About the job

Job summary

The Government Digital Service (GDS) is part of the Cabinet Office. We’re here to make digital government simpler, clearer and faster for everyone. We work at the very centre of government to make user-focused digital transformation happen. We build and maintain common platforms, products and tools for others to use and create great public services that are accessible, inclusive and easy to use. We also work with departments to identify patterns, share learning and create change to make government more efficient.

Our teams are organised around delivering on our priorities, which are to:

• make it easier for people to find what they are looking for on GOV.UK
• build common service platforms to make it simpler and cheaper to build quality digital services
• promote agile, user-centred design practices both in the UK and across the world

Our work is user-focused, dynamic and forward-looking, making our organisation an exciting and innovative place to work. 

Find out more at the GDS Blog. 

As a Finance and Business Operations Analyst, you will be part of the GDS Business Operations team, a central group that works across all of GDS and covers finance as well as business management activities. 

You will work closely with and support senior and middle managers, such as the Head of Business Operations, Heads of Delivery, Heads of Product and Delivery Managers as well as the wider Business Operations team. 

As part of this team, you will be supported in your career development and have the opportunity to move laterally and widen your knowledge of digital, technology and data and associated professions. 

Job description

As a Finance and Business Operations Analyst, you'll focus on the following areas:

• Income Recovery - Manage platform billing for the Notify programme, communicate with customers, manage purchase orders, raise invoices as well as aged debt. Respond to any queries from customers and notify the team or senior management. Update the billing tracker and attend weekly meetings to provide updates on progress. 
• Reporting & Assurance - Analyse all finance reports that come from the Cabinet Office, reconcile the reports and present the findings and take relevant actions to programmes/ directorates. Manage the end-of-month financial accruals and journal entries for respective directorates. Work in partnership with GDS and CO Finance colleagues to ensure this process runs smoothly.
• Finance & Operations Management - Manage and advise on all finance and operational work for your programme by ensuring all finances, resourcing, commercial needs, and procurement are delivered to a high standard. Manage the full purchase-to-pay processes for the organisation. This includes raising of purchase orders, virtual credit cards, and management of subsequent invoices. Advise programmes and directorates on best practices and compliant payment routes. 
• Continuous Improvement - Assist with the development and continuous improvement of all Business Operation processes, reviewing existing knowledge and recommending actions for new tools, standards and methodologies. Promote the use of these processes by the directorate(s). Furthermore, ensure lessons learned from programmes and directorates across the organisation are being effectively captured and actioned. 

Person specification

We’re looking for people with strong interpersonal skills who enjoy and are comfortable working with numbers and figures,  someone who likes working in a delivery-focused, agile environment.  We’re looking for people who are interested in continuing or starting professional financial training.

We’re interested in people who: 

• have sound knowledge and experience of financial and business management (financial, purchase-to-pay, procurement and resourcing practices) as well as an good understanding of operational delivery 
• Confident in communicating with external stakeholders.
• have experience of collaboration and partnering in complex environments
• demonstrate experience in analysing management information; identifying patterns or themes and extracting the key data to provide valuable intelligence 
• are experienced in working in an agile and/or digital environment 
• are familiar with the public sector and government processes

Benefits

The benefits of working at GDS

There are many benefits of working at GDS, including:

• flexible hybrid working with flexi-time and the option to work part-time or condensed hours
• a Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
• 25 days of annual leave, increasing by a day each year up to a maximum of 30 days
• an extra day off for The King’s birthday
• an in-year bonus scheme to recognise high performance
• career progression and coaching, including a training budget for personal development
• paid volunteering leave
• a focus on wellbeing with access to an employee assistance programme
• job satisfaction from making government services easier to use and more inclusive for people across the UK
• advances on pay, including for travel season tickets
• death in service benefits
• cycle to work scheme and facilities
• access to children's holiday play schemes across different locations in central London
• access to an employee discounts scheme
• 10 learning days per year
• volunteering opportunities (5 special leave days per year)
• access to a suite of learning activities through Civil Service learning

GDS offers hybrid working for all employees. This means that everyone does some working from home and also spends some time in their local office. You’ll agree to your hybrid working arrangement with your line manager in line with your preferences and business needs.

Any move to Government Digital 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

Things you need to know

Selection process details

The standard selection process for roles at GDS consists of:

• a simple application screening process - We only ask for a CV and cover letter of up to 750 words. Important tip - please ensure that your cover letter includes how you meet the skills and experience listed in the “person specification” section above
• a 60-minute video interview

In the event we receive a high number of applications, we will conduct an initial sift on the lead criteria which is:

• have sound knowledge and experience of financial and business management (financial, purchase-to-pay, procurement and resourcing practices) as well as an good understanding of operational delivery 

Depending on how many applications we get, there might also be an extra stage before the video interview, for example a phone interview or a technical exercise.

In the Civil Service, we use Success Profiles to evaluate your skills and ability. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, increases performance and improves diversity and inclusivity. We’ll be assessing your technical abilities, skills, experience and behaviours that are relevant to this role.

For this role we’ll be assessing you against the following Civil Service Behaviours: 

• working together
• delivering at pace
• changing and improving
• communicating and influencing

Candidates that do not pass the interview but have demonstrated an acceptable standard may be considered for similar roles at a lower grade.

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

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status.

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.