Finance Administrative Officer x 3

About the Government Legal Department

From energy to security, health to human rights, we help the Government deliver life changing law for citizens.

The Government Legal Department is the largest provider of legal services across government, working on high profile matters that are frequently scrutinised in Parliament and the media. Our work includes:

• Developing and drafting legislation
• Providing legal advice on policies
• Securing our economic and trade relationships
• Ensuring value from commercial contracts worth billions of pounds
• Providing the Civil Service’s employment law advice

We are at the heart of delivering the Government’s priorities and our success depends on our people.

GLD is a non-ministerial government department, sponsored by the Attorney General. We are headed by the Treasury Solicitor, our Permanent Secretary and employ nearly 3000 people, including over 2000 legal professionals. Our offices include London, Leeds, Bristol, Croydon and Manchester as well as overseas. We provide specialist legal services including Litigation, Employment and Commercial Law as well as advising most Government Departments on the policies and services they deliver.

GLD also depends on a range of vital corporate services. These are essential to the smooth and efficient running of the Department and provide the foundation to enable GLD to deliver outstanding legal services. Our corporate functions include Strategy, HR, Finance, Digital, Data and Technology, Communications, Security, Commercial and Project delivery. 

Our vision is to be an outstanding legal organisation and a brilliant place to work where everyone can thrive and fulfil their potential. This is an exciting time for GLD, with cutting edge legal work on global issues and a transformation agenda which is ensuring the Department exemplifies the Modern Civil Service. 

To find out more about what we do visit the Government Legal Department’s webpage or have a look at this short film which showcases the breadth of work government lawyers and legal trainees are involved in.

About the Finance Planning & Performance Division

The aim of the Finance, Planning and Performance Division is to ensure that GLD has effective business planning and sound financial and performance management processes that meet its business needs. The Division has approximately 40 staff covering transaction processing (accounts payable, customer billing, treasury functions such as banking, expenses and travel payments), financial and management accounting, planning, performance, finance policy, procurement and Bona Vacantia (BV) Finance.  BV Finance collect income from bona vacantia (ownerless) assets on behalf of HM Treasury.

The external reporting requirements places on GLD are the same as those of larger government departments, and in addition, GLD having only limited resources, needs to have a robust internal performance and finance regime to ensure we get maximum value for money for our clients. The variety of work offered by GLD’s Finance, Planning and Performance Division is very diverse when compared to finance roles in some larger organisations.

We also provide financial services to the Attorney General’s Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate.

The Finance Team is part of the Finance, Planning and Performance Division (FPPD).  Although FPPD is based in Central London, BV Finance is located in Croydon to provide finance support to the BV Division, based there. However, there is significant contact and interaction between the two teams.

The Roles

Two of the posts are in the Operations team, within Finance based in London and the other in our Bona Vacantia Finance team based in Croydon.

The successful candidates, among other tasks, will:

• Work with the transactional processing teams to accurately record our financial transactions (receipts and payments) in a prompt timely way, adhering to the rules and controls in place to protect government funds.
• Monitor the team’s inbox ensuring all enquiries are answered in a timely manner and prioritising urgent requests and more complex queries escalated to line managers to achieve a quick solution.
• Liaise with customers and clients to resolve outstanding queries.
• Cover the work of colleagues on leave when necessary and escalate any issues that might prove difficult to line manager, so urgent issues are not missed.
• Maintain constant vigilance for possible fraud.
• Deal effectively with routine problems seeking advice, when necessary, from relevant people to identify solutions to challenges.
• Communicate with the rest of the team to help clarify goals, and uphold a working environment that encourages diversity, inclusion and equality.

The candidate will need to be well organised, accurate, able to work at pace and will be expected to take the initiative to resolve problems and issues. It is essential that the candidate has a good knowledge of IT. There will be extensive communication with GLD clients, suppliers and colleagues across GLD by email, telephone and in person.  Well-developed communications skills are therefore required. Candidates will need to have an interest in government finance as GLD is keen to develop its team. If the successful candidates are able to demonstrate potential that is identified through the formal performance management (appraisal) system, there may be an opportunity to study towards professional accountancy examinations, which GLD will fund and support through paid study leave.

Successful candidates that are able to demonstrate potential identified through the formal performance management (appraisal) system and after completing their probation period, will be offered an opportunity to study towards professional accountancy examinations, which GLD will fund and support through paid study leave.

Behaviours

Below are details of the Success Profile that make up this role.

You will be expected to provide evidence to show how you meet the criteria throughout the recruitment process:

Delivering at Pace (Lead Behaviour)

• Work with focus and pace to get the job done on time and to a high standard.
• Use own knowledge and expertise to organise work and keep focused on delivery taking responsibility for the quality of work produced.
• Keep a consistent level of personal performance.
• Keep managers and stakeholders updated on how work is progressing.

Communicating and Influencing

• Communicate your views in a clear, constructive and considerate manner.
• Use an appropriate method of communication for each person taking into consideration their individual needs. Use plain and simple language, being careful to check written work for errors.
• Consider the impact of language used on different groups of stakeholders. Remain honest and truthful when explaining opinions. Listen and ask questions to ensure your understanding.

Managing a Quality Service

• Gain a clear understanding of customers’ needs and expectations.
• Plan, organise and manage your own time to deliver a high-quality service which gives taxpayers a good return for their money.
• Act to prevent problems by identifying issues, reporting them and providing solutions. Keep customers and all colleagues up to date with progress.
• Show customers where to access relevant information and support that will help them to use services more effectively.
  

Experience (Essential Criteria)

• Good working knowledge of Excel.
• Motivational Fit – Interest in working and pursuing a career in a government finance team, along with working for Government Legal Department.

Civil Service Code

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of you and other civil servants. These are based on the core values which are set out in legislation. As a civil servant, you are expected to carry out your role with dedication and a commitment to the Civil Service and its core values of:

• ‘integrity’ is putting the obligations of public service above your own personal interests
• ‘honesty’ is being truthful and open
• objectivity’ is basing your advice and decisions on rigorous analysis of the evidence
• ‘impartiality’ is acting solely according to the merits of the case and serving equally well governments of different political persuasions

These core values support good government and ensures the achievement of the highest possible standards in all that the Civil Service does.

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

Job contact :

• Name : Isabel Williams
• Email : isabel.williams@governmentlegal.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : activecampaigns@governmentlegal.gov.uk