ICT Commercial Finance Lead 11 Months - Hybrid Working Security Clearance Up to £800pd inside IR35
Our central government client is currently looking for an ICT Commercial Finance Lead, this role will provide expert financial support, advice, guidance and challenge spanning the life cycle of complex commercial arrangements - from early market engagement with suppliers, solution development and risk management with the Business and Commercial colleagues - through to bid evaluation, negotiation and award, and associated contract management, supplier audit and assurance activities. As part of the team, you will work with law enforcement, policy teams and suppliers to eradicate it. You will lead commercial financial elements the International Child Trafficking Guardianship project.
As Commercial Finance Lead, you will support the development and delivery of a robust commercial finance strategy to enhance our pricing and assurance approach, supporting commercial teams with procurement and contract management activities, working on strategic finance and continuous improvement initiatives, and Finance Business Partners and the Government Commercial Function, as necessary. This strategy will support key commercial priorities and multiple complex critical projects, provide greater clarity as to how the commercial finance team will work with the business and commercial teams in a collaborative way, and support improvements in commercial finance capabilities across the Department. As part of this, you will also be responsible for supporting the ongoing development and roll out of commercial best practice, policies and cross-cutting change programmes taking the opportunity through this role to align these and the Outsourcing Playbook to our standard ways of working.
Responsibilities:
- Establishing appropriate pricing & payment mechanisms for complex procurement through collaboration and discussion, including challenge where necessary, with colleagues and other subject matter experts (SMEs).
- Development of should cost models for economic appraisals for shortlisted contract delivery models at both preliminary and final economic case stages.
- Interpretation of the risk environment to ensure risks are appropriately managed by either the Authority or the supplier.
- Contributing to contractual financial schedules for procurement, but particularly tailoring the financial schedules as included in the Model Services Contract.
- Designing and developing the financial pricing model (FPM) and the associated user manual.
- Financial evaluation and scoring of bids contributing to the recommendation to award.
- Supporting market engagement events, negotiations and engagement with bidders.
- Ensure a comprehensive handover to the 'live environment'.
- Leading on high profile or high-risk supplier investigations, developing the approach and working effectively with suppliers to execute the financial control mechanisms included within contracts.
- Conducting financial due diligence work, ensuring assessments of the financial well-being of prospective suppliers prior to contract award and ongoing regular assessments for key and strategic suppliers.
- Develop and share best practice, skills, knowledge and experience across the finance and commercial directorates through the provision of training, collaborative working and networking across government.
- Use intelligence gathering and sharing to ensure broad awareness of business trends across the Department.
- Continuous improvement of processes and tools to enhance the team's contribution to the procurement process.
Essential Criteria
- Manages Complexity and delivers a quality Service - Evidence of leading teams/activities and experience of successfully delivering commercial and financial objectives.
- Commercial Focus - Proven track record of applying financial knowledge and analysis in the context of understanding commercial issues and opportunities throughout the commercial lifecycle. This would include understanding supplier financial health, investment decisions, financial levers in contracts and subsequently designing or influencing approaches to maximise value for money and minimise financial risk.
- Builds Collaborative Relationships - Successfully worked with a range of stakeholders & partners, using communication/collaboration to deliver successfully, challenge assumptions and positively influence changes to ways of working.
- Decisive - Evidence of applying best commercial and financial practice and polices to address our client and cross-Government objectives (making effective decisions based on robust analysis of available information).
- Coaching Manager - Experience of coaching, managing through change and supporting wellbeing. Leading and sharing best practice development to drive-up the commercial finance knowledge and coaching commercial teams to build-up capabilities and confidence.
- Experience of gathering, analysing and interpreting financial information, with Excel and financial modelling skills to a good level.
- The ability to understand and summarise complex financial information quickly and accurately and present conclusions and recommendations.
Desirable Criteria
- Relevant professional Accountancy qualification or part qualification (CCAB or CIMA) or qualified by experience.
- Past experience of working in a commercial and/or finance environment, in particular supporting procurement and contract management activity.
- Understanding of financial and investment decision metrics (such as IRR, NPV, Cash-flow modelling, etc.) and general economic indicators (such as inflation, forex, CPI, RPI, etc.).