About the job

Job summary

We welcome applications from every part of the community, and we don’t discriminate against any gender identity. We’re especially interested to hear from underrepresented groups in the DfT such as gender diverse, ethnic minority, LGBT+ and disabled candidates.

Are you looking for your next challenge or seeking to launch a career in the Civil Service?

We are looking for people who share our values of honesty, integrity, objectivity, impartiality, and professionalism and want to play an important role in the UK automotive sector.

• Do you have great attention to detail?
• Are you organised and achieve deadlines?
• Have you got experience dealing with internal and external stakeholders?

If so, this is a great opportunity for you to join the VCA!

Job description

The Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) is the UK Type Approval Authority and ensures that road vehicles meet the minimum safety and environmental standards as required by GB, UK, and UNECE regulations.  The integrity, objectivity, impartiality, and professionalism of our staff is vital to delivering this service for the automotive sector.

Would you like the opportunity to work in the finance department for an innovative Government Agency?

If you can add value to our team by bringing your experience, together with enthusiasm and initiative, we would love to hear from you.

This is an exciting opportunity for you to join our Finance team as an Accounts Receivable Administrator and contribute to the continuous improvement environment we are proudly developing.

As an Accounts Receivable Administrator you will work closely with the Credit Control Manager within the Finance Department, a core function within VCA. You will frequently be contacted by both internal and external stakeholders who will require your assistance with accounts receivable queries.

Your duties will include but will not be limited to: 

• To closely monitor client accounts and debt chase both UK and overseas customers. Log details onto Collect system and report findings to the credit control manager.
• Download Lloyds Commercial Banking statements and allocation of Bacs / Funds Flow and CHAPS receipts. Post journals onto relevant customer accounts and allocate receipts.
• Process credit/debit card payments. Post journals onto relevant customer accounts and allocate receipts.
• Credit control and management of customer accounts. This will include daily telephone calls, e-mails, debtor letters and if necessary proposing accounts for legal action.
• Liaising with the other departments within VCA; UK and overseas business units.
• Run credit checks, open new accounts when authorised by signatories, as per authority limits.
• Sending copy invoices, credit notes or statements to customers, as and when required.
• Point of contact for customer account queries.
• Run sales ledger month end reports, confirm balances prior to month end close.
• Produce pro-forma invoices and e-mail to customer.
• Covering the responsibilities of the credit control manager as and when required.

For further information, please see the attached Role Profile

Person specification

You will have excellent verbal and written communication and the ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines.

Attention to detail and accuracy is key as well as being able to build strong relationships with internal and external contacts.

You must be able to work as part of a team to achieve a shared goal.

If you fit the person profile and are interested in a new challenge, VCA would love the opportunity to develop you to become a vital part of our team. We could do this through:

• Learning and development by studying an Accountancy or Credit Control qualification.
• Colleague knowledge sharing.
• Access to a broad network of eLearning through the Civil Service.
• Opportunities to attend external training courses to develop knowledge if candidate can demonstrate the value created to the agency in doing so.

Additional Information

A minimum of 60% of your working week should be spent at your principal workplace. Depending on the nature role you are applying for e.g. engineering, this may require you to travel to other VCA sites as well as manufacturers. This official business contributes towards your overall workplace attendance.

Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement, for the successful candidate to be able to work at least 4 days per week, the successful applicant will need to work a Friday each week.

Benefits

The Vehicle Certification Agency is the designated UK Vehicle Type Approval Authority. We have over 30 years’ experience supporting industry by providing internationally recognised testing and certification for vehicles, their systems and components.

If you would like to read more about VCA and the benefits of working for us, visit our Careers website!

Things you need to know

Selection process details

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

How to Apply

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Within your CV and personal statement please provide detailed evidence of your experience of the following: 

• Experience of attention to detail and accuracy.
• Experience of where you have had to prioritise tasks and meet deadlines. 

The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment will include:

• An interview 

Click play on the below video for further support for your CV, personal statement and interview.

Key Dates

The sift is due to take place w/c .26th August 2024.

The interviews will take place w/c 9th September 2024.

The interview will be conducted via Microsoft Teams or Face to Face at our Bristol Office.

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.

You’re encouraged to become familiar with the role profile, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within.

The Department for Transport alongside other Government Departments recruit using Success Profiles. This means for each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate in order to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

For further information on Success Profiles visit our Careers website.

Please note that VCA are unable to offer VISA sponsorship.

Reasonable Adjustments

As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Document Accessibility

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

This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email DRGComms@dft.gov.uk for assistance.

Further Information

For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.

Pre-employment Checking

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 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.