About the job

Job summary

The Office of the Small Business Commissioner (OSBC) is an Arm’s-length body set up by the Government under the Enterprise Act 2016. The purpose of the office is to tackle late payment and unfavourable payment practices in the private sector. We offer a dispute resolution service for small suppliers in dispute with their bigger customers about payments, and provide general information and support to small businesses, and signpost them to other appropriate existing services. We aim to encourage a culture change in payment practices and how businesses deal with each other, and we are looking for talented people to help us achieve that aim. 

The OSBC is seeking an experienced and skilled finance professional to produce our Annual Report and Accounts and to lead our NAO and Internal Audits. The post holder will also be required to provide good financial management of the running costs as well as providing oversight and direction on Programme budgets ensuring accurate preparation of accounts, grant-in-aid claims and financial forecast. 

Your pivotal role will involve overseeing the production of the annual reports and accounts, contributing to the efficiency, resilience, and capability of the business, managing the organisation’s risk assessments, mitigations and register, and leading the organisation through external and internal audits. You will also provide finance and management accounting support and process the monthly grant-in-aid budget requirements. 

This contribution will be achieved through the implementation of robust assurance practices and fostering collaborative relationships with the DBT sponsorship and Finance teams as well as internal and external stakeholders.  

The post holding will also have line management responsibility for the OSBCs casework function and be responsible for ensuring the Small Business Commissioner discharges it legislative responsibility for complaints effectively. 

The successful candidate must be willing to travel to the OSBC offices in Birmingham on a regular basis (e.g. weekly).

Job description

Responsibilities 

Coordination of Internal and External Audits: 

• Work closely with internal teams and various stakeholders including the Department for Business and Trade Partnership and Sponsorship teams and the National Audit Office (NAO) to produce accurate and timely annual reports and accounts. 
• Organising and responding to internal audits.  
• Evaluating systems and processes designed to manage financial and non-financial risks, ensuring alignment with audit requirements.

Communication and Reporting:

• Communicate the end of year performance of systems and processes effectively to organisational leaders.
• Providing recommendations for improvement based on audit findings.
• Lead on the updating of all corporate reporting, including the Management Information pack and risk management system ensuring it is accurate, robust, meaningful, transparent, and easily digestible to aid decision-making and planning. 

Departmental Financial Reporting:

• Working with core Department and partner organisations in financial accounting and reporting matters.

Financial Management:

• Supporting in providing financial information or data gathering for FOIs/PQs.
• Preparing financial reports and management information packs.
• Handling finance and resourcing commissions from Cabinet Office and DBT.
• Manage programme budget and forecasts, also overseeing the production of accurate grant-in-aid claims for DBT clearance and UKSBS draw-downs. 
• Maintaining an effective financial management programme to ensure timely and accurate processing of transactions and payments.

Casework function:

• Responsibility for ensuring the Small Business Commissioner discharges its legislative complaints responsibilities.
• Oversees the casework team and establishing processes for effectively managing and reporting on casework.
• Line management responsibility for the Business Manager and the Casework Manager. 

Person specification

The person appointed to this critical role will have the ability to:  

• Manage and quality assure financial and non-financial submissions on behalf of OSBC. 
• Engage with key partners, internal teams, and external organisations to ensure a robust production process for the Annual Report & Accounts (ARA). 
• Ensure all technical aspects of the ARA production process adhere to HM Treasury guidance and the Financial Reporting Manual (FReM). 
• Provide technical advice relating to FReM to the Small Business Commissioner and OSBC Chief of Staff. 
• Collaborate with NAO officials, DBT partners, and other relevant stakeholders on technical and cross-audit issues. 
• Respond to audit recommendations from NAO. 
• Lead all aspects of audit assurance, ensuring compliance with professional and quality standards. 
• Respond to complex and specialised areas of an audit review, providing advice on risk, governance, and control. 
• Communicate with senior management using appropriate styles, methods, and timing to maximise understanding and impact on operations. 
• Contribute to the development of internal audit plans and processes. 
• Engage with external auditors, including the National Audit Office (NAO), to ensure efficient and proportionate audit processes are place reflecting the size of the OSBC. 

Skills and Experience

Essential Skills: 

• Experience of working with FReM guidance. 
• Strong presentation skills. 
• Ability to identify audit evidence, respond to complex audit reviews, and provide advice on risk, governance, and control. 
• A high level of attention to detail with the ability to work accurately and effectively to meet deadlines whilst remaining calm and focused.
• Ability to work under pressure and at pace.
• Good understanding of public sector accounting practices. 

Desirable skills:  

• Experience in the preparation of ARA reports for public sector organisations. 
• Advanced/ intermediate Excel skills and experience in using Oracle based finance systems. 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £53,560, Department for Business and Trade contributes £14,461 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 and Experience.

Interviews for this vacancy will be conducted virtually. We will, however, consider in-person interviews by exception. 

Please ensure that you check your emails regularly as all updates from us will be sent to you this way. 

To apply for this post, you will be asked to complete the following as part of the online application:    

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Provide employment history that relates to the essential criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages. 
• A Personal Statement of up to 500 words, explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential criteria.

It is likely that the sift will take place 1-2 weeks after the closing date and interviews 3-5 weeks after the closing date though this is subject to change.

In the event of a large number of applicants, an initial short sift will be conducted on the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.   

As part of your interview, you will be asked to deliver pre-interview tasks, details will be provided prior to your interview.  

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). 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.

Reasonable Adjustments 

We are committed to supporting candidates so they can perform at their best throughout the recruitment process. This includes making reasonable adjustments to our process. In order to request an adjustment:  

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section on the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process.  

Alternatively contact the Government Recruitment Service at DBTrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.   

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section. 

Candidate Support 

You may want to join a virtual Candidate Support Session. These sessions include helpful tips and advice on the recruitment process, from application to interview.   

Please see attached Candidate Pack for further information on: Diversity and Inclusion; Benefits; Learning and Development; Working Patterns and what we deliver as a department.  

Further Information: 

• A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. Reserve Lists will be for each location and appointments made in merit order based on location preferences.    
• Any move to the Department for Business and Trade from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. 
• The Department will not consider sponsoring a visa or issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship. We are unable to offer advice on any Visa and Immigration cases.   
• 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. Any applicant who has 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.   
• Terms and Conditions are attached.  Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.   
• Please note – the successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 18 months before being released for another role. 

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

For further information on the Access NI confidential checking service telephone: the Access NI Helpline on 0300 200 7888 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email accessni@ani.x.gsi.gov.uk  

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.