Home Office - Finance Directorate - Senior Executive Officer (Multiple roles) Stoke-on-Trent, England
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About the job
Job summary
The Home Office works to build a safe, fair, and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counterterrorism, policing, fire, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports. Every day, our teams across the UK and beyond deliver outcomes to improve citizens’ lives. Our work is challenging, high profile and rewarding.
The Finance Directorate is one of the most dynamic and forward-looking places to work. We provide professional finance advice and challenge which ensures that the Home Office delivers value for money to the taxpayer and protects the Accounting Officers in their responsibilities for regularity, propriety, value for money and feasibility on all spending decisions. We ensure that finance is at the heart of decision making and operate a business partner model to support strategic planning, operational control and by working within challenging budgets through effective financial reporting, management and planning.
Home Office Finance has several exciting opportunities across Strategic Finance & Risk, Accounting Operations, Finance Business Partnering, Fees & Income and Portfolio & Programme finance for dynamic and innovative people.
We value every person who works in the Finance Directorate and have high expectations of everyone. We offer opportunities for our staff to develop whether through formal training, on the job development or lateral moves to develop new skills. We support staff who wish to achieve a finance qualification with paid study leave and exam support.
The Home Office Finance group is dedicated to promoting equality and valuing diversity. We are committed to ensuring that every talented and hard-working person can rise to the top, whatever their background and whoever they are.
Your personal qualities will be as important as your professional experience, and we welcome applications from all backgrounds. If you believe you have the skills and qualities we are looking for, then we would like to hear from you.
Working for the Home Office
We know that excellent results can only be achieved by investing in and retaining the people who work for us.
Apart from crunching the numbers that shape big decisions, we look after the interests of our staff. We invest in training and development to enhance skills and offer a good work-life balance to improve well-being and staff retention. As well as a competitive salary, you’ll enjoy:
- Generous holiday allowance – 25 days annual leave, rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service in addition to 8 public holidays and one privilege day
- Civil Service Pension schemes – Contribute to the Civil Service Pension Scheme and in addition to your personal contribution, we’ll pay in a substantial contribution each month up to 27.9%
- A good work-life balance – family-friendly working options including flexible working arrangements.
- Hybrid working – 40% office-based working
- Career development and progression – a recognised silver-accredited investor in People, we develop our people at every stage of their career, providing a personal progression plan, on and off-site training courses and opportunities to gain qualifications and professional accreditations
- A strong ethos of diversity and inclusion
You will also have access to benefits such as:
- Season ticket and rental deposit loans
- Cycle to work and payroll giving
- Staff reward vouchers and support networks
- Up to 5 days’ paid volunteering leave
- Employee discounts with many retailers
- Maternity, adoption or shared parental leave up to 26 weeks’ full pay followed by 13 weeks of statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid
- Maternity and adoption support leave (paternity leave) of 2 weeks’ full pay.
Job description
Finance Business Partners (FBP)
These roles provide Finance Business partnering support to programmes and are based within the business.
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
- Building strong relationships with their directorate, understanding the business and explaining financial information for budget holders in an understandable manner.
- Play a key role in the financial business planning and in-year financial monitoring and forecasting of budgets and will work support and work closely with members of the management team, project staff and other enabling business partners.
- Aim to communicate financial data and other information clearly and provide valuable financial advice, challenge and support, strategic insight and business solutions.
Accounting Operations -Corporate In-Year, Treasury Reporting
The Accounting Operations Unit (AOU) is a consolidated function, with the over-arching objective of supporting the Accounting Officer, championing good governance, and providing assurance to key internal and external stakeholders that Home Office money is managed effectively.
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
- Producing financial and board reports, and ad hoc analysis of the ‘in year’ Home Office financial position, representing finance at departmental board level.
- Overseeing the main, monthly and quarterly budget setting windows and will be responsible for ensuring timetables and guidance is drafted and shared with key stakeholders ahead of each budget window opening.
