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JOB APPLICATION

PACK

Job Title: Junior Business Partner Directorate: Finance Department: Finance Department Location: Twickenham

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Dear Candidate Thank you for your interest in working for Thames Valley Housing. In this pack you find the Job Description and Person Specification for the role you are applying for. We encourage you to read the guidance notes and fill in the application form carefully. The criteria set out in the person specification contains all the competencies for this role and will be assessed at different stages of the selection process. Please see the guidance notes for further information on this. Thames Valley Housing is a user of the government’s “two ticks” disability symbol, which recognises organisations that are positive towards disabled people. Disabled applicants who meet the short-listing criteria are guaranteed an interview. I hope that you find the job description interesting and decide to apply. I wish you success and we look forward to receiving your application form. Thames Valley Housing Recruitment Tel: 0300 456 2929 Email: recruitment@tvha.co.uk Web: www.tvha.co.uk/careers

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CONTENTS Guidance Notes for Applicants………………………………………………………………………………….4 Job Advert…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………6 Job Description…………………………………………………………………………………………………………7 Person Specification…………………………………………………………………………………………………10 Our Competency Framework……………………………………………………………………………………11

Appendix 1……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….13

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GUIDANCE NOTES FOR APPLICANTS Before you complete your application

Please read the job application pack before you apply online for the position - this contains all the

information you need to decide whether the job is right for you.

Read through the job description and person specification – they are the best places to find out

exactly what experience, skills and competencies you need to be successful in the role.

The person specification highlights the competencies we want to asses as part of our recruitment

process. Our competency framework is at the back of this pack.

You’ll need to prepare a CV – we ask you to upload your CV as a Word document as part of our

online application form.

Completing your application

When you’re ready to apply, click ‘Apply here’ at the bottom of the job advert for the position you’re

interested in and complete the online form.

We’ll ask you about your skills and competencies – as well as your CV, we’ll also ask you to upload a

personal statement or answer some questions online about how your skills and experience match the

essential criteria and competencies in the person specification.

You’ll need two good references - we will ask for contact details for your references in the online

application, but we won’t contact them until the offer stage. Your references should be:

- Your current employer. If you are unemployed, this will be your most recent employer. This

will be someone senior to you who can assess your work for us, not a colleague or friend at

work.

- A previous employer or someone with a senior role who can vouch for you.

We’ll ask you for some personal information to help us monitor diversity and equality – the only

people who will see this information are the HR team who will use it for equal opportunities

monitoring purposes. It will be treated in the strictest confidence and does not form part of the

selection process.

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What happens next?

Assessments/Interviews

Our Recruitment team will contact you a few days after the application closing date if your application has

been short-listed. We will invite you to a competency-based interview, and ask you to complete some tests.

These could be ability tests, written exercises, job-related tests, psychometric tests or IT tests. We will also let

you know if you have not been shortlisted this time.

Driving

If the job needs you to drive, we will need to see your driving license.

DBS check

For some jobs we will need to carry out a Disclosure & Barring Service check. We’ll say so in the job

description if that’s the case.

Eligibility to work in the UK

It’s against the law for us to take on people who do not have the right to work here. If we offer you a job, we

will ask you to prove this to us. We’ll send you a list of documents you can use for this.

Data Protection

By law, we have to let you know that we keep the personal information about you that you put in a job

application. When you sign and send an application in, we take this to mean that you are giving us permission

to keep it, and to use it to get in touch with you, if we find a job we think would suit you in the following six

months.

Your Views

We’re happy to hear from you. We want to improve our recruitment, so please complete the Recruitment

Survey. https://tvhahr.wufoo.eu/forms/recruitment-what-was-your-experience/

Getting in touch

If you have any questions or problems at any stage of your application, please do get in touch with our

recruitment team on recruitment@tvha.co.uk.

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JOB ADVERT JUNIOR BUSINESS PARTNER

Location: Premier House, 52 London Road, Twickenham TW1 3RP

Contract type: Permanent

Salary: £35,000 Hours: 35 hrs per week

Closing date: 15th October 2017

Interview Dates: 21st / 22nd October 2017

About Thames Valley Housing We are a medium-sized housing association based in Twickenham, South West London. We own and manage over 15,000 homes in London, Berkshire, Surrey, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Wiltshire and Sussex. These include traditional rented housing, shared ownership, key worker and student accommodation. Our vision is for everyone to have the chance to build their lives from a base of a good home. Our mission is to provide good quality affordable homes and invest in communities. We love to build. Not just housing and communities, but skills and careers too. About the role Reporting to the Head of Business Partnering, this role will provide support to budget holders, including Executive Directors and Senior Managers, across forecasting, budgeting and in understanding their financial results. The role will assist the Senior Business Partner in preparing monthly financial reports and management information for internal stakeholders and funders. The Junior BP will need to have in depth knowledge of the areas of the business that they support.

