Finance and Assurance Lead

We recognise the challenges that people with 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.
Are you finance professional who is enthusiastic in working in corporate governance and risk management?
Do you have experience of working with auditors and negotiating on a range of audit issues?
If so, then we would love for you to apply!, Active Travel England was established following the government’s commitment of £2 billion for cycling and walking over this parliament. The finance team in ATE will be key to the effective management of the active travel budget and integral to supporting the Accounting Officer in meeting their responsibilities.
Within the Chief Operating Officer Group, you will be part of a multi-disciplinary team that covers, Finance, HR, Communications, Programme Management Office and Investments. We are at the heart of everything ATE does and ensuring that the Agency is successful in delivering its objectives.
You will be an important member of the Finance and Corporate Services team within ATE, leading the delivering of our external financial reporting requirements including the delivery of our Annual Report and Accounts, and the development of our wider control agenda.
You will develop a strong financial control environment working with wider departmental colleagues to ensure we manage risk, fraud, grants, VAT and our engagement with wider functional standards. You will work with external stakeholders including GIAA and NAO to build trust and credibility and work with others to drive improvements in our governance and develop innovative reporting tools for a range of audiences.
You will embrace the level of opportunity to influence how we do things, and the breadth of skills the role can provide.
We strive to create a positive and open culture where individuals and teams can excel and contribute effectively to the organisation., + Lead the production of ATE’s Annual Report and Accounts, and the group consolidation exercise within DfT
+ Manage the relationship with our auditors, ensuring a high quality audit plan is developed and audit issues are dealt with
+ Develop the agencies risk management framework and policy, embracing challenge from our Audit and Risk Committee and external stakeholders,
+ Work closely with directorates to embed risk management as part of decision making and constructively challenge their assessments,
+ Lead our counter-fraud function including the development of our first action plan and strategy,
+ Working closely with Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA) to monitor and track our outstanding actions,
+ Track and implement actions from the DfT group management assurance exercise, and lead future year responses,
For an in-depth insight into the role please refer to the Role Profile., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Delivering at Pace
+ Making Effective Decisions, + Experience in producing financial statements and assessing policies against accounting standards.
+ Proven experience of working with auditors and negotiating on a range of audit issues.
+ Demonstrable track record of working with stakeholders to develop new processes and governance tools.
The sift is due to take place from 2nd December
Interviews/assessments are likely to be held w/c 9th December
We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.
The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment will include:
+ An interview.
This interview could be conducted online via Teams or face to face at one of our offices. Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.
You’re encouraged to become familiar with the role profile, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within.
The Department for Transport alongside other Government Departments recruit using Success Profiles. This means for each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate in order to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.
For further information on Success Profiles visit our Careers website.
Reasonable Adjustments
As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes., 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 applicant’s 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.
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).
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You will have experience of working with financial accounts and corporate governance and be able to communicate effectively with a range of senior stakeholders including our Audit and Risk Committee to embed best practice in the organisation. You will use your accounting knowledge to develop policies and processes that enable ATE to develop. You will have an understanding of corporate governance best practise including risk management and willingness to develop into the role Authentic and enthusiastic communicator with the ability to understand and engage your audience. You have the ability to prioritise and manage competing demands, working under pressure to deliver results against deadlines., You will be fully qualified accountant with CCAB, CIMA or IFAC equivalent.

There has never been a more exciting time to working in active travel and Active Travel England (ATE) is at the forefront of this high-profile agenda. ATE will deliver the Prime Minister’s ambitious plan to enable half of all journeys in England’s towns and cities to be walked or cycled by 2030. It will raise standards of cycling and walking infrastructure in England by overseeing improved design, increasing skills and capacity in local authorities, influencing the planning system and administering the £2 billion cycling and walking budget.

Alongside your salary of £54,857, Active Travel England contributes £15,892 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Please note, the above example is based on the National minimum salary. The employer pension contribution will be 28.97% of your specific salary.
Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits. We offer generous annual leave, attractive pension options, flexible working, inclusive working environments and much more to support a healthy work/life balance.
Find out more about what it's like working at the Department for Transport