Vacancy -- Finance Graduate Trainees

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

Office of the First Minister and Cabinet Office
Finance
EO - £26,900 - £30,610
£23,625
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
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:

Finance within Welsh Government is responsible for the delivery of Finance and Accounting Services, including advice on complex accounting matters, the handling of high profile financial issues, and the preparation of Financial accounts both at Department and on a consolidated basis.

Welsh Government Trainee Accountants will work to a senior qualified accountant responsible within the Central team or the Internal audit team.

Trainee accountants will be allocated to placements in accordance with the development needs of the individual and the business needs of the organisation. It is likely that the training will be split into four periods within which there could to be a period of 6 months undertaking a placement in another public sector organisation

Trainee Accountants will work under the overall supervision of one of the Heads of Finance.

Key tasks:


  • To provide and contribute to the Finance, Accounting or audit work within a Finance team;
  • To assist in the monitoring and reconciliation of accounts;
  • To assist the team in ensuring it is responsive to customer/client needs and changing circumstances;
  • To undertake such investigations, tasks and projects as are specified by a Senior Accountant or Deputy Director which are commensurate with the level of Trainee or Accountant;
  • To provide support to colleagues within the department as requested by the Senior Accountant or Deputy Director. 

Development opportunities:

Our graduate finance training scheme provides a unique development opportunity for bright and talented graduates who are adaptable, ambitious and passionate about making a difference to people's lives and wishing to pursue a career within the Welsh Civil Service.

WG is offering a fully-funded development programme, leading to professional qualification through the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants(ACCA). Providing an opportunity to work as part of a highly skilled group of financial professionals in the public sector where the chance to develop skills and knowledge is excellent.

Your training will be through several work placements across the key areas of finance, undertaking work that is core to implementing WG’s vision. We are recruiting 6 new graduates to join a strong group of existing graduates responsible for a mixture of general finance duties and specialist project work, as well as having plenty of opportunity to develop management and leadership skills.

Closing Date:

31/07/2018, 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.

Not necessary to undertake the duties of this post

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

  1. Making Effective Decisions - Examine complex information and obtain further information to make accurate decisions.
  2. Collaborating and Partnering - Listen attentively to others and check their understanding by asking questions.
  3. Leading and Communicating - Express ideas effectively, both orally and in writing, and with sensitivity and respect for others.
  4. Managing a Quality Service – Ensure delivery of professional excellence and expertise. 

Job Specific Criteria 

  1. Ability to apply financial standards to complex financial and budgetary issues and with strong numeracy skills.
  2. Demonstrate drive and commitment to managing working in a fast-paced challenging Environment whilst studying to become a chartered public sector financial accountant.
  3. Must have a minimum of a 2:1 honours degree although this does not have to be in Finance and Accounting.

Assessment Process

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.

Candidates to have a minimum of a 2:1 honours degree although this does not have to be in Finance and Accounting.

Please note that in the event that a high number of applications are received, applications will be assessed in the first instance on the basis of evidence provided in relation to the job specific criteria.  Applications from candidates that fail to satisfy our requirements against the job specifics will not be assessed further.

Sheila Crossley, Sheila.Crossley@gov.wales, 03000 253975

How to apply

All applications for this vacancy should be made online via the Welsh Government's online application system.  If you have a disability 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 a disability 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.