Apply Now
Details
Reference number
Salary
Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
Job grade
Contract type
Type of role
Finance
Knowledge and Information Management
Security
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
About the job
Job summary
This role presents an opportunity to work within the corporate centre of the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), leading on a wide range of high-profile issues and working closely with senior leaders within the Chief Finance Officers Directorates (covering Finance, Security and Business Services; and Grants) and throughout the wider department.
The Chief of Staff role provides exposure to strategic decision making on the running of DBT, the opportunity to lead on cross function projects with autonomy and responsibility and can act as a fantastic springboard to promotion and further career development for talented, driven and motivated people. This role will enable you to gain insight into a range of corporate issues across the department, work closely and learn from a senior leader and take responsibility and lead on a wide range of corporate policy areas facilitating high-level, strategic decision making.
The Chief of Staff will lead the current Chief Finance Officers private office team and build increased capacity and capability to take on these responsibilities.
Job description
- Lead a private office team, supporting the office to prioritise different demands and ensuring the Chief Finance Officer and wider Senior Leadership Team consistently receives high quality support.
- Work collaboratively across the directorates functions with implementing the strategic direction set by the Chief Finance Officer and the senior leadership team.
- Playing a leading role in cross-functional business planning activity, including the management of key strategic risks, the development of a cross-functional strategy and delivery plan for corporate activity and oversight of performance and functional delivery.
- Lead on various corporate priority pieces of work for the Chief Finance Officer. These will be determined by business need and the skills and experience of the postholder, but previously has included coordinating the publication of the departments annual report and accounts and facilitating other aspects of good governance within corporate functions and the wider department.
- Represent the views of the Chief Finance Officer with confidence and conviction to internal and external stakeholders.
- Build a close working relationship with the Chief Finance Officer acting with their delegated authority and providing sound advice to them on a range of issues.
Hybrid working
The role will be based in either Darlington, London, Birmingham, Salford, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast. You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process.
Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas.
Informal hybrid working arrangements will be available as agreed with the vacancy manager and in line with the requirements of the role.
Most DBT employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending 2-3 days a week (pro rata) in an office, on average. If your office location is London, you will be eligible to receive London weighting.
Appointments will be made to candidates in merit order based on location preferences.
Support in applying for our vacancies is available by joining a virtual Candidate Support Session. These sessions include helpful tips and advice on the recruitment process, from application to interview.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
- An ability to quickly build sound, high-level knowledge of the delivery of corporate functions and the business of the wider department, handling a range of issues with diplomacy, discretion and a can-do attitude.
- Have a strategic awareness of wider departmental, political and economic contexts, including being able to recognise how these could impact on your area of work and bring this to bear in how work is planned and delivered.
- An ability to identify and handle potential risks, knowing when to tackle issues directly and when to escalate, and demonstrating sound judgement in your advice to the Chief Finance Officer on a range of issues.
- An ability to build excellent collaborative working relationships across the department; tactfully, yet assertively, challenging (often senior) individuals when needed, and explaining the Chief Finance Officers priorities and requirements in a manner that helps build relationships and trust.
- An ability to lead a small team in an inclusive and supportive way that recognises individuals strengths, builds the capability of the team and delivers results.
- Have an eye for detail and an ability to work at pace, to calmly ensure effective delivery even during the busiest times, thinking on your feet to deal with unexpected events while also maintaining momentum on longer term priorities.
- Be a strong communicator with an ability to draft briefings, board papers and other internal communications in an effective way; an ability to prepare reports and carry out analysis that support senior-level decision making.
- An ability to prioritise and co-ordinate activity across the Chief Officers corporate functions and the wider department.
Desirable Criteria
- Previous experience as a business manager or working directly for a chief operating officer or other senior leader.
- Be a CCAB, CIMA or equivalent qualified chartered accountant.
- Demonstrate evidence of success in understanding and using accounting standards and government accounting regulations (for example IFRS, FReM and Managing Public Money).
Person Specification
- Flexible, self-motivated and highly organised.
- A confident communicator, comfortable working and engaging with senior leaders.
- Strategic awareness of the environment in which the department operates.
- A relationship builder that establishes mutual respect and trust.
- A motivator who is highly driven and persuades others to deliver for them.
- A degree of resilience to recover and learn from setbacks.
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Benefits
£16,900 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
- 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%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
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.
Sift will take place week commencing 28/08/2023.
Interviews will take place week commencing 04/09/2023.
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and a personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Please align your CV with previous skills and experience. Maximum of 2 A4 pages.
In your Personal Statement, please explain your motivation for applying for this role and the extent to which you satisfy the essential criteria of the role. Maximum word count of 500.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
For this role, the Department will not consider sponsoring a visa or issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship. Please note we are unable to offer advice on any Visa and Immigration cases.
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. If location is in England will be DBS, Scotland will be Disclosure Scotland & Northern Ireland will be 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
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 applicants 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.
Please note the successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 18 months before being released for another role.
The Department for Business & Trade embraces and values diversity in all forms. We welcome and pride ourselves on the positive impact diversity has on the work we do, and we promote equality of opportunity throughout the organisation.
Please note harmonised terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
Further Information
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to the Department for Business & Trade 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 dbtrecruitment.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 you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.
Vetting Requirements SC
All security clearances require you to provide evidence of your UK footprint where you have been physically present in the UK. The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for 3 of the last 5 years. Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected.
If you require SC clearance you will need to provide evidence of the below requirements.
Checks will be made against:
- Departmental or company records (personnel files, staff reports, sick leave reports and security records)
- UK criminal records covering both spent and unspent criminal records
- Your credit and financial history with a credit reference agency
- Security Services records
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
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).
Apply and further information
You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Christine PETERS
- Email : Christine.Peters@businessandtrade.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : dbtrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact DBT by email: Resourcing@trade.gov.uk.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.
For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission/Complaints.
