D2 / G7 Head of Financial Control

The role is responsible for identifying, impacting and maintaining standards to the overall control framework within the Agency. It provides advice and assurance to the Finance Director, Accounting Officer (CEO) Executive Committee and Audit Risk & Assurance Committee (ARAC).
This role will work closely with all other functions within Finance, as well as operational areas of the business with the successful candidate playing a major role in the production of the Agency’s Annual Report and Accounts and implementation of NAO audit recommendations.
In addition the candidate will work closely with Department for Business and Trade (DBT), His Majesty's Treasury (HMT) and internal policy colleagues on matters of strategic importance., Duties of the Head of Financial Control and team include:
+ Lead as the Technical Accountant to identify, impact and report on changes of Accounting Standards (IFRSs and IASs), Managing Public Money, Finance Reporting Manual [FReM], and the consolidated budgeting guidance. Directly working with all interested parties including the Finance Director, the Accounting Officer (CEO), sponsoring department (DBT) and HMRC
+ Lead on the review of financial health impacts and the identification and implementation of new controls to improve the overall control hygiene of the Agency, as well as reviewing the efficiency of existing controls
+ Ensure that the Agency complies with the Accounting Officer Standards (regularity, propriety, value for money, and feasibility) in all areas of operation. The role will be required to provide ad-hoc advice on existing or new processes and their compliance with these standards to the Accounting Officer (CEO) and Board.
+ Work closely with the Financial Accounting team to successfully produce the Agency’s Annual Report and Accounts on time and to quality standard, as well as ensuring that NAO Management Letter Points (MLPs) are addressed in a timely manner
+ Oversee compliance reviews and improvements plans to support compliance with the Government Functional Standards, Finance Global Design Principles, VAT and month-end processes
+ Oversee the annual delegation process and lead colleagues who monitor the in-year delegated financial authority process, This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and a 750 word personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Your personal statement should be no more than 750 words and should explain how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria and our values within the person specification.
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 interview.
We will test your experience as part of the application process, and if successful, you will be invited to a short interview where we will test your behaviours and technical skills. Full details of the selection process will be made available to shortlisted candidates once the sift has been completed.
Expected timeline (subject to change)
Sift – w/c 20/01/25
Interview – w/c 27/01/25
Location - MS Teams
Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process
Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of this if you are selected for interview. Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.
Use of AI
Candidates must ensure that their applications, including personal statements and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.
Further Information
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to Insolvency Service 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
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 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.
Transforming Workplaces
The Insolvency Service is currently delivering an exciting five-year transformation project that started in April 2022 which will define our future direction supporting a gradual migration to a Regional Centre model combined with smarter ways of working. As part of this, transforming our estate will align us with the government modernisation programmes making The Insolvency Service a great place to work.
We are letting you know about our future plans because if you are joining the Insolvency Service and are recruited into an office over the next five years that is not one of the Regional Centres, you will be expected to move to one of the Regional Centres in the future. This move would not attract financial assistance.
The 11 Regional Centres are : Birmingham, Cardiff, Croydon, Edinburgh, Exeter, Ipswich, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Stratford.
Hybrid Working
Insolvency Service operates a hybrid working policy subject to business need, giving people the flexibility to choose when and where they work and collaborate with others.
Individuals are expected to work from one of the office locations stated in the advert to connect with their colleagues, as required by their role and business team needs. There is flexibility to split the working week, spending a minimum of 60% in the workplace, which includes the office, site visits, court etc.
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 Insolvencyrecruitment.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 you’re 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.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
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.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records., A candidate can raise a complaint to the Insolvency Service by emailing the contact point for applicants (as listed on the vacancy advert), if they think that: They have been discriminated against under the Equality Act 2010 there have been procedural irregularities at any stage of the recruitment process All complaints must be received by the contact point for applicants within 24 hours from the date the applicant is advised of their non-success at sift, assessment or interview. Complaints will be considered by an independent third-party outside of recruitment campaign. The decision will be conveyed to the applicant, in writing, within 5 working days of receipt of the complaint. The recruitment process will usually be put on hold until the complaint has been resolved. Complaints may also be made to the Civil Service Commission at any time if the individual believes their application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment principles
(appointment on merit through fair and open competition). However, complaints must first have been raised to the Insolvency Service

