APPLICATION FORM

CONFIDENTIAL APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT

The Royal Parks is committed to the fair treatment of its staff, potential staff or users of its services. Recruitment and selection decisions are made purely on merit as the result of fair and open competition. We are committed to equality of opportunity for the advancement of employees including promotion and training and do not discriminate against any person because of gender, race, ethnic or national origin, religion, sexual orientation, marital status or responsibility for dependants, age, physical/mental disability or offending background.

PLEASE NOTE: The Royal Parks (TRP) and the charity The Royal Parks Foundation have agreed they should become a new single organisation to fundraise for and manage the capital's eight Royal Parks. Both organisations plan to join within a new charitable public corporation.  A detailed plan has been worked up, and work is ongoing but it is hoped the new organisation will be established from 1 December 2016. The new organisation will be a charitable public corporation with increased freedoms and flexibilities to manage the parks more efficiently.

Staff joining TRP before 1 December 2016 will be civil servants but after that date their status will change as TRP will be moving out of the civil service to a new charitable status.  Staff terms and conditions will be protected on transfer.

The closing date for this application is Monday, 11 th July 2016.

Tip: You can use the arrow keys on your keyboard to move between fields. Once completed, please email your form to vacancies@royalparks.gsi.gov.uk with the job title as the subject, we don’t require a hard copy as well.

1. JOB POSITION

Position applied for: Financial Planning Manager

Grade: IV

Vacancy reference: FPM0616

2. PERSONAL DETAILS

Title: Please select:

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Surname:      

Forename(s):      

Address:      

Postcode:      

Daytime telephone(s):      

Email Address:      

Do you have a full current driving licence? (If required by the job description)

Please select:

Are you currently a Civil Servant? Please select:

Have you ever been a Civil Servant? Please select:

At what stage are you applying? Please select:

3. EDUCATION

A) Secondary Education

School name/address From

(MM/YYYY)

To

(MM/YYYY)

Examinations (subject/result, etc.)

                       

(Tip: Tables will automatically expand as you type if extra space is needed)

B) Further Education and Training

University/college name From

(MM/YYYY)

To

(MM/YYYY)

Type of

Course

Subjects Qualifications or class of degree

                                   

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C) Occupational Qualifications/Institute Membership/Membership of Professional Organisations

College/Institute

or other name

From

(MM/YYYY)

To

(MM/YYYY)

Qualification/level

                       

4. EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Please provide details over the last 10 years, including any unpaid or voluntary work, listing present or most recent employer first. Any gaps in employment dates should be explained. If you have any particularly relevant experience dating beyond the last 10 years please include this.

Current salary and benefits or salary when last employed:

£      Notice required:

     

Name and address of employer and type of

business

From

(MM/YYYY)

To

(MM/YYYY)

Job title and main duties

Reason for leaving

                             

                             

                             

                             

                             

                             

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5. REASON FOR APPLICATION – Skills, Qualities and Experience

In this part we want you to highlight your skills, qualities and experience. The competencies relevant to the post you are applying for are listed in the Person Specification on the job description enclosed below. For those competencies listed below, please give specific examples in no more than 200 words for each heading about a time either at work, volunteering or in your personal life that demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria required to do the job. You must ensure that your answers provide clear evidence of the given competency.

Seeing the Big Picture: The role requires a qualified accountant with commercial / project post qualification experience in a senior financial role, who understands the implications of capital and project complexities. The role will involve a mix of hands on accounting as well a more strategic input to financial reporting and controls.     

Changing and Improving: Create effective plans, systems and governance to manage change and plan, monitor and control projects and programmes. Seek out opportunities for innovative working and challenge the status quo and accepted assumptions.     

Collaborating and Partnering: Actively build & maintain network of colleagues, build strong interpersonal relationships, actively involve partners to deliver business outcomes through collaboration and compromise.     

Building Capability for All: The job holder will be managing and owning the project and asset accounting process, guiding management and the Director of Resources on optimal decisions. This will determine affordability and management of Reserves.     

Achieving Commercial Outcomes: An ability to draft clear and understandable Board and Executive reports setting out options and constraints.     

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Delivering Value for Money: Understand financial impact of decisions across the organization, maximize financial returns, weigh up priority and benefits from different actions to achieve best financial outcome at lowest risk and work with financial processes and tools to evaluate options and ensure financial and management information are accurately reflected in business plans.     

