About the job

Job summary

We encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates  

At DfE, we are proud of the commitment we make to diversity and inclusion and of the progress we have made. We have active & vibrant staff networks, special leave policies and workplace adjustments put in place for those who need them. We are continuing to build a diverse DfE, in an inclusive environment which nurtures and realises potential in all, at all levels.

Equality and Diversity - Department for Education

This role sits within an ambitious team, responsible for all element of Accounts Receivable for the Department for Education (DfE) Financial Operations Team, which provides a professional shared service to the DfE, the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), DfE Capital Group and four Arm’s Length Bodies (ALBs).

Financial Operations Division

The Financial Operations (FinOps) division is primarily responsible for making secure, accurate and timely payments in excess of £100bn of public monies to providers and suppliers within the education, skills and training sector. The division consists of various teams which include Accounts Payable and Treasury, Accounts Receivable, Fraud and Error, Standing Data and Financial Systems and Support.

The Accounts Receivable team are responsible for recovering debts that arise from outbound payments of fundings and from work within other government departments. 

The Accounts Receivable team has a key role in ensuring that debt is accurately recorded, recovered as quickly and efficiently as possible. Delivering an excellent service to our customers by maintaining a positive, empathetic, and professional attitude at all times.

The role requires regular engagement with internal and external stakeholders.

Job description

We are looking for someone with a background in Finance, within a credit control environment who are passionate about recovery and wants to utilise their skills to minimise overdue debts that are owed to the Department for Education. The expectation is to attend the Coventry office at least 60% aligning to similar government departments as part of hybrid working.

You will be innovative, focused and a team player with a desire to understand how debt arises, and how to prevent, record, report and recover it. If you joined us, your day to day may include:

• Working within a positive and inclusive team culture.
• Reducing aged debt by performing all necessary credit control processes.
• Adhering to credit control daily targets regarding debt recovery and evidencing this within our finance system.
• Ensuring all accounts are reviewed regularly to deliver accurate requests of impairments and write offs.
• Obtaining support on write-off evidence in line with business requirements.
• Provide support and guidance on repayment plans should anyone default, increase / decrease those arrangement around customer needs in accordance with debt policy.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with colleagues, customers, and key stakeholders, at all levels, to resolve debt related issues.
• Handling and resolving complex queries in a timely manner, adhering to high customer service standards in line with SLA.
• Raising of invoices and credits notes in an accurate and timely manner in line with SLA.
• Understand the key priorities of our customers and work alongside them to continually review and improve the service we offer.
• To suggest improvements where we have opportunities to automate or streamline.
• Attend regular team and divisional meetings.

Person specification

You will manage and prioritise workload to support throughout each month. You have good interpersonal skills and are comfortable dealing with customers and stakeholders at all levels to assist them in recovery of debts in an efficient and effective way.

Essential criteria for this role: 

• Experience of working in a fast-paced finance environment and/or with finance processes.
• Evidence of working effectively in a team and taking individual initiative and proactiveness.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to engage with others.
• A keen eye for detail on all areas.
• Able to tackle complex issues and finding practical and innovative solutions.

Desirable experience for this role:

• Have a background in Finance, within a credit control environment.

Desirable criteria will only be assessed in the event of a tie break situation to make an informed decision.

Benefits

Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department’s transfer / promotion policies.

As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK, with an average employer contribution of 27%.

You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service. In addition, all staff receive the King’s Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days’ bank and public holidays.

We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.

Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role.

Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DfE, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.

As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.

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.

Application Stage

To apply for this role, you will be asked to provide a CV, a personal statement of up to 750 words and a 250- word example of how you have demonstrated the behaviour 'Delivering at Pace'.

To confirm, the maximum word count for the personal statement is 750 words. Please adhere to this limit as anything over 750 words will not be taken into account.

Your CV and personal statement will be assessed for Experience against the essential criteria outlined under the Person Specification. Your behavioural example will also be assessed.

An initial sift will be conducted on the lead behaviour, 'Delivering at Pace’, if a large number of applications are received.

Those successful at sift will be invited to interview.

Interview Stage

Two behaviours, your experience and a selection of strengths will be assessed at interview.

Other Information

We reserve the right to raise the minimum pass mark in the event of a high volume or strong field of candidates.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK from the location options provided and not from overseas.

The government is committed to supporting apprenticeships, enabling people to learn and progress in a role whilst earning. We want to monitor the number of people who have completed apprenticeships who are now applying to progress further in their career and are asking this question to all candidates, on all vacancies. You will be asked a question as part of the application process about any previous apprenticeships you have completed. Your response to this question will not affect your application and it is not a requirement of the role to have completed a previous apprenticeship.   

DfE cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. DfE holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.

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

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 Department of Education of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks.DFE@education.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Department for Education do not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment unless otherwise stated.

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

Candidates will be posted in merit order based upon location preference. Where more than one location is advertised you will be asked to state your preferred location.

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.

Terms and conditions of candidates transferring from ALBs and NDPBs

Bodies that are not accredited by the Civil Service Commission and are not able to advertise at Across Government on Civil Service jobs will be treated as external new starters and will come into DfE on modernised terms and conditions with a salary at the band minimum.

Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission but do not have civil service status will be offered modernised terms and will not have continuous service recognised for leave or sickness benefits. Salaries should be offered at band minimum, but there is some flexibility where this would cause a detriment to the individual.

Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission and do have Civil Service status will be treated as OGD transfers. Staff appointed on lateral transfer will move on to pre-modernised DfE terms (unless they were on modernised terms in their previous organisation). Staff appointed on promotion will move on to modernised DfE terms. Staff will transfer over on their existing salary (on lateral transfer) and any pay above the DfE pay band maximum will be paid as a mark time allowance. Staff moving on promotion will have their salaries calculated using the principles set out in the attached OGD transfer supplementary 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 Department of Education via centralrecruitment.operations@education.gov.uk 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.

Any move to Department for Education (DfE) will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming 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/

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). 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.