About the job

Job summary

In December 2021 Baroness Heather Hallett, a retired Appeal Court judge, was appointed by the Prime Minister as Chair of the independent public inquiry into the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The UK Covid-19 Inquiry was formally established with full powers under the Inquiries Act 2005 in June 2022. The Inquiry sits independently of the Government with the Cabinet Office acting as the sponsoring department. Following an initial set up phase the Inquiry began hearing evidence in May 2023. 

We are now looking for an energetic, collaborative and experienced Finance and Reporting lead to sit as part of the Estates and Operations team to drive and maintain oversight of the Estates' governance, finance, and compliance responsibilities and reporting.  

This is an exciting role, offering the opportunity to work as part of an innovative team, in fast moving circumstances, to ensure lessons are learned from the UK response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Please note that candidates invited to interview will be invited to declare any actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interests which could affect the independence of the Inquiry, in confidence, to the senior recruiting manager. This may include current or prior work undertaken on the COVID-19 pandemic response. Decisions on any potential conflict of interest will be made before an appointment to the role is confirmed.

Further information about the Inquiry can be found on the UK Covid-19 Inquiry website.

Conflicts of interest.

Please note that candidates invited to interview will be invited to declare any actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interests which could affect the independence of the Inquiry, in confidence, to the senior conflicts of interest recruiting manager. This may include current or prior work undertaken on the COVID-19 pandemic response. Decisions on any potential conflict of interest will be made before an appointment to the role is confirmed.

Job description

The Team

The Estates and Operations team is an inclusive and close-knit team of five, led by the Head of Estates and Operations. The team sits at the heart of the Inquiry, overseeing the running of the Inquiry’s permanent and temporary hearing and office spaces, with particular focus on staffing and running the hearing centre during preliminary and evidentiary hearings.

We are looking to recruit an experienced Finance and Reporting lead to sit as part of the Estates and Operations team to drive and maintain oversight of the Estates' governance, finance, and compliance responsibilities and reporting.

The Estates and Operations team is part of the People, Operations & Finance (POF) Directorate in the Inquiry Secretariat, and works across the entire organisation. The POF Directorate also covers a range of corporate functions including HR, finance and commercial, and support and safeguarding. It sits alongside the Programme and Information Management Services Directorate, the Policy, Research, Analysis and Legal Operations Directorate, the Communications and Engagement Directorate and the Inquiry's legal team.

As part of the Estates and Operations team the successful candidate will be responsible for driving and maintaining oversight of the Estates' governance, finance, and compliance responsibilities and reporting, ensuring effective delivery.

Working to the G6 Head of Estates and Operations and alongside the G7 Head of Estates they will work closely with and through colleagues in the Estates and Operations team and the wider Inquiry, as well as suppliers and external government partners including the Cabinet Office and Government Property Agency.

Key to the success of the role will be building trusted and effective relationships to ensure delivery, working collaboratively with and effectively influencing key stakeholders (internal and external to the Inquiry) to ensuring timely reporting, effective financial management, compliance requirements are met, with a view to achieving delivering a quality service and value for money for the Inquiry.

The post holder will lead on all estates and operations reporting activities relating to the Inquiry that will include but not be restricted to the following key responsibilities:

• Leading on monthly finance, commercial/contract management, risk and compliance reporting for the Estates and Operations team and contributing to regular and ad hoc briefings/reports as required and input into the Directorate’s Operations Committee.
• Working closely with Finance and Governance teams at the Inquiry to understand reporting requirements for the Inquiry, setting up processes to collate and report on relevant Estates and Operations areas in a timely way, focusing on continuous improvement.
• Building and maintaining strong working relationships with the delivery partners and suppliers, including the Government Property Agency and estate leads at the Cabinet Office.
• Monitoring contract and supplier performance, implementation of appropriate commercial management tools and techniques to ensure delivery whilst ensuring value for money is achieved.
• Identifying and implementing opportunities to reduce cost and improve performance. Delivering the maximum value to the business whilst focusing on regulatory compliance, ensuring that solutions delivered have a whole life focus so that future maintenance costs are reduced as far as possible.
• Supporting the G7 Head of Estates in the effective running of the hearing centre and office spaces, including security, FM, cleaning, IT, AV, by providing governance and reporting skills, expertise and input, and occasional in-person support at the Hearing Centre in London.
• Jointly leading a small, currently London-based, team, developing a strong team environment so that the team works with those from across the Inquiry collaboratively to drive successful delivery of the estate, and ensure that any grey areas between team accountabilities are mapped, understood and managed. Possible line management of up to 3 SEOs. Travel to the London office (if based elsewhere) for meetings as necessary.
• Working effectively within the relevant governance mechanisms and controls framework.
• Delivery of wider operational and logistic priorities as necessary.

Person specification

The ideal candidate for this role would have the following key skills and experience:

Essential Requirements:

• Evidence of managing challenging and complex finance, commercial/contract management, risk, or estates compliance workstreams with a track record of delivering timely, successful outcomes.
• Resilient and tenacious in fast-paced and challenging environments, with a track record of focus on their own and others' wellbeing.
• A track record of developing strong relationships with, effectively engaging with and influence a range of stakeholders both internal and external - internal colleagues, suppliers and external partners eg. other government departments.
• A highly organised self-starter and natural problem solver who enjoys developing solutions to unique problems that may arise, as well as identifying ways to improve process and ways of working.

Desirable Skills:

• Experience of working in a public sector setting for example central or wider government, in an Inquiry, investigation or legal context.
• Relevant qualifications or training undertaken in finance, project management, commercial/contract management, risk, or estates compliance.

Additional information:

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £53,400, Cabinet Office contributes £14,418 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.

Application Process

Please upload a CV setting out your employment history and key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure your CV relates to the essential and desirable criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained.

Please also provide a Statement of Suitability (max 1000 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential requirements highlighted.  You may also choose to reference the desirable skills listed.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the Statement of Suitability.

Selection process
Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview

If you are successful in securing an interview you will be asked questions on the behaviours listed within the advert and on technical skills which may require a presentation. Full details of this, including the topic, and whether or not you will need to use visual aids, will be sent to you prior to your interview.

Expected timeline (subject to change)
Expected sift date – w/cc 22nd July 2024
Expected interview date/s – w/c 5th and 12th August 2024
Interview location - Video - Remote - Google

Reasonable adjustments
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 Services 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 a wheelchair access at interview, or if you are deaf, a language service professional.

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 that this role requires CTC clearance, which would normally need 3 years UK residency prior to commencing. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

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

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

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.

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 /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 

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

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter

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.

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.

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

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter

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 counter-terrorist 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.