Academies Data Officer Coventry, England
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Job summary
We encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates
At DfE, we are proud of the commitment we make to diversity and inclusion and of the progress we have made. We have active & vibrant staff networks, special leave policies and workplace adjustments put in place for those who need them. We are continuing to build a diverse DfE, in an inclusive environment which nurtures and realises potential in all, at all levels.
Equality and Diversity - Department for Education
This role will play a leading part in the data management for the academy sector financial returns. The successful candidate will lead the data administration and will help support the project to transform the overall data processes that underpin the academy financial returns.
Your role is in the team that collects financial data from the academy sector via online forms. This involves development, continuous improvement and roll out of the online forms, collection of the data, and communication with the academy sector. This is all underpinned by accurate data streams.
This post will be working alongside the team that collects the academies budget forecast return (BFR), academies accounts return (AR), and the academies land and buildings collection tool (LBCT). The data collection process has also developed a standardised academies chart of accounts (CoA). A priority of the DfE is to promote the uptake of the CoA and to encourage academies and their auditors to use the automated data upload functionality. These are high profile and visible data collections in the academies sector, in DfE and ministerial interest is high.
Job description
The academy sector consists of nearly 2,600 academy trusts representing over 10,000 academies in England. The department collects essential financial data across several online returns at points in time throughout the academic year. The use of the data is to:
- Monitor the financial health of individual trusts and the sector as a whole.
- Report back to the sector themselves data for their own comparative purposes.
- Consolidate the returns into a sector wide set of accounts to report to Parliament (the largest of its type in the public sector).
The duties of the roles range across the following:
- Working in an agile project environment to maintain the existing data streams that support the online forms.
- To liaise with other stakeholders to ensure data updates are accurate and timely.
- To work with the development team to continue to support the new project to systemise the data improvement module.
- To support the wider team in the online form development and release cycle.
- Carry out robust and accurate financial/technical processes to ensure the data quality is maintained and fit for purpose per the requirements of the online forms.
Desirable past experience/skills for this role are:
- Experience of online forms
- Working with delivery partners using an agile project methodology
- Advanced excel skills
Desirable criteria will only be assessed in the event of a tie break situation to make an informed decision.
Person specification
Responsibilities:
- Supporting the planning, development and roll out of the online forms and of the automation functionality.
- Take a leading role on the new phase of work to increase efficiencies of the data used in the online forms.
- Strong experience of using Excel and have an attention to detail to ensure that data updates are accurate.
- Building strong links across the Department within and beyond finance, including strategy, policy, and other corporate services.
- Tracking, analysis, interpretation and presentation of academy trust data from on-line form data collections.
- Supporting specific areas of financial reporting work, working independently to deliver high quality work to demanding timescales.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Working Together
Benefits
Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department’s transfer / promotion policies.
As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK.
You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service. In addition, all staff receive the King’s Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days’ bank and public holidays.
We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances, but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role.
Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DfE, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.
As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application Stage
To apply for this role, you will be asked to provide a CV, a 750-word personal statement and an example of how you have demonstrated the behaviour, "working together".
Your CV and personal statement will be assessed for experience against the following essential criteria:
- Demonstrates application of strong MS Excel knowledge
- Working with complex/large data sets
- Attention to detail for your work
- Use of other digital tools, such as power BI
- Experience of collaborating with others outside of immediate area of work
- Project experience
An initial sift will be conducted on the behaviour, if a large number of applications are received.
Those who pass the initial sift on the behaviour will progress to a full sift where your CV and personal statement will be assessed.
Interview Stage
Your experience, a selection of strength based questions and the behaviour, "working together" will be assessed at interview.
Other Information
We reserve the right to raise the minimum pass mark in the event of a high volume or strong field of candidates.
Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK from the location options provided and not from overseas.
The government is committed to supporting apprenticeships, enabling people to learn and progress in a role whilst earning. We want to monitor the number of people who have completed apprenticeships who are now applying to progress further in their career and are asking this question to all candidates, on all vacancies. You will be asked a question as part of the application process about any previous apprenticeships you have completed. Your response to this question will not affect your application and it is not a requirement of the role to have completed a previous apprenticeship.
DfE cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. DfE holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe 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 circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Department of Education of your intention by emailing [email protected] stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Department for Education do not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment unless otherwise stated.
A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.
Candidates will be posted in merit order based upon location preference. Where more than one location is advertised you will be asked to state your preferred location.
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.
Terms and conditions of candidates transferring from ALBs and NDPBs
Bodies that are not accredited by the Civil Service Commission and are not able to advertise at Across Government on Civil Service jobs will be treated as external new starters and will come into DfE on modernised terms and conditions with a salary at the band minimum.
Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission but do not have civil service status will be offered modernised terms and will not have continuous service recognised for leave or sickness benefits. Salaries should be offered at band minimum, but there is some flexibility where this would cause a detriment to the individual.
Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission and do have Civil Service status will be treated as OGD transfers. Staff appointed on lateral transfer will move on to pre-modernised DfE terms (unless they were on modernised terms in their previous organisation). Staff appointed on promotion will move on to modernised DfE terms. Staff will transfer over on their existing salary (on lateral transfer) and any pay above the DfE pay band maximum will be paid as a mark time allowance. Staff moving on promotion will have their salaries calculated using the principles set out in the attached OGD transfer supplementary information.
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 Department of Education via [email protected] 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.
Any move to Department for Education (DfE) will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming 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/
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
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).
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