Vacancy -- Various Finance & Governance Posts - Grade 7

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

Welsh Government
Various Departments
Grade 7 - £53,440 - £63,900
£53,440
Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)
Permanent
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:

The Welsh Government is seeking to fill a number of Senior Finance and Governance Professional roles across the organisation. These roles are key positions within the finance and governance leadership community across an organisation which is increasing in size and complexity. These roles are essential for ensuring the efficient and effective use of resources across the organisation, including the timely and compliant financial reporting. The roles will help ensure our business is conducted within the most appropriate control environment, in accordance with all best practice standards and processes and our Accounting Officers deliver their personal responsibilities.

We are recruiting multiple roles at Grade 7 to support the Operational Groups charged with delivering Welsh Ministers policy ambitions and within the Corporate Centre to lead some of our technical financial functions. These include:

  • Senior Governance Business Partner (multiple roles)
  • Senior Finance Business Partner (multiple roles)
  • Senior Financial Accountants (multiple roles including Core Accounts and in the Groups)
  • Head of Accounts - Core

We are looking for individuals who are enthusiastic, self-starters who will thrive in a fast-paced and dynamic work environment.

All these roles require strong communication and influencing skills allied to excellent technical skills to provide advice, challenge and scrutiny to senior colleagues in your business area. These roles are central to the effective working relationships between business areas and the finance and governance functions to ensure ministerial priorities are delivered safely and effectively. The postholders will ensure that plans and budgets are well constructed, managed and monitored in line with Welsh Government ambitions, upholding a ‘best in class’ open and transparent governance environment. This will include the delivery of high quality financial and governance reporting both internally and through to the Annual Governance Statement. The postholders will support senior managers and accountable officers to deliver improved performance, reduced risks and better value for money. 

Your technical knowledge and ability to work constructively with senior teams will make you a valued contributor to the decision-making process and a champion for change within your business area, in support of Welsh Government 2025 our major change and development programme and in wider public sector projects. These post holders will need to establish and develop effective working relationships with a number of stakeholders, including the Welsh Government Centres of Excellence, Directors, Deputy Directors, Internal and External Audit.

We would expect all applicants to be able to demonstrate a high level of expertise in and experience of financial and/or governance matters in the public sector. Successful candidates will be supporting and presenting to Welsh Ministers or Director General led Senior Management Teams and will need to do this with confidence and credibility. 

All postholders will manage small teams of up to 10 colleagues comprising a range of grades from SEO Senior Finance or Governance Managers to Apprentices.

Candidates must be a fully qualified finance and/or governance professional with a minimum of three years post qualification experience, meeting either the following:

  • Be a member of a recognised accounting bodies such as CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants), or
  • Hold CCAB accountancy qualifications (ICAEW, ACCA, CIPFA, ICAS, CAI).

OR

  • Be qualified with a recognised governance body such as the Institute of Internal Auditors or
  • Hold the CIPFA Diploma in Corporate Governance.

Key tasks:

We are recruiting for multiple roles and examples of what these roles may cover in a week include:

Audit and Assurance 

  • Review and report on the findings of audit and assurance engagements across the business and liaise with our internal auditors on next steps.
  • Lead the annual audit cycle and build effective and constructive relationships with Audit Wales.
  • Support both Group and internal Welsh Government Audit and Risk Assurance Committees.

Corporate and Business Reporting 

  • Lead the teams in the preparation of Group contributions to the financial statements.
  • Direct decision making by analysing, evaluating and communicating financial performance and positions of entities.
  • Direct the Group’s response to fiscal events- including Spending Reviews and Draft, Final and Supplementary Budget Setting.
  • Lead the Group contributions to Programme for Government reporting.

    Financial Management 

    • Advise on current revenue and capital budgets and projects and ensure correct accounting and budgeting treatment. 
    • Manage the Group financial position to ensure Group and corporate financial management objectives are met.
    • Monitor the business plan and advise on the right strategies to manage performance in relation to financial risk.

    Financial Reporting

    • Provide support across Welsh Government to ensure the proper accounting for transactions, which are increasing in complexity and scale as the Welsh Government Group grows, and increasingly innovative ways of delivering policy are identified such as for property transactions. 
    • Lead the identification and implementation of financial reporting systems and process developments across Welsh Government to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Financial Reporting. 
    • Lead the teams responsible for the production of the Welsh Government financial reporting and delivery of a high-quality Welsh Government Core and Welsh Consolidated Fund Annual Report and Accounts including bringing completion dates forwards over the next three years.