6. PERSONAL STATEMENT

This is your opportunity to tell us why you think we should select you and why you want the job. Here you can demonstrate how your experience meets the other role competencies in the person specification attached. You may also include personal interests which are relevant and meet the requirements of the post. You must use no more than 350 words.

     

7. ATTENDANCE RECORD

If you wish to comment on any extended absences from the office, please do so here.

     

8. PART TIME

If you are part time, please state the number of hours that you are able to work and also please confirm if you would consider job share.

9. REFEREES

Please provide the contact details of referees from your employment over the past 3 years.

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Please note that your present employer and other referees will not be contacted without your prior consent.

Referee 1 Referee 2Name:       Name:      Address:       Address:      Postcode:       Postcode:      Occupation:       Occupation:      Email:       Email:      Telephone No:

      Telephone No:      

Referee 3 Referee 4Name:       Name:      Address:       Address:      Postcode:       Postcode:      Occupation:       Occupation:      Email:       Email:      Telephone No:

      Telephone No:      

10. DECLARATION

By submission of your form, you agree to the following:

I confirm that the information given on this form is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, true and accurate. I understand that if I have given misleading information on this form, this will be sufficient grounds for terminating my employment. I have personally completed the application form.

Name:       Date: Click here to enter a date.

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11. LINE MANAGER’S ASSESSMENT OF SUITABILITY (or Countersigning Officer if Line Manager not available)

If you are currently employed as a Civil Servant you will be required to complete this section in full. Candidates must attach their entire completed application, with section 11 for their line managers to complete. Please also attach your last 2 years' appraisal reports.

External candidates should proceed directly to Section 12.

1) I consider this applicant to be:

Highly suitable Suitable Unsuitable I am unable to judge

Please comment on your assessment drawing attention to the applicant’s experience/special qualities for the post. If you are unable to judge the applicant’s suitability, please give reasons:

     

To be completed only if applicant is applying for trawled post on promotion.

2) Do you consider the applicant to have the skills and experience to perform at the higher grade they have applied for?

Yes No

Please comment on your promotion assessment:

     

Name:       Grade:       Date: Click here to enter a date.

Line Manager/Countersigning Officer for Please select: years and Please select: months

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12. DIVERSITY FORM (this will be detached from your application by the HR Dept)

Section A: Your Details

Title: Please select:

Forename(s):      

Surname:      

Date Of Birth:      

Male Female

Gender Identity (optional): If you identify as transsexual or transgender (in that you have effected a permanent change of gender identity) or as inter-sex, which group do you identify with?      

How did you learn of this vacancy? Please select:

If ‘Other internet site’, ‘Recruitment Agency’ or ‘Other’, please specify here:      

Section B: Disability

The Royal Parks wish to encourage suitably qualified people with disabilities to apply for jobs. All information will be treated in strictest confidence.

Do you consider that you have a disability? Yes No Prefer not to say

What is the nature of your disability?      

Please give details of any special needs or requirements that you may need us to make if you are invited to interview/offered employment:      

Section C: Religion or Belief and Sexual Orientation

Which religion or belief do you most associate with? Please tick one box only.

No religion Buddhist Christian Hindu Jewish

Muslim Sikh Any other religion Prefer not to say

Which sexual orientation do you most associate with? Please tick one box only.

Bisexual Gay Man Gay Woman/Lesbian Heterosexual/straight

Other Prefer not to say

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Section D: National Identity

Which National Identity do you most identify with? Please tick one box only.

British English Northern Irish Scottish

Welsh Other (please specify if you wish)       Prefer not to say

Section E: Ethnic Identity

Which Ethnic Background do you most identify with? Please tick one box only.

ASIAN OR ASIAN BRITISH:

Bangladeshi Indian Pakistani

Any Other Asian Background (please specify if you wish)      

BLACK OR BLACK BRITISH:

African Caribbean Any Other Black Background (please specify if you wish)      

CHINESE:

Any Chinese Background (please specify if you wish)      

MIXED ETHNIC BACKGROUND:

Mixed White and Asian Mixed White and Black African Mixed White and Black Caribbean

Any Other Mixed Background (please specify if you wish)      

WHITE:

Any White Background (please specify if you wish)      

OTHER ETHNIC BACKGROUND:

Any Other Ethnic Background (please specify if you wish)      

Prefer not to say

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Thank you for completing these forms, please now email your final application and diversity form to vacancies@royalparks.gsi.gov.uk with the job title as the subject