Accounting Operations -Management Accounting
Management Reporting SEOs are responsible for producing the monthly financial report to meet budget holder's needs. This role will provide the Finance function support to the Special Boats Operational Command (SBOC) within Border Force. SBOC was set up primarily to reduce or stop the number of people crossing the Channel and entering the UK illegally. It forms part of the Prime Ministers 10 point plan agenda and requires dedicated resource to work alongside the FBP in delivering very detailed robust and accurate financial information.
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
- The SEO role will support the full Management Accounts service delivery to SBOC FBPs on a variety of tasks in particular delivering month end processes as well as ensuring forecasts and budgets are uploaded and accurate as well as providing detailed analysis on various issues within the business.
- They will also be responsible for providing insightful commentary and ensuring robust governance is in place and adhered to.
- The role will lead the management accounting activities of the month end cycle for SBOC including the approval of material journal adjustments and accruals along with key financial returns.
Fees and Income Planning
The Unit Costing Team within Fees and Income Planning is a friendly, cross-cutting team that is situated within the centre of Corporate & Delivery Finance Directorate, responsible for advising Ministers on fees policy implications, setting fees for new routes and products, and ensuring the department has a legal basis for the income that is generated.
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
- Advising Ministers on fees policy implications, setting fees for new routes and products, and ensuring the department has a legal basis for the income that is generated.
- We work in close collaboration with Finance Business partners, policy and legal colleagues from main operational commands and the wider Department, including Corporate & Delivery directorate and technology colleagues.
- The Unit costing team is responsible for calculating new or reviewing existing unit costs that help support fee setting process for all chargeable services across the Border and Migration System, such as Visas, passports and fast tracked services and also to establish the activity unit costs for the non-chargeable activities such as Asylum, Passenger and Detention costs for financial and efficiency planning and reporting.
Programme & Portfolio Finance :
The PPF team sits within the Finance Directorate.
- The team is responsible for ensuring finance is included in operational decision making across key Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP) programmes and other investment programmes & projects across Home Office.
- The purpose of the team is to ensure that the programme teams deliver against plans, objectives, and outcomes.
- The role is at the heart of financial decision making for the programme working closely with Operational & Programme, Commercial experts, Economists, and colleagues from the Analytical profession to provide clear and robust financial information.
- These roles involve working as part of a collaborative business partnering team.
Strategic Finance & Risk
The Strategic Finance & Risk team is a central finance function that combines finance with strategy within a political context and significant Ministerial interest.
- They lead the department’s relationship with HM Treasury and have the overarching objectives of securing the future funding requirements for the Home Office; ensuring resources are allocated to ministerial priorities; supporting the Department to achieve maximum value for money; delivering on an ambitious productivity and efficiency programme; and owning the department’s risk reporting and management processes.
- The team is comprised of finance professionals, as well as colleagues from operational backgrounds and strategy. This means that we benefit from a diverse skills-set.
The Home Office is committed to the professional development of its staff and fund accountancy and AAT training primarily through the apprenticeship route and with paid study leave as part of this offer.
Applications from part time candidates and job sharers are welcomed.
In line with Home Office Hybrid Working policy, these posts can be based at any of the locations advertised and there will be flexibility to adopt a hybrid working pattern according to business need which would see the post holder spend 40% of their week in the office, with the remainder working from home.
**Travel around the UK, with occasional overnight stays, may be necessary.**
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements of the posts. One or two roles will require additional SC clearance so you must be prepared to undergo the additional security checks, once you are in post.
Person specification
Essential
A proven track record of providing high quality financial analysis and advice across a wide range of complex business and financial issues.
- Excellent stakeholder management and strong interpersonal skills, including experience of providing professional finance and corporate services to senior stakeholders and influencing business decisions.
- Ability to ensure plans and activities in your area of work reflect wider strategic priorities and communicate effectively with senior leaders to influence future strategies
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills which are tailored to the recipient
- Strong organisational skills with experience of working in a fast-paced environment with a proven track record of delivering quality outputs to tight deadlines.
- Good coaching and leadership skills with the ability to effectively develop strong and collaborative relationships within own team and wider.
- Experience of fostering a culture of knowledge sharing and collaboration between the business, finance and other corporate services
- Excellent Excel skills and a strong rounded knowledge of IT and accounting packages
Desirable
- Qualifications: Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies (CCAB) or Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) qualified, part qualified or currently studying for one of these qualifications.
