About the job

Job summary

In DHSC, we are proud of our purpose – to enable everyone to live more independent, healthier lives for longer. To achieve this, and create a great place to work, we have four values: we are inclusive, we constantly improve, we challenge, and we are agile. If this sounds like an environment you’d like to work in, we’d love to hear from you.

The Finance Capability Officer will sit within a supportive, committed and sociable team, that are responsible for coordinating the effective running of the Finance Directorate, ensuring we have an excellent capability offer for our staff and high-quality administrative support.

The varied but exciting work of the team will give you an opportunity to work on a range of initiatives including delivering the L&D for both Finance and non-Finance staff within the Finance Function, developing a wellbeing offer and coordinating Finance participation in DHSC wide initiatives.

The Finance Function considers Capability to be a top priority, and you will have buy-in and encouragement from senior leaders to come up with ideas and deliver on initiatives to support staff development.

Your own personal development will also be an important priority within DHSC, and you will be actively encouraged to engage with Learning & Development to support a career pathway that suits you. Programmes such as Apprenticeships (both Finance and non-Finance) and attendance at Civil Service wide Talent Development Programmes are actively championed within DHSC Finance.

Job description

The Finance Capability Officer will support in the delivery of a range of exciting improvements and projects all linked to attracting, retaining and developing staff at all levels within DHSC.

This is a key, people focused role within the Finance Function and will tap into your passion for working with people and an interest in driving forward Learning & Development initiatives.

You will report to the Finance Capability Manager and will work closely with them as well as the wider Finance Capability and Business Support team.

The post offers the chance for you to work with multiple networks both inside and outside of DHSC including Government Finance Function, the NHS Finance Community and Learning & Development providers. You will also have the chance to regularly work and interact with senior civil servants.

Person specification

Role responsibilities:

• Support the implementation and delivery of the annual learning and development offer for the Finance directorate.
• Co-ordinate training sessions aimed at improving the finance skills of our finance and non-finance colleagues.
• Play an important role in the co-ordination of the Finance Apprenticeship programme for staff undertaking a professional accountancy qualification. This includes regularly engaging with external learning providers and updating the team’s databases on current student enrolments.
• Lead on the design and launch of a regular Finance L&D newsletter to inform Finance staff about upcoming events and opportunities.
• Support the Finance Capability Manager in monitoring the learning budgets: raising requisitions, receipting POs, tracking payments and undertaking monthly finance transactional activities.
• Help to co-ordinate a mentorship scheme for current Finance Apprentices.
• Work in a team to support the Finance functions involvement in the Civil Service Finance Fast Stream programme and other talent programmes.
• Collect and analyse feedback from staff to understand their experience of L&D that has been delivered. Communicate internally the areas for improvement and innovation on future L&D.
• Support the delivery of staff induction events including co-ordinating speakers and logistics.
• Work as part of a team to conduct the In Year Awards process for Finance staff.
• Support with wider People initiatives within the Finance Directorate including wellbeing, staff inductions and away days.
• Contribute to ideas on future L&D initiatives that we could deliver to the Finance Directorate.

Key skills and experience required for the role:

The Finance Capability Officer will have a strong drive to learn new skills and will be proactive at engaging with new experiences. We are looking for candidates who have:

• An interest in Learning & Development.
• Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to communicate effectively (written and verbally) with staff and stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong organisational skills and a proven ability to plan and manage competing priorities.
• Good competence of Office 365 including MS Teams, Forms, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Attention to detail, particularly regarding drafting internal communications to staff.
• Experience coordinating projects.
• Experience engaging with different stakeholders and building relationships.
• An ability to manage tasks across multiple different teams and/or workstreams.
• You enjoy working with other people to deliver results. You can work with different personalities and you know how to get the best out of colleagues.
• You can think on your feet and take initiative. You are comfortable making decisions when needed and are accountable for your actions and performance.

The following experience is desirable, but is not required to apply for this role:

• Experience in developing Capability/Learning & Development within a team or function.
• Coordination of events (virtual and in-person) for large groups.

Your personal qualities will be as important as your professional experience and we welcome applications from all backgrounds. If you believe you have the skills and qualities we are looking for, then we would like to hear from you.

Your normal place of work will be your contractual primary workplace, usually either London or Leeds.  Within DHSC we offer non-contractual hybrid working. The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time spent in the office, enabling in person interaction and collaboration and enhancing team working, learning, and support. 

You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas and some travel may be required across the DHSC estate. 

Opportunities for some working from home may be available; other flexible working options may be discussed with the hiring manager in line with individual circumstances and business need. 

There are a limited number of DHSC colleagues who have existing agreed homeworking contracts resulting from Our Future Estate Programme 2023-2024. Colleagues covered by these arrangements are eligible to apply for this role whilst continuing their agreed existing home working arrangement. Occasional travel to DHSC offices or other locations may still be required according to business need. Travel and subsistence will be provided in line with the pre-agreed homeworker arrangements.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £32,188, Department of Health and Social Care contributes £8,690 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.

Sift date: expected W/C 5/8/24

Interview date: expected W/C 29/8/24

Interview location: Virtual, by video. Further details will be released to candidates who are successful at sift.

The available interview slots will be released with the sift scores.

Applications will be sifted on Behaviours, CV and Statement of Suitability.

Please use your CV to set out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role. These can be found in the ‘key skills and experience required for the role’ section of the advert.

Please use your statement of suitability to (in no more than 500 words) outline how you meet the key skills and experience required for the role as set out in the job advert. 

An initial sift based on the Lead Behaviour of 'Communicating and Influencing' may be held if a large number of applications are received. 

At interview candidates will be assessed on Behaviours and Strengths. 

To find out more about working in the department please visit our page on the Civil Service Careers Website here and to find out more information on how to apply visit the Civil Service Careers Website here

Applicants who are appointable but were not successful in appointment to this vacancy, may be held on a reserve list for up to 12 months, and contacted if similar vacancies become available.

Please be aware that some travel may be required across the DHSC estate.

Please note that applicants will require BPSS clearance. 

Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.

Further Information

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

Any move to DHSC 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 dhscrecruitment.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 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 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. 

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. 

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.

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 role is being advertised on a permanent basis. If preferable, Loan or Secondment options will also be available for existing Civil Servants (Loan) and applicants from accredited NDPBs or any other employer (Secondment). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

erms and Conditions

Candidates should note that DHSC’s Terms and Conditions of employment changed from 1 October 2013. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the terms and conditions they will adopt should they be successful. 

New Entrants to the Civil Service

New entrants appointed in grades AA to G6 will receive DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions:

• Annual Leave: 25 days on entry rising by one day for each completed year of service to a maximum of 30 days and pro-rata for part-time staff
• Privilege Leave: 1 day - for the King’s birthday
• Hours of Work: 37 hours (net) per week for full time staff in all geographical locations, including London and pro rata for part-time staff
• Occupational Sick Pay (OSP): one month full pay/one month half pay on entry, rising by one month for each completed year of service to a maximum of five months’ full pay and five months’ half pay
• Mobility: Mobility clause in contracts allow staff to be mobile across the Civil Service
• Probation: 6 month probation period

Existing Civil Service staff transferring from another Government department, on either level transfer or promotion

All staff moving to DHSC will transfer onto DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions (as outlined above). 

Existing DHSC staff, appointed on promotion

If DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions are already held, the employee will retain those terms and conditions. If DHSC’s pre-modernised terms and conditions are held, the employee will transfer onto DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions (as outlined above).

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.