About you

You will be a team player with a keen eye for detail and the drive and desire to continuously improve finance and other business processes. You will be an excellent communicator with the ability to build productive working relationships with all of your colleagues. You will have worked in a finance environment where you would have gained experience of using computerised accounting systems and have Intermediate Excel skills. You will also be a Part Qualified Accountant actively studying for a CCAB professional Accountancy Qualification (ACCA, CIMA, ACA, CIPFA). Applying process: Please view the job application pack for the full job description and person specification. You will need this when you apply on –line. *You will rise to the full salary on successful completion of your 6 month probationary period Access to a car is essential for this role for which a car allowance will be paid This role may be subject to a DBS check

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ROLE DESCRIPTION Job title: Junior Business Partner Directorate: Finance Department: Finance Department Location: Twickenham Responsible to: Head of Business Partnering Family Tree (clearly showing the responsibilities for and to particular role)

Main purpose of the job

To provide support to budget holders across forecasting, budgeting and in understanding their financial results. To gain an in depth knowledge of the business and share this with Finance. To assist the senior Business Partner and Head of Business Partnering in preparing financial reports and management information for internal stakeholders and funders. To be an excellent team player with a keen eye for detail and ability to continuously improve finance processes. Main contacts which the post holder has within and outside the organisation Executive Directors, Senior Managers& Budget Holders.

Head of Business

Partnering

Senior Business Partner

Junior Business Partner

Junior Business Partner

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Budgetary responsibilities specifically attached to post None Principal accountabilities expected of the post holder Business Partnering o Create an effective network within budget areas of responsibility o Work closely with budget holders to deepen their understanding of their financials and assist with

investigations into results o Effectively communicate findings at operational level to Senior Business Partner and Head of

Business Partnering

Monthly Reporting o Analyse the monthly management accounts pack for area of responsibility to expedite

conversations with operational budget holders, including Income and Expenditure Account, Business Stream/Activity Performance, Balance Sheet and payroll

o Continually use this information to understand business information and make recommendations on how to improve business performance

Budgeting and Forecasting o Prepare timeframes, templates, communication of assumptions and advice during the annual

budget and quarterly forecast processes o Assist budget holders with investigation of forecast and budget variances; check, challenge and

note budget assumptions o Assist with the production of the forecast and budget pack including analysis and budget

commentary and tables o Improve and automate budgeting and forecasting process wherever possible o Assist with forecast and budget consolidation adjustments in PM10 as required, working with

Senior Business Partner and Commercial Business Partners where necessary Other o To build a productive working relationship with all Finance teams.

To carry out other duties as may be reasonably assigned from time to time by the Head of Business Partnering, Deputy Finance Director and such duties to be compatible with the level of this job description.

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Created by: Steven Liu Date: August 2017

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Role: Junior Business Partner

Directorate: Finance

Knowledge, Experience & Skills Essential Experience of working in a finance environment Experience of using computerised accounting systems Intermediate Excel skills – e.g. pivots, v-look ups, IF statements Desirable Business partnership experience Knowledge of SUN5, Q&A and PM10

Qualifications Essential Part Qualified CCAB Professional Accountancy qualification recognised in the UK

Competencies (Assessed by personal statement and at interview)

Applied Thinking (Professional) Recommends improvements to processes and services at a team level by analysing patterns and trends from

information Results Focused (Vocational) Takes responsibility for achieving individual objectives and contributing to team targets Planning and Organising (Vocational) Contributes to the team/project objectives by effectively setting own work plan and prioritising key tasks Initiative and Innovation (Professional) Develops and implements initiatives at a local level.

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Working Together (Vocational) Works Co-operatively with other members of the team and direct customers Managing Relationships (Vocational) Builds rapport with colleagues and direct customers/suppliers Continuous Improvement (Vocational) Drives self to deliver results and aspirations Customer Driven (Vocational) Delivers a high quality service OTHER Good IT skills (accounting systems, CRM systems, excel and word) Commitment to Equal Opportunities and Health and Safety

LIVING AND DELIVERING THE CORPORATE VALUES

Think Forward – Question how we do things. Think Ahead. Innovate Think We – Let’s work together to achieve our shared goals. Think Openly – Let’s be transparent and true to our word. Think With Compassion – Offer your time and support. Act with empathy and understanding. Think With Energy – Be passionate about delivering great customer service and making things happen

