Apply Now
Details
Reference number
Salary
Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
Job grade
Contract type
Business area
Type of role
Operational Delivery
Project Delivery
Risk Management
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
About the job
Job summary
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is the department for economic growth. We support businesses to invest, grow and export creating jobs and opportunities across the country by promoting the UK as a great place for business through our global network of connections.
The Grants Delivery Team delivers a range of grant programmes on behalf of the Department. These include business support for large scale investments for example, in the automotive industry, the delivery of the energy support package to help people during the cost-of-living crisis, to small grants to individual businesses to participate in trade fairs. The team is also responsible for managing the reconciliation and assurance of the Covid 19 Business Support grants, including debt recovery. This is a fantastic opportunity to become part of the DBT team as we deliver our schemes. Our role in awarding and monitoring grant awards across a wide range of policy areas requires us to comply with the Government Grant Standards and His Majesty’s Treasury (HMTs) Managing Public Money to ensure best value for money, minimise the risk of fraud and protect the taxpayer.
We are a friendly and supportive team working in a fast paced and dynamic environment as our team remit expands to reflect DBTs needs. We need people who give attention to detail and understand how that contributes to our strategic delivery. We want people that can work proactively and collaboratively across our team and the wider environment we function in, and who can provide leadership and support so the team successfully delivers its objectives.
The team are based in several geographic locations across the UK and our work covers the entire UK. Accordingly, there is a requirement for travel for work and training purposes. Applicants must be able to fulfil the travel requirements and are expected to confirm this in their applications.
You will lead and coordinate the day-to-day operational delivery of an assigned portfolio of recovery cases within the cohort of grant schemes managed by the Grants Delivery Team.
The role will include the direct line management of staff. Given the diverse range of work within the team, a matrix management structure is in place. Whilst you will be allocated to a functional line manager, you will also work with other managers and across the team where required.
Job description
The focus of the role will be to maximise the return of recovered funds due to error, non-compliance or fraud and to assess referral for recovery of unrecovered debts identified by the Local Authorities following the closure of Covid-19 business support schemes.
You will need to demonstrate proficiency in working with large volumes of complex information and applying a keen attention to detail, flagging queries with a range of internal and external stakeholders are key requirements of the day-to-day task list.
The role will require:
- Liaison with Local Authorities across England / electricity suppliers / grant recipients on recovery requirements of grant awards due to error, non-compliance or fraud.
- Management of cases in line with our scheme Debt Recovery Policy and assessment of individual caseload using our established recovery framework.
- Liaison with Counter Fraud Team on caseload triage assessment.
- Working in close partnership with internal and external stakeholders to help develop process and practices.
- Referrals to external agency to pursue grant recovery from businesses using bespoke IT platform.
- Maintaining adequate records for the timely and accurate reporting of recovery status for the schemes.
- Provision of data & considered reports and advice to ministers, special advisers and senior officials, and SCS / Programme Boards on recovery performance.
- Liaison with Finance Team to ensure accurate and timely reporting and return of recovered funds to HMT.
- Line management and oversight of junior team members, taking responsibility for their onboarding, induction & probation, and continued development & progression.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
- Experience working in either a grant management role or financial or other assurance role.
- Line Management experience.
- The ability to manage conflicting priorities and meet challenging deadlines.
- Sound analytical skills and attention to detail with the ability to maintain multiple datasets/spreadsheets efficiently and securely. An ability to spot discrepancies with the initiative to investigate further.
- Sound judgement with the ability to work flexibly and use own initiative.
Desirable Criteria
- Experience of working with policy teams, other internal and cross-Whitehall interested parties.
- External local authority, private sector businesses, beneficiaries and stakeholders.
- A good level of proficiency with SharePoint, the Government Grants Information System (GGIS), UKSBS-Oracle and Excel would be an advantage.
Personal Attributes & Skills
- Strong and effective interpersonal skills coupled with excellent relationship management.
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to work simultaneously across different cases in your portfolio.
- Visible and effective line management.
- The ability to think strategically and consider the bigger picture.
- The ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team.
- The ability to deliver at pace, managing conflicting priorities and meet challenging deadlines.
- Sound analytical skills and a strong attention to detail with the ability to spot discrepancies and the initiative to investigate further.
- The ability to work flexibly across the Directorate within a matrix working model.
- The ability to meet the travel requirements of the role.
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
Benefits
£10,274 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%
We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including ethnic minorities, people with a disability, and people with gender diverse identities
Please refer to the attached candidate pack for further information on our benefits.
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.
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 explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential criteria.
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.
In the event of a large number of applicants, an initial short sift will be conducted on the Personal Statement only. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
As part of your interview, you will be asked to deliver a short oral presentation, details will be provided prior to your interview.
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.
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
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 Hamilton
- Email : christine.hamilton@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@businessandtrade.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
