responsibilities include coordinating search and rescue (SAR) on the coastline and at sea through His Majesty's Coastguard (HMCG), ensuring that ships meet international and UK safety standards, monitoring and preventing coastal water pollution and testing and issuing Merchant Navy Certificates of Competency (licences) for ships' officers and crew to STCW requirements The organisation is led by Virginia McVea, its Chief Executive, who took up post in February 2023.The MCA are chiefly responsible for the syllabus and national training standards issued by the Merchant Navy Training Board (based at the UK Chamber of Shipping).

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