About the job

Job summary

Background: The UK Space Agency: 

The UK Space Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) and provides technical advice on the government’s space strategy, supporting the UK space sector to deliver the government’s vision. 

Space is a part of everyday life. Satellites underpin our national economy, from agriculture and banking to aviation and shipping, and support our national security. Space science provides critical data to understand and address global challenges such as climate change, while missions to explore our solar system unite nations and advance humanity’s horizons. 

We support a thriving space sector in the UK, which generates an annual income of £16.5 billion and employs 47,000 people across the country. 

Through our portfolio of programmes and projects, we encourage the development of national space capabilities and are an early-stage investor in space research and development.  We also promote the UK space sector’s interests and achievements; make connections to join up industry and academia; and represent the UK in international space programmes. 

We have a powerful global voice, partnering with institutions across the world, including the European Space Agency. 

More information about the Agency is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-space-agency 

To discover more please watch this film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbZZ-o0IkVU

Our Inclusive Environment

We have an inclusive culture to make UK Space Agency a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it will help us be more innovative and make better decisions.

We offer first-class flexible working benefits, excellent employee well-being support and a great pension. We are fortunate to have a range of excellent staff networks and are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We will support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive.

We actively welcome applications from anyone who shares our commitment to inclusion.

Job description

This is an exciting and developmental opportunity for the post holder to work in the UK Space Agency finance team. Reporting to the Finance Officer the post holder will gain exposure to the wide variety of tasks undertaken across the finance function. The role is pivotal to the operation of the UK Space Agency.

There will be developmental opportunities to facilitate exposure to management accounting as well as financial accounting.

Key responsibilities

• Responsibility for the management of the Purchase Orders Inbox including raising purchase requisitions on Oracle and resolution of queries on existing Purchase Orders to provide consistent coding in trial balance
• Working closely with the business managers to promote best practice and to continually improve internal processes relating to the creation and ongoing maintenance of Purchase Orders such as accruals review, closing POs.
• Provide Agency wide assistance with Oracle transactional queries relating to i-Procurement and i-Expenses liaising with the Shared Service Centre as appropriate.
• Raise purchase requisitions on behalf of the Operations and Resources Directorate including processing of relevant invoices.
• Provide support to Financial Accountant with the preparation of monthly accounts packs and in particular with the reconciliation of outstanding queries relating to Purchase Orders and unpaid invoices, and with the preparation of corrective journals.
• Provide support to Management Accountant with the budgeting process including issuing letters of delegated authority and maintaining an up to date register of delegations.
• Provide support to the Financial/Management Accountants with sample testing of the effectiveness of internal controls, analysing trends and making recommendations.
• Provide support to the Financial Accountant and Head of Finance with the delivery of Annual Accounts including non-TB narratives and the production of the audit file, collating of audit evidence and liaison with the external auditors (NAO).
• Responsibility for publishing government transparency data within set timescales.
• Provide ad-hoc financial information for Freedom of Information requests.
• Monthly reviews such as of contractors’ pay, secondment recharges.
• The above mentioned tasks and responsibilities are neither inclusive nor exhaustive. The post holder may be called upon to carry out such other appropriate duties as may be required by the Chief Executive and/or senior officer(s) within the grade level of the post and the competence of the post holder.

Person specification

Essential

• Experience of working in a finance team, or in a role with financial responsibility
• Good understanding of finance systems and processes
• Sound knowledge of Excel (formulae and pivot tables)
• Ability to analyse financial data, report on findings and make recommendations
• Ability to work on own initiative and to be accountable for actions
• Ability to work proactively to anticipate issues and develop options/solutions in order to prevent escalation
• Proven interpersonal skills with an ability to work within own team as well as with colleagues in other parts of the organisation
• Ability to communicate across all levels
• Ability to work under pressure with competing demands to tight deadlines
• Willingness to learn and provide support within the wider finance team

Desirable

• Experience/knowledge of Oracle financial system, in particular Purchasing and Accounts Payable modules
• Experience of working within a central government department and/or a Shared Service Centre environment
• AAT part qualified

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £25,310, UK Space Agency contributes £6,833 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Ability, Experience and Technical skills.

UK Space Agency is undergoing a transformation programme which may impact your role, line manager and/or location in the future. We will share more details with you as they become known.

After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Numerical Test. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application. 

Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 23:55 on 4th January 2024. If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement, behavioural and technical statements.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Please use your personal statement (in no more than 250 words) to describe how your skills and experience are relevant to this role.

Please note - the CV incorporated into the application form is for information purposes only and will not be scored.

The Sift will be assessed on behaviours, personal statement, technical skills.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour - Seeing the Big Picture.

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview. 

The Interview will be assessed on behaviours and technical skills

Sift and interview dates

Expected Timeline subject to change

Sift dates: w/c 8th January 2024

Interview dates: w/c 29th January 2024

Interview Location: MS Teams.

Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.

Further 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 Government Recruitment Service via uksarecruitment.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.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe carried out.

Any move to UK Space Agency 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 https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

A reserve list will be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

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 Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

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.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

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

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

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). 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. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.