Vacancy -- Senior Financial Analyst

Working for the Civil Service

The Welsh Government's recruitment processes are underpinned by the principle of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

Vacancy Details

Climate Change and Rural Affairs Group
Housing Regulation
SEO - £41,700 - £49,370
A starting salary between £41,700 and £45,970 will be offered to the successful candidate based on their skills, knowledge and experience and performance at interview. This range is not negotiable.
Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)
Fixed term
2 years FTA/Secondment
Pan Wales
'Pan Wales' means that the location in which the vacancy can be based is flexible, subject to the needs of the business. Please note it may not always be possible to accommodate a preference for a specific office location, but requests will be taken into consideration.
TBC

Purpose of Post:

Housing is a priority area for Welsh Government.  

The regulation team carry out the regulation function on behalf of the Welsh Ministers with the main purpose to protect tenants and significant public investment in the housing association sector in Wales. Effective regulation also ensures the sector remains attractive to private investors whose funding supplements grant for the development of new social housing in Wales.  

Senior Financial Analysts have responsibility for financial viability aspects of the regulation of a portfolio of Housing Associations in a dynamic and challenging operating environment. They undertake regular financial appraisals and assessments of each association to ensure they are financially viable and complying with the relevant statutory regulatory standards. 

The role requires the ability to develop effective working relationships with Boards, Chief Executives, senior finance staff and others, obtaining assurance and oversight of financial performance of the association. The role requires the analysis of complex information and the ability to manage difficult conversations in relation to poor performance and improvement expectations either individually, or as part of a team.  

Senior Financial Analyst report to the Head of Regulation.

Key tasks:

  • Reviewing the financial viability of portfolio of associations through analysis of management accounts, business plans and other related financial statements and information including regular contact with key finance staff at the associations.
  • Provide financial expertise to deal with more complex associations and leading on measures to address issues of financial underperformance quickly and effectively in partnership with regulation team colleagues.
  • Lead on the monitoring and assessment of innovative business or financing scheme pursued by associations and to input into assessment of new financial models and initiatives, providing advice to colleagues on the likely impact on housing association viability. 
  • Advise on key financial risks affecting the sector and assess the adequacy of associations responses to those risks.
  • Contribute to the development of the assessment model for financial viability and ensuring it is fit for purpose.
  • Analysis and presentation of complex finance and other data into formats which are simple to understand.  
  • Play a lead role in external stakeholder engagement relating to Housing Association finance, including attending various forums and meetings.
  • Identify and disseminate good practice within the sector.

Development opportunities:

The role will provide the opportunity to play a lead role in the regulation of registered social landlords in Wales, developing knowledge of housing association business and stakeholder relationships. It also presents opportunities to develop core civil service skills and to work with senior managers, other Regulators both within Wales and across the UK and to advise Ministers.

Closing Date:

06/06/2023, 11:00

Eligibility

Posts recruited to as part of this recruitment campaign are broadly open to UK nationals, those with right to remain and work in the UK and those that meet the Civil Service Nationality Rules only. Check your eligibility here:

Prior to appointment, all successful applicants will be required to produce original, acceptable documents as part of the pre-employment checks. If it becomes apparent at a later stage in the process that you aren’t eligible to apply, your application will be withdrawn, or offer retracted.

Equality and Diversity

The Welsh Government is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and which promote equality of opportunity. This is underpinned by the Equality Act 2010 and will be adhered to at each stage of the recruitment process. Our goal is to ensure that these commitments are also embedded in our day-to-day working practices with all our customers, colleagues and partners.

We are committed to being an anti-racist organisation and increasing diversity in the Welsh Government by removing barriers and supporting all our staff to reach their potential. We are committed to recruiting Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people and disabled people who are currently under-represented in Welsh Government.

We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, marriage and civil partnership (both same sex and opposite sex), impairment or health condition, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, gender identity or gender expression.

We are a Stonewall Diversity Champion and a Disability Confident Level 3 (Leader) organisation. Key to supporting this work and providing peer support are five Board sponsored Staff Networks (Disability Awareness and Support (DAAS); Minority Ethnic Support Network (MESN); Mind Matters (Mental health and well-being); PRISM (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex +) and Women Together.

