About the job

Job summary

The Insolvency Service is a leading Government agency which plays a crucial role in providing essential services to the public and to business. The work we do is important to the proper functioning of markets, the economy in general and support for thousands of people each year who are in financial difficulty.  

Inclusive and diverse teams are important to us. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups underrepresented in our workforce. The Insolvency Service strives to ensure that the agency is a safe, inclusive and welcoming place for everybody to bring their true self to work and to help the agency to achieve its diversity objectives. We have 10 active employee network groups available to join or become an ally, these include, Carers Network, Disability & Health, FACES Network Group, Grass Roots, LGBT+, Mind Matters, No Limits, Part Time Workers, The Shed, and Women’s Network Group. 

We offer full-time, part-time, job share and flexible ways of working. We value capability, technical skills and experience and we place great emphasis on lifetime development to support our people. We encourage our employees to become more involved in areas they feel strongly about, whether it be for the benefit of the agency, though our Engagement network or in their own local communities via volunteering opportunities.  

The Insolvency Service is a great place to work, learn and grow your career. 

The successful applicant will work closely with key stakeholders, both internally and externally, to support the agency's financial position. The specific focus will be on income, in particular from Companies House fees to support the agency's objectives. 

Job description

The role advertised sits within the FCSP (Finance, Commercial, Sustainability & Property) function within the corporate centre of the agency. The role has a heavy focus on stakeholder management and engagement with the operational areas of the business.

You will be part of engaged and motivated teams with a focus on continual professional development and delivering high quality strategic/tactical management information and analysis, which will support our stakeholders and allow them to make informed business decisions.

Responsibilities

The role, covering Income Accounting with specific responsibility for income from Companies House, has responsibilities which include:

• Support the Agency’s Accounting Officer by assessing proposals and providing ad-hoc advice
• Scenario planning and modelling for relevant income stream(s), including collection and analysis of data
• Coordinating and delivering plans to improve compliance with Government Functional Standards/Design Principles and clearing Management Letter Points
• Leading on associated audit items and assist on clearance of management letter points or GIAA recommendations
• Leading on accounting assumptions, financial judgements and any associated financial disclosures for relevant income streams
• Working with key stakeholders to manage all aspects of relevant projects and to identify/mitigate associated risks
• Assisting and providing assurance that mandatory requirements (such as HMT guidance and Cabinet Office controls) are adhered to
• Supporting delivery of requirements for other income streams, subject to demands across the Income and wider Finance Teams
• Working with and supporting colleagues in the Finance & Commercial Directorate as required

Person specification

Essential Knowledge, Experience, and Skills

• Strong stakeholder management experience; the role will require a candidate able to work with colleagues from the wider Finance & Commercial Directorate and operational areas of the Agency, as well as external stakeholders such as Companies House and Department for Business and Trade
• Time management skills; the successful candidate will be able to effectively manage competing priorities with fixed deadlines
• Communication skills; the successful candidate will need good written and oral communication skills as they will be preparing submissions/reports for members of the Senior Leadership Team and external stakeholders (e.g., NAO)
• Adept at working collaboratively and can effectively manage relationships with a range of stakeholders to achieve results
• Ability to analyse and interpret data to provide meaningful insights

Desirable Knowledge & Experience

• Knowledge and/or experience of government accounting and the year-end reporting process
• An understanding of central guidance such as Managing Public Money/Financial Reporting Manual (FReM)
• Experience of Government Functional Standards/Global Design Principles
• Experience of working on fee charging regimes
• Experience of advising on Accounting Officer Standards

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £41,880, Insolvency Service contributes £11,307 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, Strengths and Experience.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and a 750-word personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form. 

You should write a statement of suitability (of up to 750 words) explaining how you consider your skills, knowledge and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria. 

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the the personal statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to interview. 

We will test your experience as part of the sift process, and if successful, you will be invited to a short interview where we will test your behaviours and strengths. Full details of the selection process will be made available to shortlisted candidates once the sift has been completed. 

Expected Timeline (subject to change) 

Sift – w/c 15 April 2024

Interview – w/c 29 April 2024 

Location - MS Teams  

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

Further Information

Please note:  This vacancy is advertised across 11 locations; however, Stratford and Croydon are only available to current Insolvency Service Staff. 

Transforming Workplaces

The Insolvency Service is currently delivering an exciting five-year transformation project that started in April 2022 which will define our future direction supporting a gradual migration to a Regional Centre model combined with smarter ways of working. As part of this, transforming our estate will align us with the government modernisation programmes making The Insolvency Service a great place to work.  

We are letting you know about our future plans because if you are joining the Insolvency Service and are recruited into an office over the next five years that is not one of the Regional Centres, you will be expected to move to one of the Regional Centres in the future. This move would not attract financial assistance.   

The 11 Regional Centres are : Birmingham, Cardiff, Croydon, Edinburgh, Exeter, Ipswich, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Stratford.

Hybrid Working

Insolvency Service operates a hybrid working policy subject to business need, giving people the flexibility to choose when and where they work and collaborate with others.

Individuals are expected to work from one of the office locations stated in the advert to connect with their colleagues, as required by their role and business team needs. There is flexibility to split the working week, spending a minimum of 60% in the workplace, which includes the office, site visits, court etc.

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

Any move to the Insolvency Service 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 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 InsolvencyRecruitment.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 may be carried out. 

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service or Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances 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-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. 

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk 

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

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.