About the job

Job summary

Finance Support Officer

SEO National - £38,724 - £44,393

Based at UKHSA Porton Down – site-based

Permanent Contract

 

Finance Support Officer

Do you have a strong background in finance and accounting, with experience in managing budgets, payments, and audits in a complex and dynamic environment? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you!

As the Finance Support Officer, you will be part of the Estates, Engineering and Facilities (EEF) department, which is responsible for the engineering function comprising maintenance, validation, and calibration of assets, as well as repairs and capital work. You will report directly to the Operations Manager and work collaboratively with the EEF team to implement and maintain financial tools, processes, and procedures. You will ensure the EEF team follows the UKHSA finance and procedures and adheres to the Engineering Policy.

You will also prepare financial management reports and satisfy the regulatory requirements of internal and external auditors. You will monitor and process payments with the supply chain and the PMC and support the EEF team with funding for operational and business-critical needs. You will communicate proactively and professionally with customers and stakeholders at all levels.

 

Location

Based at UKHSA – Full-time on-site

*Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.* 

 

Working Pattern – Full Time

Job description

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

• Lead op-ex budget preparation and work with UKHSA stakeholders to set departmental financial objectives and targets.
• Monitor op-ex budgetary expenditure and seek necessary approval from line manager.
• Provide monthly financial reconciliation reporting to EEF management team.
• Contribute to financial reconciliation and year end account management and reporting
• Verify invoices and supporting information to facilitate approval processes.
• Facilitate work/ purchase order processing and approval processing.
• Lead cap-ex budget preparation and work with UKHSA stakeholders to secure funding in response to asset life cycle replacement plan, forward maintenance plan and any other forecasted cap-ex expenditure initiatives.
• Comply with payment and other financial contractual terms and conditions between UKHSA and supply chain.
• To line manage or supervise colleagues as required
• Comply with UKHSA financial controls and procedures.
• Comply with UKHSA financial management electronic systems

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.

Please see job description attached for full list of duties and competencies associated with the post.

Person specification

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 1000 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the essential criteria (for full details of all essential criteria please refer to the attached job description):

Essential

• A professional qualification in accountancy or an alternative qualification that is relevant to the job (Support with study towards CCAB qualification available) or equivalent experience within a similar role
• Experience in financial accounting, budget management, and financial processing
• Knowledge and experience in using MS Excel and financial management systems and databases.
• Excellent numerical and analytical skills
• Interpersonal skills, able to build effective working relationships at all levels and between organisations
• Communication skills with ability to communicate clearly in verbal and written form with direct reports, line manager and other stakeholders at all levels

Desirable

• MSc in a relevant subject
• Experience in a highly regulated industry and conversant with financial auditing and compliance requirements, preferably in the public sector
• Experience of direct supervising or managing staff
• Knowledge and experience in financial management reporting

Please ensure that your statement of suitability does not contain any personal identifiers such as Name, Gender, Location, Marital Status, Sexual Orientation or Religion. The UKHSA operates a fair and open recruitment policy.

Benefits

For more information on UKHSA please visit: UK Health Security Agency - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
• Range of health and wellbeing support

Any move to UKHSA 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 Childcare Choices , 30 Hours Free Childcare, Tax-Free Childcare and More , Help with Costs , GOV.UK

Things you need to know

Selection process details

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT: 

You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed in line with the full list of essential criteria as detailed in the attached job description – please do provide evidence of how you meet this. 

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview.

STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW: 

This competition will involve an in-person interview

As part of the process, candidates will be invited to interview which will involve an in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification. 

Your Statement of Suitability should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section).

You will also be asked to provide information within the ‘Employer/ Activity history’ section of the application form. This is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV, setting out your career history.

The Success Profiles framework will be used to assess and recruit the most suitable candidate.  The following behaviours will be used at the interview:

• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
  
  

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 10th March 2024 – unfortunately, late applications will not be considered. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Shortlist: 15th March 2024

Interviews: w/c 25th March 2024

Please note these dates could be subject to change.  

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants)

Security clearance level requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.  Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard.  People working with government assets must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard checks.

For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, new entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. For existing Civil Servants and roles advertised across government, the rules of transfer apply, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive a 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest. 

Please Note

This role is to be appointed under Civil Service Terms & Conditions. Full details on the T&C’s are found https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

Are you already a civil servant, or employed by a Civil Service Commission accredited public body? Please state home department on your application form.

Do you meet the nationality requirements for this post? https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

Complaint process:

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: Complaints1@ukhsa.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website. 

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.