Disability Confident

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

Welsh Language Requirements

The Welsh Government is a bilingual organisation and Welsh language skills are considered an asset to the organisation. We encourage and support staff to learn, develop and use their Welsh language skills in the workplace. 

The following list of language requirements represents an objective assessment by the line manager on behalf of the Welsh Government of the Welsh language skills required to undertake the duties of this particular post.

Desirable
Can read some basic words and phrases with understanding
Can hold a basic conversation in Welsh
Can understand parts of a basic conversation
Can write basic messages on everyday topics

Social Partnership

In Welsh Government, the relationship between the employer and trade unions is based on social partnership. We believe our goals can best be achieved by management and trade unions working together.

Our 3 recognised trade unions are:
•         PCS
•         Prospect
•         FDA

This relationship is underpinned by a partnership agreement. This sets out how our unions work with Welsh Government on issues such as:
•         pay
•         terms and conditions
•         policies and procedures
•         organisational change.

Our Welsh Government trade union colleagues work together to give their members a real say in the workplace. They make sure that the interests of their members are promoted and protected. They also help reduce inequalities and improve terms and conditions.

The Welsh Government has an excellent track record of working in partnership with its trade unions. We encourage staff to get involved. We support you to join a recognised trade union, to ensure your voice is heard in the workplace. and to learn more about trade unions and partnership working.

Competencies / Job Specific Criteria

Civil Service Behaviours

The following Behaviours and Skills will be assessed at the interview stage.

  • Making Effective Decisions - Display confidence when making difficult decisions, even if they prove to be unpopular. Consult with others to ensure the potential impacts on end users have been considered. 
  • Leadership - Ensure colleagues and stakeholders have a clear understanding of objectives, activities and time-frames. Consider the impacts of own and team’s activities on stakeholders and end users.
  • Communicating and Influencing - Communicate in a straightforward, honest and engaging manner, choosing appropriate styles to maximise understanding and impact. Ensure that important messages are communicated with colleagues and stakeholders respectfully, taking into consideration the diversity of interests.
  • Delivering at Pace - Regularly monitor your own and team’s work against milestones ensuring individual needs are considered when setting tasks. Act promptly to reassess workloads and priorities when there are conflicting demands to maintain performance.

Job Specific Criteria

The following job specific criteria will be assessed at sift and interview stage.

In your CV and personal statement, please provide evidence (including specific examples) to show how you meet each of the Job Specific Criteria for this role. 

  1. Ability to analyse and present complex financial data.
  2. An understanding of Housing Association Business.
  3. An understanding of regulation/inspection.

Assessment Process

There are 3 stages to the application and assessment process:

Stage 1 – Submit CV & Personal Statement

Please upload your CV and Personal statement (no more than 2 pages). We are particularly looking for you to demonstrate how you meet each of the Job Specific Criteria. You can find these in the Job Specific Criteria section of the advert.

  • Please note that we will be assessing your CV and personal statement against the job specific criteria listed below . Ensure that your personal statement identifies how you meet the Job Specific Criteria. (approx. 300 words for each criterion).

Stage 2 – Sift of CV

After the closing date, all applicant’s CVs and personal statements will be assessed.

 

Stage 3 – Interview

Interviews date TBC.

Candidates who successfully demonstrate that they meet the minimum Job Specific Criteria will be invited for interview.

Your interview will be based on the Behaviours and Job Specific Criteria outlined in the sections of this advert.

At Interview stage you will be asked questions which will allow you to provide evidence (including specific examples) of how you meet each of the Job Specific Criteria and Behaviours required for this role. You may be asked to give a short (5 minute) presentation to open the interview – if applicable, you will be sent the title/topic in advance.

Other Information

  • Unless stated otherwise in ‘actual starting salary’, all candidates will start at the minimum of the pay scale being appointed to (this includes existing civil servants).This is not negotiable.
  • Unless stated otherwise in ‘type of opportunity’, this recruitment advert is not open on a Loan or Secondment basis.
  • For more information on the eligibility criteria and terms and conditions for Loan and Secondment positions in Welsh Government, please see external recruitment candidate guidance.
  • Unless stated otherwise in ‘Location of Post’ the role/s recruited to via this campaign can only be worked in the UK, not overseas.