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OUR COMPETENCY FRAMEWORK

What are Competencies and how are they used? A competency is an ability, skill, knowledge or trait that is needed for the successful performance of a job. It is often defined in terms of behaviours. Overall, competencies are a set of behaviours that an individual must possess in order to perform to the optimum level within that role. When used properly, and in conjunction with other working practices and procedures, competencies can ensure fairness, openness and equality in the way we recruit staff, select people for training, identify clear development paths and promote people. The Competency Framework contains a total of ten competencies and it is considered that to carry out a role at a particular level an individual should possess those competencies that are ‘Core’ for that level. The depth of which these core competencies are required will vary according to each role. Core competencies are far broader in their application and apply to all jobs within TVH. This document details the core competencies which TVH recognises as necessary. The person specification highlights the competencies we want to assess as part of our recruitment process, but the following areas are important all of the time.

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Name Definition Level Descriptors

1 Applied Thinking Makes use of relevant information to resolve problems, identify opportunities and reach appropriate solutions.

Leader Identifies new business opportunities by evaluating company performance from a range of information

Expert Sets Directorate/Departmental priorities by developing solutions to support the business plan

Professional Recommends improvements to processes and services at a team level by analysing patterns and trends from information

Vocational Solves basic problems within clearly laid out policies and procedures

2 Results Focused – “Getting things done”

Achieves successful delivery of tasks and objectives by effectively managing others or taking direct action.

Leader Sets the performance framework for the organisation to meet corporate goals, achieve results and champions improvements

Expert Sets the performance framework for the Directorate/Department to meet objectives, KPIs and continuously seeks improvements in delivery

Professional Uses Directorate/Department objectives to identify team KPIs to drive service delivery and meet goals

Vocational Takes responsibility for achieving individual objectives and contributing to team targets

3 Planning and Organising Plans and organises work and activities to meet objectives whilst achieving quality and value for money.

Leader Structures the business plan to deliver key objectives while allocating appropriate resources

Expert Develops project plans and identifies departmental activities and resources required to meet organisational goals

Professional Delivers the project plan/departmental objectives to plan and budget

Vocational Contributes to the team/project objectives by effectively setting own work plan and prioritising key tasks

4 Initiative and Innovation Takes a creative approach to work by formulating new ideas or adapting existing ideas in a new or unexpected way to create opportunities.

Leader Develops ways of capturing innovation and creativity across the organisation and delivers through others

Expert Plans and implements new ideas in the long to medium term and takes the lead in delivering change within Directorate

Professional Develops and implements initiatives at a local level

Vocational Addresses current opportunities by improving and adapting existing approaches

Appendix 1

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Name Definition Level Descriptors

5 Working Together Works co-operatively and flexibly across cultures and organisational boundaries to achieve shared goals

Leader Creates a positive team working environment

Expert Builds the team to deliver a high quality service

Professional Involves others to work towards shared goals and objectives

Vocational Works co-operatively with other members of the team and direct customers

6 Managing Relationships (Influencing, persuading and negotiating)

Builds and maintains relationships to achieve positive outcomes for the Association

Leader Extends networks and uses indirect influence to build external relationships to achieve long term strategic organisational goals

Expert Maintains networks and plans impact

Professional Builds positive and reciprocal relationships that benefit the Association

Vocational Builds rapport with colleagues and direct customers/suppliers

7 Continuous Improvement (Striving for Excellence)

Looks for opportunities to improve (self, products and/or services)

Leader Creates a continuous improvement environment

Expert Drives Departmental activity to continuously improve systems and processes

Professional Delivers improvements at a team level

Vocational Drives self to deliver results and aspirations

8 Customer Driven Provides an excellent service to all customers

Leader Develops the strategy to meet the long term interests and aspirations of customers

Expert Champions and promotes the delivery of quality service to all customers

Professional Plans and organises delivery of customer service

Vocational Delivers a high quality service

9 Commercial Awareness Understands relationship of operational issues to wider business context

Leader Defines and develops TVH’s commercial objectives to maximise the organisation’s financial wellbeing

Expert Delivers the commercial objectives

Professional Understands the purpose and content of the Corporate business plan

Vocational Demonstrates awareness of commercial aspects of the business

Appendix 1

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Name Definition Level Descriptors

10 Leadership (Developing and Managing People)

Inspires and motivates others to develop confidence and capability to realise their full potential

Leader Leads the organisations to deliver high performance

Expert Is a role model for effective leadership

Professional Supports team development

Vocational Gives basic direction and instruction

Appendix 1

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