About the job

Job summary

The Company Law and Governance Directorate is responsible for the maintaining the UK’s legal framework for corporate reporting, audit and accounting. This framework is a foundational pillar for economic activity in the UK, underpinning trust in UK companies by providing reliable, relevant and robust information to stakeholders with an interest in their activities. In particular, corporate reporting allows investors to make informed decisions, supports the allocation of capital in UK capital markets and gives shareholders and other stakeholders the information they need to understand the choices made by company management.   

The field of corporate reporting and accounting is fast-evolving and we are looking for an experienced technical advisor with deep knowledge of the UK’s regulatory frameworks and standards to contribute to the department’s work. In this Grade 6-level role, you will be part of the Corporate Reporting, Audit, Business Leadership and Diversity team, offering technical advice to the standing policy teams that work on this area. In particular, you will offer technical knowledge of financial reporting standards, corporate governance standards, sustainability reporting standards and the Companies Act 2006. 

In this role, you will contribute to a wide range of projects and initiatives and you will be asked to be flexible in responding to Government priorities. The role will, in particular, provide you with the opportunity to shape the future of sustainability reporting and assurance in the UK, including the UK’s future approach to international sustainability standards, climate transition plans and to the development of a UK ‘Green Taxonomy’. You will also be asked to contribute to the team’s learning and development, teaching younger colleagues about the standards and processes that companies undergo when producing corporate reports.  

This role will also give you the opportunity to engage with a wide range of stakeholders and the successful candidate will be able to speak confidently on technical reporting matters with counterparts in the regulatory community, both domestically and internationally, and with reporting experts within UK companies. You will also collaborate with other colleagues in DBT, and with other Whitehall departments. The team works most closely with HM Treasury, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs, the Financial Reporting Council and the UK Endorsement Board.

Job description

DBT welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds and this role is open to candidates on secondment, with the option of employer salary supplement.   If a candidate is seeking the role on secondment, they cannot be a partner or employee of an audit firm or a practicing auditor or a person who is contracted to provide consultancy, audit or other assurance services in connection with financial or sustainability reporting. 

This role may evolve over time as new issues and ministerial priorities arise in this area. However, the areas of priority for the current postholder are: 

• Supporting Senior Civil Servants oversee the work of the UK Endorsement Board 

• Providing technical advice in relation to the development of sustainability reporting in the UK, with a particular focus on the International Sustainability Reporting Standards, Climate Transition Plans and the UK Green Taxonomy. 

• Providing technical advice in relation to the assurance of sustainability reporting. 

• Providing technical advice in relation to the UK’s non-financial reporting framework 

• To teach and upskill policy colleagues throughout Government on legal frameworks and concepts relating to accounting and financial reporting.

Person specification

Essential Criteria 

• Deep technical knowledge of financial reporting, corporate governance and auditing in the United Kingdom. The candidate should have a strong understanding of International Accounting Standards and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. 
• Experience working as preparer of financial accounts or as an audit or assurer of financial information. 
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues within DBT, across Government and within external organisations, to build strong working relationships and communicate DBT’s positions effectively. 

Desirable Criteria  

We would welcome candidates with experience working within a UK financial regulator or standard-setter. In particular, we would welcome individuals who hold knowledge of the Financial Conduct Authority’s disclosure rules for Listed Companies, the Financial Reporting Authority’s Governance and Stewardship Code and the work of the UK Endorsement Board.

Personal Attributes & Skills 

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical concepts to non-specialist audiences. 

• The ability to see the bigger picture for your work, including anticipating risks and political perspectives on your policy area. 

• The ability to make well-reasoned recommendations to seniors, based on evidence and sound logic. 

• Strong organisational and time management skills. 

• Collaborative approach and strong interpersonal skills. 

• Flexibility and adaptability, with the ability to respond to new issues as they emerge. 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £64,432, Department for Business and Trade contributes £17,396 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.

Interviews for this vacancy will be conducted virtually. We will, however, consider in-person interviews by exception.

Please ensure that you check your emails regularly as all updates from us will be sent to you this way.

After the closing date It is likely that the sift will take place 1-2 weeks after the closing date and interviews 3-5 weeks after the closing date though this is subject to change. 

To apply for this post, you will be asked to complete the following as part of the online application:    

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Provide employment history that relates to the essential criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages. 
• A Personal Statement of up to 500 words, explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential criteria.   

In the event that there is a high volume of applicants, a short sift will be conducted based on Personal statement only. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview. 

If you are offered an interview, you will be asked to give a short presentation. You will receive further details for the presentation prior to the interview to prepare. 

Reasonable Adjustments

We are committed to supporting candidates so they can perform at their best throughout the recruitment process. This includes making reasonable adjustments to our process. In order to request an adjustment: 

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section on the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. 

Alternatively contact the Government Recruitment Service at DBTrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.  

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

Candidate Support

You may want to join a virtual Candidate Support Session. These sessions include helpful tips and advice on the recruitment process, from application to interview.  

Please see attached Candidate Pack for further information on: Diversity and Inclusion; Benefits; Learning and Development; Working Patterns and what we deliver as a department. 

Further Information:

• A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. Reserve Lists will be for each location and appointments made in merit order based on location preferences.   
• Any move to the Department for Business and Trade from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments.
• The Department will not consider sponsoring a visa or issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship. We are unable to offer advice on any Visa and Immigration cases.  
• 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. Any applicant who has 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.  
• Terms and Conditions are attached.  Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
• Please note – the successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 18 months before being released for another role.
• This role may be considered as a secondment opportunity. Please reach out to the hiring manager listed at the bottom of this advert to discuss.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service /Disclosure Scotland/Access NI 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 

For further information on the Access NI confidential checking service telephone: the Access NI Helpline on 0300 200 7888 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email accessni@ani.x.gsi.gov.uk

Vetting

The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years. Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected. 

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

Feedback

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.