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.

Those that hold a full CCAB, CIMA or equivalent qualification will be eligible for an annual market pay supplement of £7k. Contact the vacancy holder for more information on DHSC’s Market Pay Supplement Policy.

The Department’s Core Financial Accounting Team is part of the Financial Reporting & Statutory Accounts branch which is at the heart of ensuring DHSC’s financial results are captured on an accurate and timely basis. This is critical to enabling decision makers to effectively manage the Department’s £150 billion annual budget.

The Group Annual Report and Account is key to the delivery of the DHSC’s objectives, allowing Parliament to scrutinise spending within the Health and Care system and contributing to the Department’s accountability requirements. The Department and the Group accounts are complex. If you can imagine an accounting scenario, then it probably happens somewhere within the Departmental Group.

We are a team of accounting experts who are relied upon for our expert advice, guidance and we are known for the quality of our outputs. The work is highly interesting and provides ample opportunity for the right individuals to grow and develop within the Department's large and diverse finance directorate.

Job description

We are recruiting a Senior Executive Officer role in the Department’s Core Financial Accounting Team. This role is critical in enabling the Department to record an accurate financial position, in assessing our results against our budget assigned by parliament, in producing our annual report and accounts and enabling a successful audit.

This role provides an unique opportunity to be involved in the production of one of the largest and most complex sets of financial statements in Europe.

This role is stretching, requiring strong knowledge and experience of financial accounting and reporting requirements. It is suitable for finance professionals looking for a new challenge and an opportunity to develop their skills in a high-impact area that consistently ranks as the public’s number one priority.

The successful candidate would receive strong investment in their learning and development, opportunities to work on a variety of exciting projects and ample opportunity for career progression.

A full accounting qualification (CCAB or equivalent) is desirable for this role. Those that hold a full CCAB, CIMA or equivalent qualification will be eligible for an annual market pay supplement of £7k. We will however consider candidates who are part-qualified (with only the final stage of their qualification to complete) and who are actively seeking to become fully qualified. The Department is an authorised training provider with all the main accountancy bodies and provides study support where this is appropriate.

The successful candidate will be responsible for delivering a range of areas of responsibility including:

• Preparation of substantial portions of the Department’s financial statements, including disclosure notes
• Managing relevant portions of the annual audit process, including timely response to auditor queries
• Management and oversight of complex balance sheet accounting areas
• Support the wider finance directorate and Department with queries in relation to appropriate financial accounting treatment.
• Provision of expert accounting policy and guidance to finance colleagues within the Department, and colleagues in group bodies
• Responsible for the management of the Chart of Accounts

Person specification

Key skills and experience required for the role

Essential

• At least part-qualified (CCAB or equivalent). We interpret this as meaning only the final stage of exams remaining to be taken.
• Significant practical experience in one or more area of: financial accounting or the preparation or audit of statutory accounts.
• The ability to develop collaborative relationships with key stakeholders e.g. NAO, Finance Business Partners and wider business colleagues.
• Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels in both written and verbal communication.
• Expert understanding of applicable accounting standards (International Financial Reporting Standards).
• Excellent IT skills, particularly Microsoft Excel, the management of large datasets and the ability to interrogate accounting systems and other data sources to gather appropriate information.
• Ability to analyse complex financial data and draw well-reasoned conclusions.
• Excellent organisational skills and a proven ability to plan and manage competing priorities.

Desirable

• Full accounting qualification (CCAB or equivalent). Those that hold a full CCAB, CIMA or equivalent qualification will be eligible for an annual market pay supplement of £7k.
• An understanding of the financial reporting and budgeting requirements applicable to central government.
• Experience of D365 would be an advantage.
• Previous line management experience.

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 £40,025, Department of Health and Social Care contributes £10,806 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, Experience and Technical skills.

Sift date: W/C 08/07/2024

Interview date: expected W/C 22/07/2024 

Interview location: 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 CV and Statement of Suitability. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

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 also include a list of your relevant qualifications.

Please use your statement of suitability to in no more than 1000 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 CV may be held if a large number of applications are received. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

At interview candidates will be assessed on Behaviours and Technical Skills.

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 

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

Please note that applicants will require BPSS clearance.

Qualifications required for the role will be checked and verified by the vacancy holder as part of the onboarding process. You may also be asked to provide evidence that any qualifications obtained overseas are equivalent to those advertised.

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

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.

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.

Terms 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.