About the job

Job summary

The Integrated Corporate Services (ICS) is a new shared corporate service, launched in July 2023. It will provide corporate services (HR, Finance, Digital, Commercial, Security and Estates) across the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) and the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT).  

Our team of just over 300 professionals will be leading the way in how these functions will be delivered in the future. Our ambition is to be the leading provider of integrated corporate services for government and set the standard for quality, efficiency, and innovation in our field. 

Our Inclusive Environment 

We are building an inclusive culture to make the Department a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it will help us be more innovative and make better decisions.  

We offer first-class flexible working benefits, excellent employee well-being support and a great pension. We are fortunate to have a range of excellent staff networks and are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We will support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive. 

We actively welcome applications from anyone who shares our commitment to inclusion. We will fully support candidates with a disability or long-term condition who require adjustments in our recruitment process. 

Find Out More  

We regularly run events where you can find out more about the department and tips for the application process. You can sign up for upcoming events here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/departmentforenergysecurityandnetzero?  

You can also follow our LinkedIn Careers Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/desnz-careers/  

Job description

We are looking for someone to join our Finance Policy Operations and Contingent Labour team. 

The team within the Finance function in Integrated Corporate Services provides services to DESNZ and DSIT in managing the onboarding of Contingent Labour workers, administering the expenses and GPC policies,
providing support and advice to management on issues impacting good governance.

There are various ways in which we achieve this including improving communication and education around what controls and assurance means.

We review corporate policies (for DESNZ/DSIT) such as expenses, contingent labour, and financial delegations.

We engage with DESNZ/DSIT leads to identify how we can strengthen assurance, maintain consistent approaches within the departments, including by developing new management information and tools to help senior leaders assess performance.

The successful post holder will be able to deliver at pace, whilst working together with the Finance Policy Operations & Contingent Labour, Finance Business Partners, the GIAA and other key members of the Department, acting as the face of ICS.

A driven, collaborative colleague, with good attention to detail, the experience of working to tight timelines and the ability and communication skills to build strong working relationships at all levels across the ICS family.

The post holder will lead a small team working with a broad range of stakeholder both within ICS and across the department on topics that often require rapid turnaround.

The team sits within the wider Finance function and the post holder will need to be able to flexibly support areas other work areas such as Tax and FBP work.

Person specification

Key responsibilities

This is an evolving role so responsibilities may be expanded and changed to match the strengths of the post holder and fit within the wider team.

The core duties of this role:

Ability to provide attention to detail whilst understand the bigger picture and prioritising own and team's time.

Ability to work with multiple stakeholders where work boundaries are still in flux and develop collaborative solutions to new challenges, including being able to identify and drive forward continuous improvements in how ICS and the departments operate.

Have experience of developing and managing controls (across ICS and engagement with DESNZ & DSIT) and the ability to integrate these into wider corporate risk, controls, and governance frameworks. 

Ability to provide clear and accurate advice on complex inquiries and to lead the team in ensuring that advice is consistent between team members and over time, including working at pace where required. 

Ability to review policy / guidance and communications to identify weaknesses and variances from practice and to identify areas for improving systems and controls.

Assess whether controls need to be amended or whether policy / guidance needs to be adjusted and to drive forward those changes in a timely manner.

Liaising with the Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA) on reports where ICS has an interest.

Supporting any Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC) and Performance and Risk Committee (P&R) updates.

Acting as a team player, helping colleagues through busy periods and difficult issues.

Dealing with ad hoc requests

Providing assurance that controls and processes are in place and adhered to by departments, drive the culture of compliance in all areas within ICS remit and beyond.

Leading on specific assurance engagements in line with the corporate assurance framework

Keeping abreast of policy reviews and updates, financial delegations within departments.

Collaborate with Departments process and policy leads as required

Managing and providing impartial guidance to internal and external stakeholders on policy, process related queries.

Support Freedom of Information (FOI) or Prime Minister’s Questions (PQ)

Skills and experience

We would love to hear from you if you are a results-driven, collaborative team player, with good attention to detail and the ability and communication skills to build good working relationships at all levels.

The successful candidate will need to demonstrate capability and success against the following criteria:

Leadership – leading a small team dealing with a varied portfolio of activities.

Self-starter with confidence to develop ideas and lead their implementation’ and the flexibility to pivot to different challenges when the situation demands.

Ability to work at pace and identify key issues / concepts within written communications and datasets.

Ability to analyse and interpret datasets and identify both potential non-compliances from unclear information and link that analysis back to policy/procedures/guidance.

Excellent judgement including in grey areas.

Excellent presentational and drafting skills with the ability to present management information concisely.

Ability to work well as part of a team and to motivate and inspire others.

Develop collaborative relationships with key stakeholders.

Flexibility and the ability to respond to urgent requests from departments’ Audit Risk and Assurance Committees’ recommendations which ICS support.

Ability to assess all types of information, evidence, and identify the impact for non-standard transactions, or willingness to learn and Knowledge of how FOI and PQ processes work or willingness to learn.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £52,985, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero contributes £14,305 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, personal statement and a behavioural statement.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Please use your personal statement (in no more than 500 words) to briefly summarise why you are interested in this role, and your suitability with reference to the role specification.

Candidates will be sifted on the behavioural statement, CV and personal statement. 

In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the lead behavioural statement - Communicating and Influencing. 

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

The interview will consist of behaviour and strength-based questions.  

Interviewees will be asked to deliver a presentation; further details will be provided nearer the time. 

Sift and interview dates

Expected Timeline subject to change

Sift dates: w/c 20/05/2024

Interview dates: w/c 27/05/2024

Interview Location: MS Teams.

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

Further Information

Reasonable Adjustment

We are proud to be a disability confident leader and we welcome applications from disabled candidates and candidates with long-term conditions.

We fully support adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we encourage candidates to discuss their adjustment needs by emailing the job contact which can be found under the contact point for applicant's section.

We do not have an exhaustive list of adjustments that we support but just some examples include additional time to complete your application form, behaviour questions up to 72 hours prior to interview and having extra time at interview. 

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.

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

A location-based reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

Any move to the Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero  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 https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

DESNZ does not normally offer full home working (i.e. working at home); but we do offer a variety of flexible working options (including occasionally working from home). 

DESNZ cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign.

DESNZ holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service /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 

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.

Feedback

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.