Financial Control and Policy Advisor

At DWP we are committed to creating a great place to work for all our colleagues; an inclusive and respectful environment that reflects the diversity of the society we serve. We want to maximise the potential of everyone who chooses to work for us, we offer a range of flexible working patterns and support to make a fulfilling career at DWP accessible to you.
Diverse perspectives and experiences are critical to our success, we welcome applications from all people from all backgrounds with the experience and skills needed to perform this role. As one of the largest government departments, almost every individual in the UK is a direct customer of DWP at some point in their lives. DWP’s mission is to improve people’s quality of life, both now and in the future. We do that by focusing on delivering excellent services that make a difference to millions of people.
The Financial Control and Policy Division leads our external reporting work that includes the publication of six external financial reports, laying our Annual Report and Accounts prior to the summer Parliamentary recess and telling the story of how the Department delivers its services. We are also at the centre of supporting our Accounting Officer to discharge their responsibilities in accordance with Managing Public Money and to ensure the funding of the Department is compliantly secured.
The Financial Control and Policy Advisor role assists in enabling the Deputy Director and the senior team to deliver their top priorities and discharge their responsibilities efficiently and effectively. This includes engaging effectively with Financial Control & Policy’s (FCP) key stakeholders including ministers, Cabinet Office, Accounting Officer, NAO and senior finance colleagues across DWP.
This is a very fast paced role within a busy Directorate, you will be required to effectively manage several competing priorities and lead on workstreams involving Account Officer Advice/assessments., + You will need to develop good working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders internally and externally and be able to support the communication of technical and financial information, using the most appropriate methods. Proactively search for opportunities to improve processes and the activities of the Financial Control and Policy team, leading and facilitating problem solving activities, with a focus on continuous improvement.
+ Successful candidates can expect to be involved in a range of the following activities.
+ Manage administration on behalf of the Deputy Director and the senior Financial Control and Policy team, and Payments Systems and Financial Control (PSF) as required, including Financial Control and Policy teamwork tracker, workforce plan, organisation chart, business plan and Parliamentary Questions and Freedom of Information processes.
+ Maintain oversight of strategic events/communications on behalf of the Deputy Director and the senior team including tracking outstanding actions and requesting updates from key stakeholders to ensure key information/updates are accurate and concise e.g. Accounting Officer Advice, NAO requests and monthly finance updates.
+ Commission work within Financial Control and Policy team to enable effective decisions to be taken on management of the function and provide timely responses to key commissions from internal and external stakeholders.
+ Engaging subject matter experts on technical issues to understand issues and develop concise and effective briefing for the Deputy Director and their senior team, for example audit committee, programme boards, Accounting Officer advice.
+ Oversight and updates to financial control and policy teams risk, this includes working with senior managers and Directorate private office to ensure timely updates to the risk register and effective management of the risk.
+ Organising and running events for the team including regular senior team meetings, staff calls and conferences.
+ Contribute to Financial Control and Policy People Group.
+ Experience of Power BI for Demographic data retrieval.
+ Intranet publishing and maintaining SharePoint content for Payments Systems and Financial Control and Financial Control and Policy team.
The post holder is required to work in a flexible way and undertake any other duties reasonably requested by line management which are commensurate with the grade and level of responsibility of the post. This may also include working closely with other DWP Finance staff to develop solutions/problem-solve and engaging in project work to drive finance improvements.
Places for Growth and Social Mobility
As part of the Places for Growth Programme, we are committed to delivering a more geographically diverse Civil and Public Service that will better serve the public and ministers.
As part of this initiative, we are continuously reviewing how we recruit into each location.
Postings
Successful candidate will be posted in merit order based on your location preferences and the geographical requirements of the business.
A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made. Reserve list candidates will be posted in merit order by location., As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a Personal Statement of no more than 1000 words. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
The sift panel will use your Personal Statement to assess your skills and experience against the essential criteria listed for this position.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead criteria below:
Lead Criteria Considerable recent experience in engaging effectively with Financial senior key stakeholders including senior leaders and Executive teams.
Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview., A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to DWP 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 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.
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.
Before applying for this vacancy, current employees of DWP should check whether a successful application would result in changes to their terms & conditions of employment, e.g. mobility, pay, allowances. Civil Servants that would transfer into DWP from other government organisations, following successful application, will assume DWP's terms & conditions of employment current on the day they are posted, unless DWP has stated otherwise in writing.
The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. Applications will be screened and if evidence of plagiarism or copying examples/answers from other sources is found, your application will be withdrawn. Internal DWP candidates may also face disciplinary action.
Reasonable Adjustment
At DWP we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.
We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:Contact Government Recruitment Service via DWPRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the “Reasonable Adjustments” 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.

+ Lead Criteria Considerable recent experience in engaging effectively with Financial senior key stakeholders including ministers, Cabinet Office, National Audit Office and senior finance colleagues.
+ Considerable experience working in a Senior Leaders office supporting finance workstreams.
+ Experience of Power BI for Demographic data retrieval. (reporting)
+ Recent experience with managing risks for Payments, Data or Financial control or Managing risk, issues and dependencies experience.
+ Ability to work proactively and efficiently, and to thrive in a challenging environment and prioritising own workload.
+ Strong organisation skills and ability to forward plan - a good working knowledge Proficiency in SharePoint, Excel, and PowerPoint.
+ Ability to adapt to various tasks, manage multiple items and have a pro-active approach to complete tasks on time.
+ A team player who can work collaboratively within a small team and understand the need for transparency and effective communication., + Communicating and Influencing
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Delivering at Pace

Alongside your salary of £37,497, Department for Work and Pensions contributes £10,862 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
DWP have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:
+ Working patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
+ Generous annual leave – at least 23 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (pro–rata for part time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave.
+ Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme.
+ Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly).
+ Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 year’s continuous service.
+ Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes.
+ An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Women’s Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more.