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Analytical
Knowledge and Information Management
Project Delivery
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About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
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Location
About the job
Job summary
Case Officers at the CMA play pivotal roles in supporting our legal, economic, and financial investigatory teams by providing analysis, project support, and stakeholder management. Being a Case Officer offers an unrivalled opportunity to use your research, analytical and administrative skills for the benefit of consumers, working across varied and intellectually stimulating projects.
The CMA works to promote competition for the benefit of consumers, both within and outside the UK. An important part of our work is investigating mergers and acquisitions that may harm competition. Mergers have the potential to have a significant impact on consumers and their welfare, including an impact on the prices they pay for goods and services, and the range and quality of those goods and services that they have available to them. When qualifying mergers arise, CMA will investigate in two stages: a short phase 1 review process and an in-depth phase 2 investigation.
We may take Interim Measures in some cases, ordering the merging parties to be held separate until the investigation is completed. If we find a merger raises competition concerns, we will determine and implement the remedies needed to resolve the problems found. Remedies will often involve the divestiture (i.e. sale) of a business to a suitable owner. As the Remedies Case Officer, you will have significant responsibilities in both the interim measures and merger divestiture processes.
Job description
For the interim measures process, you will work with the Interim Measures Unit to ensure effective administration of the case, drafting legal orders and tailoring them to the specific circumstances of each case. You will be responsible for monitoring compliance with the orders and enforcing any breaches that may occur. This will involve working closely with the merger parties and their legal representatives, as well as internal CMA teams.
In the merger divestiture process, you will work alongside colleagues in RBFA (Remedies, Business and Financial Analysis) and CMA legal advisers to oversee the divestiture of businesses to implement the CMA’s final decisions on remedies. You will draft key documents, monitor the sales process, and collect evidence to assess the suitability of potential purchasers. You will also manage internal and external communications about the process, keeping stakeholders informed about the progress of the divestiture process.
As you develop your skills and experience, you will be expected to take on increasing responsibility for managing discrete parts of these processes, such as overseeing specific divestitures or leading on particular interim measures cases.
This will role requires strong analytical, organisational, and stakeholder management skills, as well as an interest in competition law and economics.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Analysis, delivery and stakeholder management
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Supporting RBFA team members in putting in place, adapting, monitoring and enforcing interim measures during complex merger investigations and overseeing the implementation of final remedies, for example by:
- Drafting requests for information and other correspondence with merger parties
- analysing information (such as responses to requests and submissions by the merging parties and third parties) to contribute to the team’s understanding of the issues;
- contributing in written or orally to case team discussions in identifying possible concerns with the merger;
- drafting legal orders which put interim measures in place, and drafting modifications and derogations from these orders, under the supervision of the Principal Case Officer
- monitoring the progress of final remedies implementation
- using financial and commercial analytical skills to determine whether potential purchasers of divestiture businesses are suitable; and
- identifying risks and escalating these as appropriate.
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Assisting RBFA team members to ensure effective administration of these processes, for example by:
- liaising with merging parties and third parties regarding the provision of information and the deadlines for delivery;
- working closely with merger case teams to ensure interim measures are integrated into the teams’ analysis;
- ensuring case filing systems are appropriately observed by logging correspondence and submissions and ensuring decisions are accurately filed; and
- keeping templates for key documents up to date.
- Reporting on progress of cases to senior management
- Capturing and storing the team’s knowledge so it doesn’t re-invent the wheel.
Collecting evidence on purchaser suitablility for implementation of final remedies.
Person specification
- Evidence of strong administrative and organisational skills. This might include, for example, evidence of using organisational systems and procedures for case or document management, and the ability to prioritise work to meet tight deadlines. (LEAD CRITERIA)
- Evidence of demonstrable research and analysis skills and ability, with experience of gathering, analysing, summarising and ideally presenting legal, financial and business information. (LEAD CRITERIA)
- Evidence of effective oral and written communication skills, with experience of drafting and producing a range of documents tailored to the needs of different audiences in a timely manner.
- Evidence of working collaboratively with others, including through working as part of a team and managing relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Proficient in the use of of Microsoft Office applications, in particular, Outlook, Word and Excel.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Working Together
- Delivering at Pace
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
Benefits
All CMA employees enjoy the following benefits package:
- An excellent pension scheme with an average employer contribution of 27%
- 25 days leave (increasing to 30 days over five years)
- Favourable consideration of flexible working
- Generous maternity/paternity leave provision
- Interest-free season ticket loans
- Cycle to work scheme and our employee assistance programme
Any move to the CMA 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/.”
Like many other organisations, we operate a hybrid working model with a mix of office and home working. We believe this supports us to deliver our best work while allowing the flexibility to maintain balanced and healthy lives. We work at least 50% of our time from our office locations across the UK.
If you’re already a civil servant being appointed on level transfer, you’ll retain your existing terms, including annual leave. If you are being promoted you’ll receive either a 10% pay increase or the new grade minimum, whichever is the greater. Applicants new to the civil service can be considered for appointment at a salary higher than the starting point indicated above, but not more than the advertised mid-point, depending on skills, knowledge, experience and qualifications.
We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We want a diverse workforce that reflects the consumers we serve. We welcome applications from under-represented groups, including ethnically diverse people, people with a disability, and people with diverse gender identities.
We are an accredited Disability Confident Employer and disabled applicants meeting the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview.
Our Values
The CMA delivers impactful outcomes for people, business and the UK economy. We are Ambitious and Evidence-based, and always strive for Excellence. We treat everyone with Respect, and are Collaborative and Inclusive.
Everything we do is underpinned by the Civil Service values: Honesty, Integrity, Impartiality and Objectivity.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement and an online application form. Further details about application requirements are listed on the application form.
The selection process will comprise of the sift (CV & application review) and an interview. Arrangements for the interview will be enclosed in the invitation. Interviews will be either conducted either virtually, by Microsoft Teams, or in-person at a CMA office.
An initial sift based on criteria 1 and 2 (Lead Criteria) may be held if a large number of applications are received. If your application progresses to a full sift, all elements of the essential criteria listed under Person Specification of the role profile will then be considered.
Please note that it is essential that your personal statement is aligned to provide evidence that you have the knowledge and experience for each of the above criteria listed in the person specification section (also included on the attached role profile) in your application:
The sift will take place week commencing 27 March 2023.
If your application is successful you will be invited to attend an interview. You will be notified via email to log-in to your Civil Service Account and book your interview slot. You will be sent an email with full details of your arrangements for interview.
Interviews will be held week commencing 10 April and 17 April 2023.
The first part of the interview will comprise of a written exercise. Details will be provided in your invitation to interview. The second part of the interview will be a 45 minute -1 hour panel interview where you will be asked questions based on the Behaviours and Experience skills outlined in the role profile. You will also be asked Strength questions.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
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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