About the job

Job summary

The Government Actuary’s Department (GAD) is a well-established organisation in the heart of government which uses statistical analysis and probabilistic financial models to assess a wide range of risks facing the public sector.  Using these techniques, we aim to enhance the stewardship of public sector finances by providing expert advice to government departments in areas including contingent risks, insurance, pensions, and social security.

Job description

The successful candidate will be responsible for the management of activities across the range of leadership areas, providing ongoing support to the other members of the Leadership Group and pro-actively seeking better ways of working to improve efficiency and team engagement.  

They will also be responsible for ensuring that Specialist Actuarial complies with relevant GAD policies, successfully manages resources, fee income and BD activities providing support within the Leadership Group in the efficient delivery of their responsibilities.

The role holder will have remit to constructively challenge current ways of working with aim of improving efficiency and strategic direction of the team. They may also have line management responsibilities.

Person specification

1. General:

• Consideration of all non-technical aspects of team operations, including internal processes, interaction with other teams and the wider department, and client relationships
• Identify potential improvements and work proactively within the Leadership Group to agree and implement necessary actions to address
• Play an active role within the Leadership Group, supporting others in the delivery of their leadership responsibilities and providing constructive challenge where appropriate to support overall team strategy
• Contribute to business planning for the team and the organisation

2. Finance and Resource, including planning and resource management:

• Management of budgeting and forecasting activities
• Ongoing monitoring of team utilisation, fee income and aged WIP/debt, and pro-actively take action to address any emerging issues
• Identification and allocation of resource requirements for individual projects, in conjunction with relevant Client Leads and Leadership Group as necessary
• Support cross-GAD resource management ensuring additional resource required within Specialist Actuarial is secured and spare resource is redeployed as necessary to support wider GAD projects

3. Processes, including change management and delivery management:

• Management of team risk register including regular review of existing and new team risks and challenge of risk owners
• Management of the client oversight arrangements, including quarterly review process, sharing of emerging issues and delivery of necessary assurance documents
• Monitoring of team compliance with GAD-wide policies such as Project Management framework, GDPR management
• Support co-ordination of post project review exercise, identifying projects and staff to be included in annual review

4. People, including talent management and running the performance management process:

• Ensure smooth operation of Performance Management Process, including driving improvements in quantum and quality of feedback
• Identification of emerging staff/recruitment capacity issues having regards to finance & resource activities and business development
• Support Learning & Development and talent management of team, including co-ordinating of L&D sessions, ensuring Development Plans are in place and actively considered/monitored for all staff and liaising with Leadership Group regarding emerging capability/training issues

5. Clients, including BD activities and client management

• Management of Client Feedback Program, ensuring client feedback is sought through Client Survey, end of project requests and wider Client Review meetings and relevant learnings shared across team
• Management of SA Client/BD KPIs to inform GAD wide reporting
• Support the development and management of Client Plans to ensure that relevant actions are captured and taken forward
• Provide support to the SA Initiatives monitoring and recording progress against expected targets

6. Team communications:

• Provide support across all Leadership areas to improve communications within the team
• Promote and support team engagement in GAD/SA initiatives

Benefits

As well as competitive salaries, we offer a substantial package of benefits:

• 25 days annual leave per year, increasing to 30 days after 5 years’ service. In addition, 9 days public and privilege days leave per year (pro rata for part time colleagues)
• Hybrid working – GAD expects colleagues in the office 50% of the time. We would expect you in either our Canary Wharf or Edinburgh office, at least two / three days a week, dependent on operational requirements and typically the other days at home.
• Pension -An average employer pension contribution of 27% per year.
• Professional Fees – you can claim back the cost of professional fees associated with your role.
• Extensive talent, career and personal development, with up to ten days a year, being used for Continuing Professional Development.
• Family-friendly policies such as help with caring responsibilities, special leave, generous paid maternity, paternity and adoption leave
• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
• Complimentary BUPA health check for permanent colleagues
• Community volunteering programme, the opportunity to join a trade union, access to Edenred discounts, some examples include, 5% off supermarkets, and up to 40% off gym memberships and social groups
• Salary advances for travel costs, including season tickets and cycle-to-work schemes

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 Technical skills.

Application deadline: 1200 hrs on 30 January 2024
Shortlisting: 30 January - 1 February 2024
Interviews: 9 February 2024
Interview location: In office - London, E14 4PU

The recruitment process consists of one interview before the final decision is made. If required, a further second interview may be conducted.

Please apply via our recruitment portal below.

As part of the application form process, please submit your CV and supporting statement. Please do not email your CV outside of this process as it will not be accepted.

Shortlisting criteria is based on the Person Specification as set out in the Assessment Criteria section of the Job Description. Please ensure you provide examples of how you meet the Assessment Criteria; a strong application will also demonstrate that you meet the required criteria that are identified as key for this role. Applications will be shortlisted in line with the essential criteria for the role. Behaviours will be assessed at interview stage. Candidates who are successful at shortlist will be contacted as soon as possible and advised of the interview process and assessment (exact times and dates will also be confirmed).

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

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.