Benefits of Working in Welsh Government

Where can I work?

For a lot of roles, we are operating a hybrid approach to working - known as 'Smart Working'; this includes a blend of home and office-based working.  You may have the opportunity to work from home depending on the business needs and commitments for your team.  Your working arrangements will be discussed and agreed with your line manager when you join.

We will consider requests to work in specific locations based on personal circumstances like caring responsibilities or an impairment or health condition. Tell us your preferred locations in your CV in the ‘Location preferences’ box. 

By applying for this role, you will be willing to work in one of the following locations as your base office:

  • Cardiff, Bedwas, Merthyr Tydfil, Swansea, Aberystwyth, Llandudno Junction, Carmarthen

 

What are the benefits?

Working for the Welsh Government has many great benefits, including:

  • The salary range for this grade is £41,700 - £49,370
  • Individuals on Welsh Government terms and conditions will get 31 days holidays as well as 10 public and privilege days.  
  • We offer flexible working arrangements to help you get the right work/life balance.  
  • You will also be eligible for membership of the Civil Service Pension Scheme

Other benefits

  • Flexible Working – We support staff in managing their work-life balance through working from home (subject to business need and if appropriate for the role)
  • Working Patterns – Different options are available: Full Time, Part Time, Job-Share, Condensed Hours, Term-time etc. (subject to business need and if appropriate for the role)
  • Green Car Scheme – Which allow you to lease a brand new ultra-low carbon emission car and pay for it through salary sacrifice
  • Supportive Finance – Advance of salary loans for a range of situations including: season travel tickets, eye-care, IT equipment, Cycle2Work and more
  • Parental Leave – 26 weeks maternity/adoption leave on full pay and 15 days paternity leave
  • Wellbeing Time – Dedicated wellbeing hour each week for use in office hours. Whether this is a walk in the local park, yoga, meditation or gym, this is time for you
  • Pay – Competitive increments throughout the pay bands
  • Training and Progression - Access to training and development tailored to your role
  • Inclusion and Diversity – We encourage a rich and diverse workplace, where everyone feels able to be themselves, and no one feels discriminated against
  • Staff Engagement – We have a wide range of very active and welcoming networks including: Autism, Carers, Women Together, PRISM (our LGBTQ+ network) and many more
  • Safety and Occupational Health – Dedicated teams to provide staff with help and support needed most
  • Mental Health – Employee Assistance Programme and a dedicated helpline to support staff to manage their mental health
  • Up to date IT Equipment – Laptops with Office 365 will give you greater flexibility in when, how and where you work
  • 3 Unions – There are 3 unions currently active in our organisation
Lisa Amos - 03000 253 669 / 07970 036 587

How to apply

All applications for this vacancy should be made online via the Welsh Government's online application system.  If you have an impairment which would prevent you from applying on-line, please e-mail SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales to request an application pack in an alternative format, or to request a reasonable adjustment related to an impairment in order to submit your application.

To apply, you'll need to have an account on our online application system.  Click the 'Apply' button below, and you'll be asked to 'Log in' if you already have an account, or 'Register' if you don't yet have an account.  Registration takes just a few minutes to complete.  You'll need an e-mail address to be able to register.  Once you've registered for an account and logged in, you'll be taken to the online application form, which you'll need to fully complete and submit before the deadline on the closing date.  

If you’d like to apply for this vacancy in Welsh, please use the ‘Newid Iaith / Change Language’ link at the top of this page, to take you to the Welsh version of this advert, from which you can apply in Welsh.

For further information regarding the Welsh Government recruitment process, please see the Recruitment Guidance for External Candidates (link).

When evidencing your suitability for the post, it is recommended that you refer to the Civil Service Competency Framework (link)

Grievance and Complaints

Anyone who believes they have been treated unfairly, or has a grievance or complaint, about how the process was conducted should either write to the Head of Resourcing, Welsh Government, Cathays Park 2, Cardiff CF10 3NQ or email SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales.  If you are unhappy with the outcome of the complaint raised with the Welsh Government and feel that the principles of appointment on merit through fair and open competition have not been met you have the right to pursue your grievance with the Civil Service Commission.

This vacancy is closed to applications.