+ Strong technical and financial accounting skills and experience e.g. IFRS.
+ Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
+ Strong understanding of financial control frameworks with an understanding of what controls can be used to mitigate risks identified.
+ A strong stakeholder manager; you will have the ability to build and establish positive relationships with a range of stakeholders to support the delivery of business outcomes and possess good interpersonal skills and communication skills, written and verbal.
+ A highly organised individual; able to work independently, in a flexible way and respond to competing priorities and challenges.
+ Experience of line management.
Desirable Skills
+ Experience of implementing improvement plans to enhance compliance with Functional Standards.
+ Experience and knowledge of reporting requirements within central government e.g. FReM, CBG and MpM
+ Previous audit experience would be useful in the role, though it is not a prerequisite.
+ Experience of preparing submissions and papers for senior forums, e.g., Board, Audit Committee, etc
Essential Criteria
+ Fully qualified and active membership with a CCAB or CIMA professional body., Full CCAB or CIMA qualification, + Communicating and Influencing
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Changing and Improving
+ Seeing the Big Picture

Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
+ Technical Skills test presentation

The Insolvency Service is a leading Government agency which plays a crucial role in providing essential services to the public and to business. The work we do is important to the proper functioning of markets, the economy in general and support for thousands of people each year who are in financial difficulty.
Join the Finance, Commercial, Sustainability and Property Directorate (FCSP) at the Insolvency Service!
Do you have a passion for finance and a desire to make a real impact?
The Agency is seeking to recruit the Head of Financial Control within our Finance, Commercial, Sustainability & Property Directorate. This role reports to the Head of Core Finance and has line management responsibilities of 2 C2/SEO staff.
The work within this team is unique and at the heart of the Insolvency Service Finance team, it offers flexibility and the opportunity to learn transformational skills.
Inclusive and diverse teams are important to us. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups underrepresented in our workforce. The Insolvency Service strives to ensure that the agency is a safe, inclusive and welcoming place for everybody to bring their true self to work and to help the agency to achieve its diversity objectives. We have 10 active employee network groups available to join or become an ally, these include, Carers Network, Disability & Health, FACES Network Group, Grass Roots, LGBT+, Mind Matters, No Limits, Part Time Workers, The Shed, and Women’s Network Group.
We offer full-time, part-time, job share and flexible ways of working. We value capability, technical skills and experience and we place great emphasis on lifetime development to support our people. We encourage our employees to become more involved in areas they feel strongly about, whether it be for the benefit of the agency, though our Engagement network or in their own local communities via volunteering opportunities.
The Insolvency Service is a great place to work, learn and grow your career!

£51,518
£51,518 - £58,828 (National) £53,400 - £61,588 (London) Please note that negotiations for the Insolvency Service 2023 and 2024 Pay Awards are still ongoing. We will update this information in future adverts once the pay awards are finalised.
RRA allowance is in place. The amount will depend on the candidate's skills / experience.
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP, Alongside your salary of £51,518, Insolvency Service contributes £14,924 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
We want you to have a good work-life balance and want to support you in all that you do, so we offer a great benefits package including:
+ flexible working arrangements and flexi-time
+ full time new entrants to the Civil Service and those Civil Servants on modernised terms and conditions will be entitled to 25 days leave increasing on a sliding scale to 30 days after 5 years’ service
+ in addition to this you are entitled to 8 public/bank holidays plus an additional day of privilege leave
+ competitive maternity, paternity and parental leave
+ 5 days paid leave for learning and development
+ 5 days paid for volunteering
+ a Cycle to work scheme
+ staff have access to an employee assistance programme, Workplace Wellness, for confidential, independent support and advice during difficult times in either their professional or personal life