      Governance, Risk and Control 

      • Own the risk management and fraud risk management process for the Group.
      • Own the governance elements of the Group control environment, ensuring adherence to Welsh government policies and practices, including year-end assurance statements.
      • Continually assess internal structures and governance arrangements to protect the interests of Accounting Officers and stakeholders in the long term. 
      • Recommend the right strategies or approach to ensure the organisation adheres to governance structures and apply best practice internal controls.

      Leadership and Management 

      • Manage and motivate people to optimise performance and effectiveness, including staff development and coaching of colleagues depending on the learning needs identified. 
      • Play an active role as part of the senior financial and governance leadership team in the Directorate, Group and Welsh Government.
      • Be proactive and strategic in anticipating organisational needs while recognising the wider business environment.  

      Strategy and Innovation 

      • Work with key stakeholders to develop a robust medium term financial plan to enable the organisation to respond quickly to fiscal events.
      • Be a key part of the Group’s plans to take forward Welsh Government 2025 and help shape our plans and approach to future financial management, reporting and governance.

      Development opportunities:

      The roles will provide significant opportunities for both personal and professional development supporting innovative policy development and delivery and the expert corporate functions essential for all well run organisations. The breadth of responsibilities also provides the opportunity to influence and support key business functions as well as contribute to improving financial capability, governance and decision making in Welsh Government.

      Closing Date:

      12/06/2023, 16:00

      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 simple material on everyday topics with understanding
      Can hold simple work-related conversations
      Can understand basic conversations about everyday topics
      Can write simple work-related correspondence

      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

      Competencies

      Seeing the Big Picture

      • Identify implications of Departmental and political priorities and strategy on own area to ensure plans and activities reflect these. 

      Leading and Communicating

      • Be visible to staff and stakeholders and regularly undertake activities to engage and build trust with people involved in area of work.

      Making Effective Decisions 

      • Draw together and present reasonable conclusions from a wide range of incomplete and complex evidence and data – able to act or decide even when details are not clear.

      Delivering at Pace

      • Maintain effective performance in difficult and challenging circumstances, encouraging others to do the same.

      Job Specific Criteria 

      A fully qualified finance and/or governance professional from:

      • one of the recognised accounting bodies such as CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants),
      • CCAB accountancy qualifications (Institute of Chartered Accountants, The Chartered Institute of Certified Accountants, The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy),
      • qualified with a recognised governance body such as the Institute of Internal Auditors., or
      • The CIPFA Diploma in Corporate Governance.

      Successful candidates will be matched to available roles based on their performance and their experience. Some of the roles will require a particular qualification and for those roles candidates will have to have the relevant qualification. For example, i.e. if a candidate was to be matched to a technical accounting role, we would expect that candidate to have an accounting qualification.

      All roles will require a minimum of three years post qualification experience.

      1. Interact confidently and effectively as an intelligent and highly credible customer with counterparts from across the Welsh Government and our delivery partners and stakeholders using expert communication and engagement skills.
      2. Provide valuable financial and governance advice, challenge and support, strategic insight and business solutions often to Directors and other budget holders.



      Assessment Process

      The application process will be as follows:

      Stage 1: Candidates will be expected to complete the online application form and upload the following supporting documentation:

      • A CV no longer than 2 pages setting out your career history with key responsibilities and achievements. It should make clear when the 3 years post qualification date was reached. We recommend paying particular attention to the “purpose of the post” and “key tasks” to ensure your CV reflects the skills and experience we are looking for.
      • A copy of your accountancy and/or governance qualification and accreditation/ membership
      • A personal statement of no longer than 2,100 words. Anything over this will be discounted. This should explain how your professional qualifications, skills, qualities and experience match both:
        • the four competencies and
        • the three job specific criteria.

      We recommend aiming for around 300 words for each of the 7 categories.

      Stage 2: Candidates who have been deemed to meet the minimum criteria for stage 2 will be invited to an interview and assessment. This will take the form of a technical assessment and interview that will assess the competency behaviours and job specifics. Details of the technical test will be provided to candidates closer to that time.

      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.
      Steve Hudson - ExternalRecruitment@gov.wales

      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.