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About the job
Job summary
The TRA is one of the first public bodies to be set up to meet the new needs of the UK following its departure from the European Union. We play a central part in ensuring that the international trading environment is fair as well as free, by protecting British businesses from unfair trading practices such as dumping, trade-distorting subsidies and unforeseen surges in imports.
We are growing to be an organisation of over 150 people, with our headquarters in central Reading. It is vital to me that we have a friendly, supportive culture, where you will quickly get to know who works here and where you will be helped to realise your full potential. We strive to be an outward-looking organisation, learning from international best practice and looking to add our own distinctive twist, such as developing our digital-first approach to trade remedy investigations. As an arms length body that is independent of government, we are passionate about living our values of integrity, expertise, transparency, and inclusion.
We are looking for professionals who bring relevant skills and expertise but who are also eager to learn and develop. Nobody joins the TRA as the finished article. If you believe that you have the experience and qualities to put your stamp on something new and exciting, we very much look forward to hearing from you.
Job description
About the role:
As a Qualified Accountant with commercial accounting and/or audit experience, you will join our specialist verification team who have responsibility for providing professional support to our investigation case teams in relation to the assessment of business and financial data. The assessment of this data is critical, and the conclusions drawn on its completeness, accuracy and relevance affect how it can be used in reaching our recommendations on appropriate trade remedies measures to the Secretary of State (SoS) for Business and Trade. This supports our mission to defend UK economic interests against unfair international trade practices.
Our verification function is similar to commercial audit and calls on some of the same skills and knowledge as are required in accounting, auditing, or commercial investigation.
Role Purpose
Working within multi-disciplinary case teams comprising investigators, analysts and lawyers, your primary role will be to provide specialist advice and guidance to our case teams to determine whether financial data provided during the investigation can be relied upon. Initially you will take on the lead role of verifying data in those cases but over time, you will ensure that investigators are upskilled in this key area and move to a more advisory role.
You will develop the verification strategy and plan, supporting the case team to form an initial judgement on the reliability of the materials received from UK and overseas parties. You will lead the case teams in the activities required to verify the completeness, accuracy and relevance of data provided including cross-checking against other data and through interviews with company personnel. You will have responsibility for ensuring the case teams form accurate, evidence-led judgements on the data. To do this you may need to provide hands-on support and coaching to less experienced colleagues, helping to develop their accountancy and audit knowledge and skills with the aim over time that Investigators will be able to undertake verification with specialist support and guidance from the verification team. These activities will take place during verification visits to the premises of businesses in the UK and overseas, and some are performed remotely.
Key Accountabilities:
Reporting to the Head of Verification and Assurance, you will be accountable for:
Developing a case verification strategy and plan;
Monitoring and reporting on the progress of verification activities;
Ensuring verification tools and techniques used for a case are appropriate for the investigation;
Providing accountancy expertise and advice throughout the lifecycle of the case;
Leading case teams in undertaking the financial audit activities required to verify case data supporting case teams on verification visits;
On the job coaching of investigators on verification activities;
Supervising the input of other accountants on cases and providing appropriate management support;
Potential line management for a part qualified accountant.
In addition to verification activity, this team is also responsible for training and upskilling investigators, developing guidance to help investigators address complexities during the verification process and providing the quality assurance regime for the verification process and products. As part of your role, you will be involved in:
Developing the quality assurance regime for the verification process and quality assure verification products;
Evolving our approach to verification in the light of case experience and reflecting it in our guidance and instructions;
Designing and delivering accountancy and verification training to upskill investigators, who are usually non-accountants.
Person specification
About you:
You are looking to make a real difference to the people and economy of the UK. Our work is as unique as it is far reaching; there are not many jobs where your input can make a real difference to the lives of all those living in the UK. If you relish the thought of such a challenge and utilising your professional skills in a new area of work for the UK, then we are looking for you.
You will be looking for an opportunity to build on or obtain knowledge of International Trade Regulation and get exposure to WTO rules and how these impact lives in the UK.
You are well organised and have a challenging and inquisitive mindset with a flair for complex data analysis, ideally forensic in your approach to detail. You will be experienced in analysing information presented and where appropriate, investigating further to ensure that the information provided is satisfactorily verified. You take pride in seeing a job through to completion, having high standards in your own work as well as in others who you may supervise as they undertake similar work.
You can engage, communicate, collaborate and influence, explaining technical financial and accountancy issues to non-accountants both within and outside our organisation. You will have excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to establish mutual respect and trust, building relationships with internal and external stakeholders as well as working as part of a team to achieve team goals.
You will be flexible and versatile and able to adapt to variations in work and environment, not allowing your effectiveness to be affected by change. You may want part-time work, compressed hours or flexibility over your working day.
If you believe that you have the skills, knowledge and desire to make a real public and societal difference, then we want to hear from you.
To be successful in this role applicants should demonstrate the following:
Essential criteria:
- Applicants will need a minimum of: Charter-level qualification from a recognised accountancy body in the UK or equivalent;
- Ability to provide accountancy advice and technical support in a delivery environment;
- Commercial financial audit and/or forensic accountancy experience;
- Experience in coaching and developing others, with a proven ability to upskill others in the workplace in accountancy and audit techniques;
- Excellent communication skills, dealing with senior internal and external stakeholders;
- Delivering to tight deadlines;
- Experience of working in a multi-disciplined professional environment.
Desirable criteria :
- Experience of preparing and implementing quality assurance policies and procedures;
- Experience of writing guidance for professionals;
- Experience of designing and delivering training;
- Experience or knowledge of trade remedies policy or investigations.
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Benefits
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Drop In You can find out about us and get more information about the role by attending one of our drop-in sessions. You will have the opportunity to talk to people doing the job and ask any questions, including about the recruitment process from application to interview through to offer. You can join the sessions at any point throughout the hour by clicking on the link below.
Apply
To apply, you will need to complete a CV and a personal statement. Your CV (up to two-pages) should set out your education and professional qualifications as well as your employment history, to demonstrate how you meet the essential qualifications and experience.
Your personal statement (maximum 1000 words) should provide detailed evidence demonstrating how you meet the essential skills and experience required for the role. (link).
Shortlist
The panel will consider your application against the essential and desirable criteria for the role. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview.
Interview
The interview assessment will consist of a presentation exercise and an experience, strength and behavioural-based interview. We use Civil Service Success Profiles (link) to interview for our roles. The behaviours that you will be assessed against at interview are Leadership, Working Together, Developing Self and Others and Making Effective Decisions.
Interviews will be held remotely by MS Teams.
Offers
We will notify candidates of their outcome as soon as possible after the interview.
Expected timeline*
- Drop in session 21 Aug 2023, between 14:00-14:30 Click here to join the meeting:, 4 Sep 2023, between 14:00-14:30 Click here to join the meeting
- Application closes 12 September 2023
- Shortlist 13 15 September 2023
- Interviews w/c 25 September 2023
- Offers w/c 02 October 2023
* Please note that we try and offer as much flexibility as we can but it may not always be possible to offer alternative interview dates.
Further Information
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to Trade Remedies 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
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 TRArecruitment.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 youre deaf, a Language Service Professional.
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.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
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Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
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).
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : TRA Resourcing Team
- Email : resourcing.enquiries@traderemedies.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : TRArecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