Job Title: Financial Planning Manager

Location: The Old Police House, Hyde Park

Grade and Salary: Grade IV Non Board Member, £41,270 - £51,704

Relationships:

Responsible to the Director of ResourcesBusiness partner relationship with business units

Important Functional Relationships:

The Board including Executive and Non Executive DirectorsThe Audit Committee Charity CommissionDepartment of Culture, Media & SportKey Contractors & Consultants e.g. Works, Payments, Payroll, VAT

Main Purpose of the Job:

The Financial Planning Manager is a new role within the Resources Directorate. Working in tandem with the Head of Finance and closely with the Finance Manager, the successful candidate will lead on the embedding of medium and long-term financial plans to support the financial strategy of The Royal Parks as it transitions to an independent charity, with responsibility for asset accounting and developing more sophisticated project accounting.

To support the Director of Resources by improving financial capability and efficiency awareness throughout the organisation and supporting the Head of Finance in the budgeting and forecasting process for TRP and liaising with internal and external stakeholders.

The jobholder will play an active role in preparing the agency for a change of status into a charitable public corporation, leading on in particular, the financial effect of the new charities accounting framework.

This role would be suitable for a part-time applicant.

Main Duties/Responsibilities:

As part of a small team, reporting to the Head of Finance, the duties of the Financial Planning Manger will include:

Preparing, analysing and reporting on management accounts, budgets and projects for Senior Management;

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Production of mid-term and long-term forecasts (3-5 years), including development of base data information of high integrity which can be used for scenario-based modelling;

Undertake activities to develop, streamline, automate and enhance modelling and forecast processes within Financial Planning to improve the accuracy and reliability of forecasts;

Undertake cost allocation activities including reviewing and recommending different allocation methodologies where appropriate;

Work closely and collaborate with finance staff in the business to provide support and high quality inputs;

Provide support and advice in relation to sound finances and management of Reserves;

Carrying out financial operational and authorisation tasks, as necessary; and, Assisting with Ad Hoc and project work across the wider team – as required.

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Person Specification:(Please refer to the competency framework)Competencies / Selection Criteria

Essential / DesirableSTRATEGIC CLUSTER – SETTING DIRECTION

Seeing the Big PictureA sound understanding of business planning and forecasting is required to interpret and explain options regarding contracts and relationships with suppliers and contractors.

DThe role requires a qualified accountant with commercial / project post qualification experience in a senior financial role, who understands the implications of capital and project complexities. The role will involve a mix of hands on accounting as well a more strategic input to financial reporting and controls.

E

Changing and ImprovingCreate effective plans, systems and governance to manage change and plan, monitor and control projects and programmes. Seek out opportunities for innovative working and challenge the status quo and accepted assumptions.

E

Making Effective DecisionsPush decision making to appropriate level, weigh up data from various sources, identify the main issues in complex problems and make difficult decisions.

D

PEOPLE CLUSTER – ENGAGING PEOPLECollaborating and Partnering Actively build & maintain network of colleagues, build strong interpersonal relationships, actively involve partners to deliver business outcomes through collaboration and

E

Building Capability for All The role holder should be capable of taking the lead in their area of responsibility on financial matters. DThe job holder will be managing and owning the project and asset accounting process, guiding management and the Director of Resources on optimal decisions. This will determine affordability and management of Reserves.

E

Leading and CommunicatingCandidates will have experience of leading and developing teams to achieve targets and will have excellent communication skills. D

PERFORMANCE CLUSTER – DELIVERING RESULTSAchieving Commercial Outcomes Identify economic issues and promote innovative business models, commercial arrangements to deliver greatest value whilst ensuring tight commercial controls over finances and contracts.

D

The job holder will be managing and developing project accounting and integrated business planning across the business, highlighting the consequences of investment decisions.

DAn ability to draft clear and understandable Board and Executive reports setting out options and constraints. E

Delivering Value for Money Understand financial impact of decisions across the organization, maximize financial returns, weigh up priority and benefits from E

different actions to achieve best financial outcome at lowest risk and work with financial processes and tools to evaluate options and ensure financial and management information are accurately reflected in business plans.Managing a Quality Service The role holder will need a sound understanding of government accounting and governance arrangements.

D

The role holder will be experienced in the use of financial packages to produce reports from these and reduce the use of off-line systems and reports.

D

See the Civil Service competency framework for further information on civil service competencies.