About the job

Job summary

Business Unit Information

The Government Security Function (GSF) oversees the delivery of protective security across Government. Our Mission is to enable the Government to protect citizens and provide vital public services by understanding and managing security risks. We set the strategy and standards for Government Security, monitor departmental security performance, manage pan-government security incidents, support the delivery of key security capabilities and lead the Government Security Profession.

The Government Security Group (GSG) is the centre of the Function, based within the Cabinet Office. GSG is transforming the Government’s approach to protective security to ensure it is fit to meet the challenges of the digital age. This role offers an exciting opportunity to work in a fast-paced, dynamic team, with a breadth of stakeholders including in other Government departments, the National Technical Authorities and the Agencies, and to contribute to delivering improved security across Government. 

Equality and Diversity 

GSG’s culture embraces a diverse workforce: we come from all walks of life. GSG values the fact that our different backgrounds, cultures, genders, experiences and ways of working ultimately bring us together as a more effective team. We strive for a collegiate and inclusive working culture that means our voice at every level is heard. Each one of us has a part to play in helping the Government to keep the UK secure. 

GSG also wants to do better at recognising that we have responsibilities outside of work – so that we not only work hard, but we work smart – whether that’s full time, part-time or job sharing, we work flexibly. We promote hybrid working with a combination of time spent in the office and at home, where appropriate.

GSG is committed to being an equal opportunities employer. We value and welcome diversity. We aim to develop all our staff to enable them to make a full contribution to meeting the Department’s objectives, and to fulfil their own potential on merit. We will not tolerate harassment or other unfair discrimination on grounds of sex, marital status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin, disability, age, religion or sexual orientation. We promote and support the diversity of our workforce, promote learning and development, and celebrate our successes.

Job description

Role information

The post-holder will help develop finance capability across the group and deliver all aspects of the in-year financial management across a range of programmes and funding areas. This is an essential role to manage the funding that will enable Government Security to deliver its strategic priorities and long-term vision. As such it gives an opportunity to be visible and support the senior leadership team through the provision of credible analysis and assurance.

Acting at the heart of Government Security, the post holder will be responsible for all aspects of financial management within the group, developing appropriate reports to ensure key decision-makers have good quality information and insight and ensuring adherence to internal controls and corporate reporting. 

Government Security has an exciting vision to deliver over the next five years and this role is a key business partner to ensure the group has the right resources to deliver.

Key areas of responsibility

The post holder will be responsible for:

• Continue to develop the Government Security Groups financial management processes, working with the business and finance colleagues to enable first line of compliance with all relevant controls. The post holder will be required to work across a wide range of stakeholders, to improve understanding and build capability. GSG manages a significant programme portfolio and this requires flexibility to meet the changing demands of the group.
• Lead financial planning linked to the wider Departmental process, working with the team and wider stakeholders to prepare affordable and credible budgets. Identify areas of financial risk and opportunity associated with budgets.
• Analyse and lead the corporate reporting to ensure accurate and credible actuals and forecasts are provided on a monthly basis. This will include working with colleagues to build your understanding of the business and developing appropriate management information and analysis to test robustness and communicate financial results across GSG. 
• Act as a business partner to provide financial advice to stakeholders, identifying areas of financial risk or opportunities and providing credible options for mitigating them.
• Manage the transfer in/out of financial commitments/budgets, including overseeing all income for shared services are received from customers. GSG has a complex funding structure so it will be vital to work closely with senior managers to understand priorities.
• Manage a small team to help deliver the above. Further develop and grow the team as needed to deliver the changing priorities of the Government Security Group. It will be important to ensure members of the team have the appropriate skills and capacity to reach their potential and build a culture of ongoing improvement and innovation throughout the team.   

Person specification

Essential skills and experience:

• A recognised professional accounting qualification (part qualified will be considered);
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills working collaboratively across a breadth of internal and external stakeholders to build trust and credibility; 
• Strong analytical and reporting skills to understand, test robustness, accuracy and report the financial performance of GSG;
• Ability to prepare and coordinate input towards financial reporting and budget processes working across a range of stakeholders, including the preparation of reports and relevant communication material.
• Ability to effectively manage competing demands, ensuring continuous progress across a range of responsibilities.
• Ability to understand a range of information sources and extract and distil into the key points.

Desirable skills and experience:

• An understanding of government finance and the control processes for public spending;
• Working knowledge of security (cyber, physical and / or personnel security) and / or experience of working in a security-related environment

Additional information:

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £53,400, Cabinet Office contributes £14,418 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.

Application process

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, 1000 word personal statement as well as four 250 word behaviour statements. Further details
around what this will entail are listed on the application form. 

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour, Seeing the big picture. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview. 

Selection process

During the blended interview you will be assessed against your experience, behaviours that are contained in this advert and strength based questions, the strength questions are ones in which we wish to gain your initial response. 

In addition, there may be an informal brief presentation based on information shared in advance.

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – w/c 12 or 19 February 2024
Expected interview date/s – End February / Early March 2024
Interview location - Virtual

Further information

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

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

Any move to Cabinet Office 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

Please note that this role requires SC clearance, which would normally need 5 years UK residency in the past 5 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

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 or 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.

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

Reasonable adjustments

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

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.