Senior Strategy and Planning Advisor

The SFO is the UK’s specialist authority on tackling the top tier of serious and complex fraud, bribery and corruption. We are a unique agency in that we have control of our cases from the start of the intelligence phase right through to investigation and prosecution of criminals and the recovery of the proceeds of crime.
The Strategy and Planning team ensures that the SFO is prepared for tomorrow, today. Through multi-year strategies and business plans, we work with the organisation’s most senior leaders to chart a course that works for the whole organisation – and we hold the business to account for delivering it.
The Senior Strategy and Planning Advisor will be part of a team with great exposure across the organisation, from the teams who are working on the most complex financial crime cases in the country to the senior leaders who decide what it means to tackle serious fraud, corruption and bribery in the 21st century.
As Senior Strategy and Planning Advisor, you will be instrumental in developing the strategic direction of the department and ensuring that it can deliver on its ambitions. You will have responsibilities in the developing and maintaining the SFO’s annual business plan and the delivery of the Annual Report and Accounts. You will be able to absorb complex information quickly and communicate effectively to a wide range of stakeholders.
You will also play a key part in developing the organisation’s horizon scanning function. You will be responsible for the weekly horizon scan and the identification, analysis and communication of threats and opportunities which could face the SFO in future years.
As a senior member of the Strategy Group, you will be responsible for creating an inclusive and high-achieving culture within the directorate, identifying opportunities for improvement and supporting others to develop., Working alongside the Strategy and Planning Lead to ensure implementation and oversight of the annual business plan and the SFO 2024-29 strategy.
Driving the annual reporting process, by ensuring delivery against set deadlines and acting as the first point of contact for relevant stakeholders across the business.
Further developing the SFO’s horizon-scanning function, ensuring we have the skills and tools to understand our changing operating environment.
Conducting weekly horizon scans to ensure identification and analysis of threats and opportunities.
Carrying out engagement across the organisation, championing the benefits of long-term planning and developing the organisation’s ability to plan effectively., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Changing and Improving
+ Delivering at Pace
+ Seeing the Big Picture
+ Communicating and Influencing
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
+ Changing and Improving
+ Delivering at Pace, Applications will initially be pre-sifted based on meeting the essential criteria outlined below, those who cannot demonstrate how they meet the criteria may not move forward to the full sifting process.
Behaviours, Essential Experience and Desirable Experience criteria as outlined in the job pack will be assessed during the application process.
As part of the application process, you will be required to provide:
+ A personal statement of no more than 500 words that explains how your skills and experience meet each of the essential experience criteria as listed in the job pack, and what you can bring to the role.
+ A supporting CV outlining your career history.
+ In no more than 250 words candidates must provide an example of Changing and Improving
+ In no more than 250 words candidates must provide an example of Delivering at Pace
Personal statement and behaviours will be used to SIFT.
It will not be possible to provide feedback to applicants who are unsuccessful at the application stage.
Interview stage
Interview will be 1 hour long, all interviews will be conducted online via Microsoft Teams
Behaviours, Strengths, Ability and Essential Experience criteria as outlined in the job pack will be tested at interview.
Presentation
You will be asked to prepare and deliver a five-minute presentation. The topic will be provided to you in advance of the interview.
The purpose of the presentation is to assess your ability to absorb complex information and communicate effectively to a wide range of stakeholders.
Behaviours
The following behaviours will be tested in interview:
+ Seeing the Big Picture
+ Communicating and Influencing
Strengths
It is difficult to prepare for strength type questions. However, you can think through your answers, focus on your achievements and aspects you enjoy and decide how these can be applied in the organisation and role. While strengths questions are shorter and we do not expect a full STAR response, the panel is interested in your first reaction to the question and information or reasoning to support this.

Alongside your salary of £40,178, Serious Fraud Office contributes £11,639 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Option to join the Civil Service pension scheme. For further details, click here http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/pensions
Generous annual leave provision of 25 days which increases to 30 days after five years’ service plus an additional day in recognition of the King’s Birthday and the option to buy or sell up to five days’ leave per year. Different terms may apply if you are already a Civil Servant.
Discretionary performance-related bonus scheme.
Interest-free season travel ticket, bicycle loan and cycle to work scheme.
Access to the Rental Deposit Salary Advance Scheme which assists employees in meeting the costs of deposits for privately rented homes.
Opportunities for learning and development.
Flexible working arrangements and family-friendly policies.
Voucher for eye care and discounted spectacles.
Access to a range of discounts through membership of the Civil Service Sports and Social Club, CSSC Sports and Leisure. http://www.cssc.co.uk/
Maternity and paternity leave provision over and above the statutory entitlements.
Access to My CPS Rewards Gateway. My CPS Rewards offers staff a range of rewards and savings including:
+ Discounts with high street retailers
+ Savings on grocery shopping at a range of supermarkets
+ Special salary sacrifice and recognition schemes
+ Reloadable gift cards and e-cards
+ Instant vouchers
Any move to the Serious Fraud Office 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, + Pre-Sift to start on 8th January 2025
+ Sift to take place w/c 13th January 2025
+ Notification of sift outcome 15th January 2025
+ Interviews are expected to take place on 23rd & 24th January 2024
All dates are indicative and subject to change.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
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.