Financial Control Advisor (Qualified)
Department for Work and Pensions
Apply before 11:55 pm on Thursday 7th November 2024
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Salary
Civil servants applying on promotion will usually be appointed to the salary minimum or with 10% increase of existing salary, whichever is greater.
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Location
3 Arena Central, Bridge Street, Birmingham, B1 2AX
Quarry House, Quarry Hill, Leeds LS2 7UA
2 St Peter’s Square, Manchester, M2 3AA
Benton Park View, Longbenton, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE98 1YX
Hartshead Square, Sheffield S1 2FD
About the job
Job summary
At DWP we are committed to creating a great place to work for all our colleagues; an inclusive and respectful environment that reflects the diversity of the society we serve.
We want to maximise the potential of everyone who chooses to work for us, we offer a range of flexible working patterns and support to make a fulfilling career at DWP accessible to you.
Diverse perspectives and experiences are critical to our success, we welcome applications from all people from all backgrounds with the experience and skills needed to perform this role. As one of the largest government departments, almost every individual in the UK is a direct customer of DWP at some point in their lives. DWP’s mission is to improve people’s quality of life, both now and in the future. We do that by focusing on delivering excellent services that make a difference to millions of people. We trust and empower our people to deliver these services to customers every day, including the most vulnerable in society.
We seek to be an exemplar of the modern Civil Service, and to build on our achievements for the benefit of those we serve. When we are at our best, we care, we deliver, we adapt, we work together and we value everyone, we seek to ensure that these values guide the way we serve our country, our communities, and our fellow citizens.
DWP is looking to fill a SEO Qualified Accountant role in Financial Assurance and Control Team (FACT), part of the Payments, Systems and Financial Control directorate. This is a key role directly aligned with Finance Group’s key objective to drive DWP to be cost-effective, making the most of each pound of taxpayers' money and operating safely and securely.
FACT has developed an excellent reputation for providing expert, timely advice, guidance and support on Managing Public Money (MPM) and delegated authorities, the team’s views being routinely sought to impact and challenge new initiatives and policy proposals to ensure consistency with MPM. Through these activities the team contributes to ensuring that money spent by the Department aligns with departmental priorities and helps to shape effective departmental decisions. The team’s work is varied and offers an opportunity to be involved in shaping decisions that have a real impact on people’s lives, such as the recent work on developing proposals for the cost of living support payments that people are now receiving.
Job description
FACT Team Member
- Provide expert advice and guidance on Managing Public Money (MPM) and delegated authorities, by referring to Policy/guidance, any precedents.
- Work effectively and collaboratively with colleagues to ensure new proposals are consistent with MPM requirements and work with the business to develop and assure advice for the DWP Accounting Officer (Permanent Secretary).
- Work with the business and FG teams to develop submissions for HMT approval on matters relating to MPM and delegated authorities, ensuring the full range of financial implications have been considered.
- Develop and deliver training to address identified financial control issues and raise awareness of financial controls.
- Undertake assigned activities to provide assurance on key financial controls and, where appropriate, work with colleagues to improve controls.
- Take a lead on key elements of the Finance Manual ensuring it is maintained and impacted with changes in line with Managing Public Money and internal DWP financial policies.
Hybrid working
This job role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in their DWP office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and your office will be your contractual place of work. The number of days that anyone will be able to work at home will be determined primarily by business need, but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account. If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working, including whether a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for you, will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.
This role can be worked in the UK only.
Places for Growth and Social Mobility
As part of the Places for Growth Programme, we are committed to delivering a more geographically diverse Civil and Public Service that will better serve the public and ministers. As part of this initiative, we are continuously reviewing how we recruit into each location.
Person specification
The ideal candidate for this role will be able to demonstrate the following essential criteria:
Essential Criteria
- You must hold a full chartered level professional qualification awarded by a UK-recognised accountancy body: CIMA, ICAEW, ACCA, CIPFA, ICAS and Chartered Accountants Ireland. In addition, we accept applications from candidates with a chartered level international qualification where a reciprocal agreement exists with the ICAEW or where the criteria of the ICAEW Pathways programme are met.
- Experience of providing expert advice and guidance on complex financial issues, to senior leaders by referring to published government guidance, delegated authorities and any precedents. (Lead Criteria)
- Experience of developing and delivering training including to senior leaders to address identified financial control issues and raise awareness of financial controls.
- The ability to work effectively with and influence senior stakeholders, demonstrating excellent communication skills and evidence of improving and enhancing finance processes with a track record of supporting good decision making through high quality analysis.
- Application of professional accountancy standards within a complex public or private sector environment.
- Evidence of ability to deal with competing priorities whilst maintaining day to day activities and working to tight deadlines.
Qualifications
Memberships
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Making Effective Decisions
Benefits
Alongside your salary, the Department for Work and Pensions contributes 28.97% towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
We also have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:
- Working patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
- Generous annual leave – at least 23 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (pro–rata for part time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave.
- Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme.
- Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly).
- Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 year’s continuous service.
- Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes.
- An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Women’s Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application process
Sift stage:
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a Personal Statement of no more than 1250 words demonstrating how you meet each of the Essential Criteria.
The sift panel will use your Personal Statement to assess your skills and experience against the essential criteria listed for this position.
In the event of a large number of applications we will use the Lead Criteria, Experience of providing expert advice and guidance on complex financial issues, to senior leaders by referring to published government guidance, delegated authorities and any precedents, to initially assess your application during the Sift stage. Candidates who pass the initial Sift may be progressed to a full Sift.
Interview stage:
If you have been successful in sift stage, you will be invited to an online interview via Microsoft Teams. You will need to produce evidence of ID at the video interview.
The interview will take a blended approach, and you will be assessed against the behaviours outlined in the job advert, as well as strength-based questions. You will also be asked to deliver a 5 minute presentation at interview, followed by any questions the panel may have. The subject will be sent to candidates who pass the sift stage and are invited to interview.
Further information will be provided to those who are invited to interview and feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Application sift is planned to be carried out WC: 11 November 2024.
Interviews are planned to be carried out WC: 2 December 2024.
Please be advised that the above dates are indicative only and are subject to change.
Further Information
Find out more about Working for DWP
A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to DWP from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.
However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Before applying for this vacancy, current employees of DWP should check whether a successful application would result in changes to their terms & conditions of employment, e.g. mobility, pay, allowances. Civil Servants that would transfer into DWP from other government organisations, following successful application, will assume DWP's terms & conditions of employment current on the day they are posted, unless DWP has stated otherwise in writing.
The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. Applications will be screened and if evidence of plagiarism or copying examples/answers from other sources is found, your application will be withdrawn. Internal DWP candidates may also face disciplinary action.
Reasonable Adjustment
At DWP we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.
We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:Contact Government Recruitment Service via DWPRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the “Reasonable Adjustments” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : DWP Financial Control & Policy
- Email : FINANCIAL.CONTROLANDPOLICYTEAM@DWP.GOV.UK
Recruitment team
- Email : dwprecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission. Click here to visit the Civil Service Commission.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission. Click here to visit the Civil Service Commission.
