About the job

Job summary

Our priorities  

Optimise public R&D investment to support areas of relative UK strength and increase the level of private R&D to make our economy the most innovative in the world.  

Promote a diverse research and innovation system that connects discovery to new companies, growth and jobs – including by delivering world-class physical and digital infrastructure (such as gigabit broadband), making the UK the best place to start and grow a technology business and developing and attracting top talent.  

Put public services – including the NHS and schools – at the forefront of innovation, championing new ways of working and the development of in-house STEM capability to improve outcomes for people.  

Strengthen international collaboration on science and technology in line with the Integrated Review, and ensure our researchers are able to continue to work with leading scientists in Europe and around the world.  

Deliver legislative and regulatory reforms to drive competition and promote innovation, including the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill, the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill and our pro-innovation approach to regulating AI.     

Our Inclusive Environment  

We have an inclusive culture which makes the Department a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued 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 helps us be more innovative. 

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

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

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/departmentforsciencetechnologyandinnovation?  

You can also follow our LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/dsitcareers/    

Job description

The Financial Controls and Assurance team are looking for an outstanding finance professional with the required experience, skills and personal qualities for a Senior Executive Officer (SEO) Financial Controls role.

This is an important role within the finance function requiring the ability to work as part of a team and maintain the integrity of the Department’s financial controls and assurance.

The Financial Controls & Assurance team works collaboratively with other DSIT finance and non-finance teams with a focus on providing support and advice to management on issues that affect good financial controls and assurance. This includes working collaboratively with internal business groups and corporate services leads to identify and test any potential areas of weakness for improvement to improve assurance within the Department. We also work with external stakeholders to improve financial controls and assurance specifically, the Government Internal Audit Agency to identify and test any potential areas of weakness; the National Audit Office supporting value for money reports and the Public Accounts Committee supporting delivery of recommendations.

About the team

DSIT Financial Controls & Assurance is a central team within the Finance Directorate that supports the Core Department and its Arm’s Length Bodies.

There are various ways in which we plan to achieve this including improving communication and education around what controls and assurance means. We lead on corporate policies such as expenses and financial delegations.

You will have the opportunity to work as pace and stretch yourself through the ample opportunities to grow your skills and experience. We strongly support people’s career development and offer leadership development opportunities, as well as mentoring programmes, networking and peer-to-peer learning. 

The DSIT Finance & Portfolio Diversity & Inclusion team is award winning. We offer flexible working arrangements and pride ourselves on crafting an open, engaging and encouraging environment where we look after each other’s wellbeing and can all feel truly part of the team.

Person specification

• Leading responses to the National Audit Office (NAO) and Public Accounts Committee (PAC) reports and recommendation/actions to ensure timely delivery.
• Leading completion of Freedom of Information (FOI) and Parliamentary Questions (PQ) requests 
• Leading the monitoring of Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA) actions, working with GIAA and action owners to ensure they are delivered.
• Leading the annual Accounting Officer System Statement process and delivery.
• Providing professional judgement and advice on improvement initiatives
• Safeguarding the integrity of financial controls and assurance information ensuring that robust audit trails are in place, reviewing non-compliance and monitoring performance
• Ensuring that financial procedures and policies are fully documented and guidance is kept up to date including providing training and upskilling where appropriate
• Managing internal and external stakeholders
• Managing service delivery and monitor continuation of service and provision of management information
• Managing Department’s financial delegations
• Managing team inboxes including responding, prioritising, and escalating queries as appropriate through supporting the business on financial control issues, ensuring that appropriate government guidance has been consulted
• Working with stakeholders to review process issues and implement continuous improvement
• Clearly communicating changes to processes, ensuring that impacts on other business areas are understood and escalating risks as necessary
• Line management of one Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
• Completion of other ad hoc tasks as directed
  
  

Skills and experience 

Essential:

• Excellent organisation and prioritisation skills, including awareness of when to escalate
• Excellent communication and collaborative liaison skills with a strong focus on internal and external stakeholder management skills
• Excellent teamworking skills including work as part of a team and taking pro-actively independent responsibility for own area of work
• Effective at decision making, using personal judgement and a range of sources to make a decision or create recommendations
• Effective at communicating financial knowledge to non-finance professionals
• Ability to problem solve; to identify problems, provide solutions and implement them
• Ability to identify the audit evidence required
• Ability to work flexibly and adapt to changing priorities, whilst adhering to strict deadlines
• Ability to undertake data analysis and interpretation
• Motivated to improve processes and services
• Understanding of Government finance guidance including application of Managing Public Money
• Proficient in MS Office including Word and Excel (comfortable working with large data sets) and a willingness to learn Power BI
• Fully or part qualified accountant (CCAB or equivalent); or relevant experience working in a Finance, Audit or Assurance team
  
  

Desirable:

• Ability to understand and apply financial policies effectively is desirable but not essential
• Strategic analysis and insight is desirable but not essential
• Microsoft Power BI skills is desirable or a willingness to learn

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £38,860, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology contributes £10,492 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, Experience and Technical skills.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, behavioural statements, technical skills and a personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Please use your personal statement (in no more than 750 words) to please outline your suitability and motivation for securing this role with reference to the job description and person specification.

Applications will be sifted on behavioural statements, CV, and personal statement.

In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the lead behaviour statement (Delivering at Pace)

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, technical, strength-based questions, as well as a written exercise.

Sift and interview dates

Expected Timeline subject to change

Sift dates: w/c 15/04/24

Interview dates: w/c 29/04/24

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 applicants 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 Science, Innovation and Technology 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

DSIT 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). 

DSIT cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. DSIT 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.