Northern Economic Hub Opportunities: Grade 7

Finance and analysis are at the centre of our work in MHCLG; colleagues use their skills to improve decision-making and ensure we make the best use of taxpayers’ money to deliver on the government’s priorities. Whether it’s the response to Covid-19, tackling homelessness and rough sleeping, the flagship Levelling Up Fund, or ensuring councils have the money they need to deliver the services we all rely on, you will have the chance to make a difference across the department.

With such varied and interesting work, finance and analysis colleagues are great leaders, collaborative and driven. Whilst you will of course need to be comfortable with numbers, we welcome people from any sector or background with the right skills and motivation to join the department. We have a rich learning offer for you to develop as a finance or analysis professional. Accountancy qualifications are a brilliant way that anyone can accelerate their career, so we sponsor our staff to gain these, with students working towards AAT, ICAEW, CIMA, ACCA and CIPFA. We also support other qualifications such as SAP and Agile. Most analysts will join with a degree in their analytical specialism or related subject, however we have a strong learning and development offer to continue your professional development, both for professional and personal skills, including opportunities to study either a part time or full time for Masters degree.

Finance – Finance teams are at the centre of decisions, working in partnership with policy colleagues to provide financial advice on Ministers’ priorities and ensure taxpayers’ money is well spent. Opportunities range from ranging from oversight of the entire department's budgets, through to making the payments to the partners who deliver our policies.

At G7 grade, you’ll be leading a small team. The kind of work you can expect includes developing a firm understanding of the business and working closely with policy colleagues providing financial advice, with a focus on finding solutions for senior managers; supporting and challenging business areas in producing robust forecasts, ensuring that we are effectively linking our financial performance to the delivery of the Department’s objectives; assessing new policy proposals, engaging with legal, commercial and analytical teams to ensure effective decision-making and adherence with public expectations around how taxpayers’ money is spent; or improving financial processes, providing technical accounting advice to finance and policy colleagues, or leading on the preparation of the Annual Report and Accounts and helping develop financial skills within Finance and the wider Department. You might also lead on briefing senior leaders and Ministers (such as ahead of Select Committees), or be involved in leading the department’s relationship with the Treasury.

Local Government Finance - In total, councils spend around £120bn a year, more than £1 in £7 spent by the public sector. The role of our team is to work across Government to ensure that councils have the funding to deliver the services communities depend on, driving growth and levelling up the country, including on areas like Adult Social Care, Children’s Services, Council Tax and Business rates. Our work has a significant influence on the whole of government and is a key priority for our ministers.

At G7 grade, you’ll be leading a small team and taking responsibility for a number of key priorities. The roles are varied but you will have responsibility for providing clear and direct policy advice on existing or new challenges; leading on cross-Whitehall join up with key partners, as well as with local authorities; providing leadership both for your team, and across the Local Government Finance. The role will provide opportunities for strategic thinking and working across a number of teams to ensure join up and consistency in approach.

Analysis and Data - Analysts are at the heart of delivering critical evidence supporting the breadth of the MHCLGs work, working in multi-disciplinary teams and delivering analysis and insight to Ministers, senior officials and special advisers and so being highly influential in shaping and designing policy.