Finance Business Partner Review

by Department for Work and Pensions

Rating

8.4/10

1. Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:

Monthly forecasting, budgeting and reporting. Liaising with stakeholders to achieve the department's goals through strong financial planning and control. Financial input and review of business cases.

9/10

2. Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?

Communication, forecasting, listening, managing difficult customers, how to construct a business case

9/10

3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?

Still early in the apprenticeship, but pretty good so far especially quality of the materials.

8/10

4. How well organised/structured is your programme?

Quite well.

7/10

5. How much support do you receive from your employer?

A lot - they are very encouraging of the apprenticeship.

9/10

6. How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?

Still too early to tell. Already had comms from learning coach which is a good sign.

8/10

7. How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?

Too early to tell but I am sure it will very much. I have a management accounting role which CIMA will be perfect for.

9/10

8. Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)

Yes, the civil service have annual conferences, the Government Finance Function also has their own annually. Each place of work always do some events to get people in the office together or raise money for charity.

8/10

9a. Would you recommend Department for Work and Pensions to a friend?

Yes

9b. Why?

Flexible and friendly environment with great opportunities and usually fair pay.

10. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Department for Work and Pensions?

It's sometimes a difficult (and lengthy) application process - seek advice and do your research. Some roles you may find yourself in could be not as stimulating as you hoped but they welcome colleagues asking to do more and reach further outside your role, and you can also benefit from job shadowing, temporary duties opportunities and managed moves even. Speak up - same applies if you find yourself in a role too intense. They take mental wellbeing quite seriously.