AMS PSR

On behalf of The Home Office, we are looking for a Commercial Finance Manager - (Inside IR35) for a 7-month contract working on a hybrid basis and with an expectation of 2 days attendance in the Manchester office

The first duty of Government is to protect the public. Since 1782, the Home Office has led work to keep the country safe from those who seek to do it harm; in doing so, we make a vital contribution to HM Government’s plan for a stronger, fairer, outward-looking and united Britain.

The Home Office covers three systems Homeland Security, Public Safety and Borders, and Immigration and Citizenship. These systems work collaboratively to deliver our cross-cutting priorities, whilst providing increasingly efficient and secure services for the public. These are difficult areas that can rapidly change in the global environment we work in – this makes us one of the most exciting and stimulating government departments in which to work.

The Life in the UK (LITUK) procurement is a major, multi year transformation programme responsible for re procurement of the test and learning service used by individuals applying for settlement or citizenship. The programme includes significant digital, commercial, financial and operational change, and will run through several key phases including market engagement, ITT development, evaluation, commercial negotiation and mobilisation.

The Home Office Commercial Directorate provides procurement and commercial services for the Department. To support the delivery of these activities — particularly the financial assurance of complex procurements — the Directorate maintains a Commercial Finance Team (CFT). The CFT supports the full commercial lifecycle, from the development of business cases, market engagement and ITT drafting, through to evaluation, award, and handover into contract management. It also acts as a centre of excellence, producing guidance, building capability and embedding commercial financial best practice across the Department.

The CFT normally provides a critical friend service. However, the size, complexity and sensitivity of the LITUK procurement have created demand for more intensive, hands on financial support. The team’s internal capacity is fully allocated across a wide portfolio of priority programmes, assurance work, open book audits, continuous improvement activities and transformation initiatives. Specialist resource is therefore required to ensure the LITUK programme receives the level of commercial financial support needed to meet Home Office standards, mitigate financial risk, and maintain appropriate pace.

This requirement is for additional expert resource to supplement existing CFT capacity in order to deliver essential financial activities for the LITUK procurement, ensuring well governed commercial decision making throughout the lifecycle.

As a Commercial Finance Manager - (Inside IR35)  your main responsibilities will be:

• The contractor will provide specialist commercial financial support to the LITUK procurement, including but not limited to:
• Supporting the development and refinement of the Department’s Commercial Value for Money (VFM) framework, financial guidance, and open book policies as they apply to LITUK.
• Advising on commercial financial considerations during the development of the sourcing strategy, business case and commercial options.
• Building and quality assuring financial models, including pricing models, cost estimates, sensitivity analysis and financial evaluation criteria.
• Supporting supplier engagement, commercial negotiations, and the assessment of supplier financial proposals.
• Contributing to the development of the ITT financial schedules and ensuring they align with procurement and policy requirements.
• Supporting open book reviews, financial due diligence, audit preparation, and analysis of supplier cost structures.
• Providing ad hoc financial analysis and advice to Commercial, Finance BPs, Project Teams and SMEs within the LITUK programme.

Essential

• SC Clearance is an essential requirement for this role, as a minimum you must be willing & eligible to undergo checks. Please note, due to the exceptional requirements of this position (short-term nature of this role and speed at which we require a postholder in situ) preference may be given to candidates who meet all of the essential criteria and hold active security clearance
• Strong Excel skills with the ability to build, interrogate and quality assure complex financial models.
• Clear understanding of the commercial lifecycle and the financial components that underpin effective procurement, evaluation and contract management.
• Knowledge of and exposure to contractual documents is therefore a pre-requisite.
• Experience supporting supplier financial assessments, open book analysis and/or audit activities.
• Ability to translate complex financial information into clear, actionable advice for non financial stakeholders.
• Strong communication and engagement skills, with confidence working with Commercial teams, Finance BPs, Policy, Project Teams, technical SMEs and senior stakeholders.
• Proven ability to operate independently, manage competing priorities, and deliver high quality outputs in a fast paced programme environment.
• Exceptional communication skills
• Stakeholder engagement experience

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.

Disability Confident 

As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, the Home Office guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. This scheme encourages candidates with a disability and/or neurodivergence to apply. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

Armed Forces Covenant

The Home Office guarantees to interview veterans or spouses / partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates / military spouses or partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following "this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different".