About the job

Job summary

This is a fantastic opportunity for a talented individual to learn and develop a broad range of skills that will stand them in good stead for a whole range of career pathways within the Civil Service, from Intelligence Leadership to Operations Management strategy roles.

The Joint Intelligence Organisation (JIO) primarily supports the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC), the National Security Council (NSC), the Prime Minister and other key decision-makers by providing authoritative, robust all-source intelligence assessment on a vast range of national security matters.

The Capability Team's remit covers IT and technology, HR, finance, commercial, security and STRAP, intelligence policy, crisis management and estates functions for the JIO. There are two Business Operations Managers within the team working to the Head of Business Operations to ensure all these functions are delivered to a high level of efficiency and expertise, as well as driving projects on future innovations and capabilities that will help the JIO carry out its mission better going forward.

You'll work at the heart of the UK's national security community, regularly engaging with colleagues and senior leaders from across the Cabinet Office, UK Intelligence community and key 'Five Eyes' allied partners overseas.

You will be exposed to an intelligence environment working at the highest possible classifications within HMG, requiring you to help ensure the security of JIO staff and intelligence, enable delivery of the tools and services we need to get the job done, whilst also being on the front foot to help manage JIO's response to crisis events.

Your organisational skills will help you manage how the JIO operates on a daily basis. Your ability to manage multiple priorities effectively when under pressure enables you to respond to unpredictable requirements when they arise without losing focus and progression against longer-term goals. And your management skills will help you get the best out of your team, playing to their strengths and helping them develop weaker areas, whilst being a role model that echoes the behaviours and culture throughout the JIO.

You may be expected to work additional or extended hours with little notice during a crisis or critical incident, although this will be managed in line with your regular working hours and alongside others in the JIO drafted in to support those events.

You can read more about working for the JIO in the information pack attached at the bottom of this advert.

Job description

The candidate will fulfil a critical role within the JIO Capability Team, managing the day-to-day financial operations of the Organisation; leading on commercial relationships, managing expenditure and ensuring compliance with policies.

You will have exposure to some of the most high-priority work in Government, your expertise will help shape the future delivery of new initiatives and technologies at the beating heart of the UK National Security Community. 

You will also build relationships across the Civil Service, UK Intelligence Agencies, Private Sector companies and Foreign Liaison Partners.

Person specification

If your application is successful, you will:

• Work collaboratively with the rest of the Capability team, including the HEO HR Specialist and Capability Support Officers to provide exemplary customer service to stakeholders across the organisation, across all areas of the Capability portfolio. 
• Analyse and scrutinise actual expenditure data to provide confidence in our financial position and inform strategic decision making across the organisation.
• Be responsible for day-to-day expenditure and debt recovery; raising accounts receivable invoices and purchase orders. Ensuring prompt payment of accounts payable supplier invoices
• Month end process – working to tight deadlines to review, analyse, accrue and make accounting adjustments as required to ensure each cost centre reports accurate income and expenditure.
• Financial transactions and working with budget holders – undertake accounts payable and accounts receivable transactions, answer finance queries from internal colleagues and explore methods of process improvement to make financial processes slicker and more efficient.
• Compliance – ensure compliance with internal policies & procedures, financial reporting standards, including principles around managing public money and FReM. Answer audit queries as required
• Provide training, advice and guidance across the JIO to ensure that our expenditure is recorded accurately in line with accounting standards and Cabinet Office policies.
• Manage the commercial pipeline in line with Government Commercial Function best practice.
• Be the in-house expert and champion knowledge of financial best practice across the organisation. 
• Act as the supplier engagement lead for JIO, ensuring that supplier services are meeting our complex requirements and escalate feedback or complaints to appropriate parties.
• Assist the Finance Business Partnering Team in the drafting of GL Journals and the Credit Control Team in the recovery of Debt.

Skills and Experience Required

A ‘can-do’, assertive and proactive attitude is the most important asset we are looking for in a candidate. If you have a desire to learn, then we will invest in you to develop your skills and expertise.

• Experience in working within a finance team or environment. Ideally, you will have a good understanding of Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable and Commercial/Contract management best practice.
• Strong organisational skills, ability to manage conflict/ urgent tasks and manage expectations. The ability to remain professional whilst working and delivering at pace and a willingness to meet challenging deadlines.
• Experience of using own initiative to complete tasks to a high standards.
• You have excellent written and oral communication skills, with strong attention to detail and ability to work accurately.
• You will be highly IT literate and have good knowledge of Excel or Google Sheets.

Desirable Skills

• Experience of, or an interest in, intelligence, foreign policy and national security issues.
• Experience of working with, or a general understanding of Crown Commercial Service Frameworks, why they exist and how they work in practice.
• Experience or familiarity with using Oracle E-Business Suite or similar ERP platforms such as NetSuite or SAP S/4HANA.
• Experience using Atamis PM or similar Procurement Management software.
• Experience using QlikSense or similar Business Intelligence tools such as SAP Analytics Cloud or PowerBI.

We invest in upskilling our team members to enable them to thrive once they start working with us. As such, if you don’t quite match these desirable skills, don’t let it put you off applying as we will equip the successful candidate with them once they are in post.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £38,250, Cabinet Office contributes £10,327 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.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a name blank CV, 250 word Behavioural Statements and 500 word Personal Statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Your Personal Statement must outline your experience relevant to the role, including where you can demonstrate meeting the criteria listed for this position (500 words).

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

High-Side Evidence

Community colleagues wishing to submit evidence holding a higher classification are permitted to do so, although are requested to get in touch with the Recruitment Team on R28918 where they will be provided with appropriate instructions for doing so. The recruitment team must ensure that any supporting evidence submitted on alternative systems are redacted to remain compliant with name blind recruitment principles. Applications submitted directly to recruiting managers will not be considered.

Selection Process

Candidates successful at the application stage will be invited to a formal interview focused on the behaviours listed on the vacancy advert, this could either be face to face/online video interview. Further details will be shared to candidates if invited to proceed to this stage.

Sift and interview dates as well as the interview location to be confirmed.

This post is only open to British Citizens. Some dual nationals may be ineligible. The successful candidate must obtain Developed Vetting (DV) clearance if not already held. As they will have access to very sensitive information, there are limitations on travelling to a small number of countries and we will undertake additional security checks as part of the recruitment process.  Applications from candidates with close connections to certain countries may take considerably longer to process, or in some cases result in a withdrawal of an offer of employment.  Further details will be provided at the conditional offer stage.

Further Information

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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 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 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.

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 developed vetting (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

Open to UK nationals only.

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.