Legal Operations Finance Manager UK Covid19 Inquiry Team
Cabinet Office
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 22nd September 2024
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Legal Services
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About the job
Job summary
In December 2021 Baroness Heather Hallett, a retired Appeal Court judge, was appointed by the Prime Minister as Chair of the independent public inquiry into the Covid-19 pandemic.
The UK Covid-19 Inquiry was formally established with full powers under the Inquiries Act 2005 in June 2022. The Inquiry sits independently of the Government with the Cabinet Office acting as the sponsoring department.
Following an initial set up phase the Inquiry began hearing evidence in May 2023. We are now looking for an energetic and collaborative Legal Operations Finance Manager to join the excellent team that is delivering the Inquiry.
This is an exciting role, offering the opportunity to lead an innovative team, in fast moving circumstances, to ensure lessons are learned from the UK response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Further information about the Inquiry can be found on the UK Covid-19 Inquiry website.
Conflicts Of Interest
Please note that candidates invited to interview will be invited to declare any actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interests which could affect the independence of the Inquiry, in confidence, to the senior conflicts of interest recruiting manager. This may include current or prior work undertaken on the COVID-19 pandemic response. Decisions on any potential conflict of interest will be made before an appointment to the role is confirmed.
Job description
The Team
The Legal Operations team sits within the PRAL (Policy, Research & Analysis and Legal Operations) directorate. We are a small core team within the Inquiry and act as the main conduit between the Inquiry Secretariat and the Legal Team. The Legal Operations team has three main functions:
- Support and deliver the Inquiry's public hearings programme including witness arrangements and hearing room management.
- Provide practical and administrative support to the Inquiry's legal team.
- Management of the Inquiry's legal budget lines including processing fee notes and tracking spend against forecast.
Roles and Responsibilities:
As a Legal Operations Finance Manager, you will be responsible for the day to day running of all the Legal Operations Budget Lines (c. £65 million). You will lead on all forecasting, monthly reporting and work with the Inquiry finance team on all financial audits. There will be line management responsibility for up to 2 HEOs and countersigning line management for up to 3 EOs. Working to the Deputy Head of Legal Operations, the jobholder’s responsibilities will include (but are not limited to):
- Management of the day to day responsibilities of those working on the Legal Budget Lines including working with clerks to ensure counsel billing guidance is followed and processing and paying invoices.
- Working with Legal Operations SMT and the Inquiry finance team to develop forecasts and budgets for the current and future financial years.
- Leading on monthly financial reporting and end of year processes.
- Supporting recruitment of the team.
- Line management.
Person specification
The ideal candidate for this role would have the following key skills and experience:
Essential Requirements:
- The successful candidate will be flexible and adaptable, with the ability and willingness to work at pace.
- They will be comfortable working with staff at senior levels and from a range of different professional backgrounds.
- You will have excellent prioritisation skills, with the ability to balance immediate day-to-day challenges alongside ongoing deadlines.
- Proven ability to exercise judgement and discretion to resolve issues in a timely manner.
- Experience of tracking large budgets and creating processes for tracking financial spend against budget, with keen attention to detail.
Desirable Criteria:
- Previous experience of working with barristers or solicitors and their clerks is an advantage but is not essential.
- Knowledge of Section 40 of the Inquiries act is an advantage but not essential.
- Experience of using a google platform, in particular a google sheets advanced user would be advantageous.
- Experience of leading and managing a team would be an advantage but not essential.
- Previous experience of working on an independent inquiry, investigation or review.
Additional information:
A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Managing a Quality Service
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Managing a Quality Service
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role.
- An environment with flexible working options.
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
- A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and average employer contributions of 27%.
- A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application process
To apply for this role please provide the following:
- A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you provide employment history that relates to the essential and desirable criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages.
- A Statement of Suitability (500 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential requirements highlighted. You may also choose to reference the desirable skills listed.
- A 250 word behaviour statement for Managing a Quality Service.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour, Statement of Suitability. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Selection process
If you are successful in securing an interview you will be asked questions on the behaviours listed within the advert and on strengths.
Expected timeline (subject to change)
Expected sift date – TBC
Expected interview date/s – TBC
Interview location - In person - face to face
Your interview will either be conducted face to face. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.
Reasonable Adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
Contact Government Recruitment Service via cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the ‘Assistance required’ 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.
Further information
Please note that this role requires CTC clearance, which would normally need 3 years UK residency prior to commencing. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.
Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to Cabinet Office 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.
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting
Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter
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.
Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.
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 : Bethany Marriott
- Email : bethany.marriott@covid19.public-inquiry.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at info@csc.gov.uk. For further information on the Recruitment Principles. and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk.