- Experience of working with Oracle financial systems.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together
- Communicating and Influencing
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 with an average employer contribution of 27%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
As part of the application process, you will first be asked to confirm your eligibility by providing some basic personal information.
After submission of this first stage, you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Numerical and Verbal Test. If you successfully pass these tests, you will then be invited to complete the full application form. Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours), the closing date for the tests and full application form is 23:55 on 21st June 2023 (Now extended to 23:55 on 24th June 2023). If you fail to complete the online tests or full application before the deadline, your application will be withdrawn. More information can be found here.
If you successfully pass the Civil Service Numerical and Verbal Tests you will then be asked to complete:
- a CV detailing job history/qualifications/skills
- a statement of suitability (personal statement) (maximum 1000 words)
- provide evidence of the behaviour Managing a Quality Service (250 words maximum)
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
The statement of suitability should be aligned to demonstrate your skills and experience for the role and how you meet the essential criteria as detailed in the job description. Please note that this should not be repetition of your CV, we recommend at least 800 words and that you address the specific criteria providing examples.
As part of your application, you will also need to provide a short statement of 250 words max against the lead behaviour required for this role. The lead behaviour is “Managing a Quality Service”. We are looking for one example, ideally in the STAR format that explains how best you demonstrate this behaviour in your current role. Please see below for the definition of this behaviour. For further information on the application and selection process, please refer to the attached Candidate Pack.
If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview which will consist of behaviour-based questions on the following 4 behaviours:
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together
- Communicating & Influencing
You will also be required to prepare a short presentation (no slides or handouts required) to present at interview, further details around what the presentation will entail will be provided before the interview.
Guidance for the tests will be available when you are invited to take the tests. The tests are administered online and accessed via the Civil Service Jobs website.
Sift and Interview Dates
Sift is expected to take place week commencing 26th June 2023.
Interviews are expected to take place week commencing 10th July 2023.
We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert, however on occasions these dates may change.
Interviews will be carried out via video. Candidates will be required to have access to:
- A laptop (personal or work) with a working webcam
- Good internet connection
- Microsoft Teams
PLEASE NOTE: Due to time constraints we may not be able to offer alternative interview date(s). It is therefore expected that candidates who are successful at sift stage will make themselves available during the above time frame given.
Disability Confident Scheme
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Therefore if a person with disabilities is 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 Reed Recruitment Service via
[email protected] 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
For meaningful checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time to enable appropriate checks to be carried out and produce a result which provides the required level of assurance. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years if the role requires CTC clearance, 5 years for SC clearance and 10 years for DV. A lack of UK residency in itself is not necessarily a bar to a security clearance and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.
Reserve List
A location-based reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role or similar role become available within that period you may be offered this position.
When completing your application, you will have the opportunity to select your preferred location(s). Please ensure you select all locations you are interested in. Candidates who are successful at Interview will be placed in order of merit per location and provisional job offers will be made in strict merit order per location preference. Provisional offers are made, as they are on condition that you successfully pass all pre-employment checks.
Every day, Home Office civil servants do brilliant work to develop and deliver policies and services that affect the lives of people across the country and beyond. To do this effectively and fairly, the Home Office is committed to representing modern Britain in all its diversity, and creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and perform at their best.
We are flexible, skilled, professional and diverse. We work to recruit and retain disabled staff and area Disability Confident Leader. We are proud to be one of the most ethnically diverse departments in the civil service. We are a Social Mobility Foundation top 75 employer.
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.
For further information please see the attached notes for candidates which must be read before making an application.
Existing Civil Servants should note that some of the Home Office terms and conditions of employment have changed. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the Terms and Conditions they will adopt should they be successful in application and should refer to the notes for candidates for further details.
Transfer Terms: Voluntary.
If you are invited to an interview you will be required to bring a range of documentation for the purposes of establishing identity and to aid any pre-employment checks.
Please see the attached list of Home Office acceptable ID documents.
Any move to the Home 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
Reasonable Adjustments
If a person with disabilities is 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 [email protected] 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
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
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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