Building Safety Regulator Head of Cost Recovery & Expenses (Band 3)

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity to lead the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) Cost Recovery and Expenses (CRE) team. The BSR and delivery of post Grenfell recommendations is one of the Government’s top priorities. Recovering the cost of its chargeable regulatory functions is a key element of the BSR’s financial strategy.

This role will lead the CRE Team providing strategic direction, supporting the improvement of processes and systems, ensuring invoices are raised accurately in a timely manner, debts are recovered in a proportionate manner, and lead proactive engagement with other regulators (e.g. Local Authorities and Fire and Rescue Services) and duty holders.

The role includes engaging constructively with the BSR operational support team, our shared services provider, the finance community, duty holder representatives and reporting to the BSR Senior Leadership Team and performance hub on a monthly basis. It requires the ability to be self-motivated, demonstrate good judgement in dealing with pressured/sensitive issues and supporting and directing a busy team operating against challenging deadlines.

The team is part of HSE’s Planning, Finance and Procurement Division and this role reports directly to HSE’s Deputy Director of Finance.

This role is based at HSE’s Headquarters in Bootle, Merseyside where the current CRE Team is located.

Part time working hours are available for this role. We can accept part time applicants who can commit to working a minimum of 30 hours per week.

Any successful candidate recruited to this vacancy will initially be onboarded to HSE, with a possible move to the new NDBP in due course.

Job description

The government announced on 30 June 2025 that the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) is to become an Arm's Length Body (ALB) of Ministry for Housing, Communities, and Local Government (MHCLG) and will be moved out of HSE. This is the natural next step in the development of the regulator and was always a likely outcome once BSR was established. It has been confirmed that the ALB will be a Non-crown, Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB), and as such its employees will be Public Servants, rather than Civil Servants. Any successful candidates recruited to this vacancy will initially be onboarded to HSE, with a move to the new NDBP to be undertaken in due course.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead the strategic direction for the BSR CRE Team and associated systems to ensure the functions meet the requirements of the Government Standards (e.g. GovS014 Debt Functional Standard).
• Oversee the effective invoicing for all BSR cost recoverable functions; reimbursement of other regulators; debt recovery; payment of expenses in accordance with the Expenses Policy; and treasury management.
• Represent BSR at cross government groups (e.g. the HMT led Cross-Government Debt Group).
• Develop and maintain the BSR Debt Strategy ensuring it is regularly reviewed, updated and approved by the BSR Senior Leadership Team and Board. Ensure the strategy is consistent with the Cross-Government Strategy and is applied in a consistent and proportionate manner.
• Proactively identify business improvement opportunities including process re-engineering to deliver the most efficient invoicing, debt recovery and expenses experience for staff and duty holders that seeks to maximise cost recovery and minimise debt.
• Represent the BSR CRE on function specific system improvement projects (e.g. using Dynamics 365) and wider system changes to ensure we maximise the use of the available functionality and manage any associated risks.
• Ensure the team is adequately resourced and skilled to deliver the expected volume growth of the BSR.
• Support the contract management of associated contracts (e.g. Debt Collection Agency, litigation) and represent the BSR at Civil Court for debt litigation hearings, as necessary.

Person specification

Essential skills and criteria:

• Leadership and management skills, with the ability to motivate and inspire the team. Provide guidance, mentoring and listen to the team at all levels on a daily basis to ensure the best outcome for BSR.
• Communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience in an invoicing or debt recovery team in the public or private sector.
• Financial literacy – be comfortable working with numbers, spreadsheets and presenting financial information to various audiences.
• Data analysis – experience of analysing data sets to identify emerging trends to mitigate financial risks and identify opportunities.

At HSE, we are proud to be able to offer our people the opportunity to work in a hybrid way which combines working from home and the office. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement, and your allocated office will be your contractual place of work.

There will be a requirement to travel to the office for various activities, e.g., collaborative working, supporting and training colleagues. If hybrid working is suitable for you and your role, you will be expected to attend the office, or other business-related site, for 60% of your working week. The arrangements will be determined primarily by business need, but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account.

Therefore, we would encourage candidates to consider if the commute from home to the office is a feasible distance to travel before making an application. Please note that if you are successful, hybrid working will be discussed prior to taking up the post.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £47,686, Health and Safety Executive contributes £13,814 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

We invest in our people with:

• Competitive rates of pay
• Access to the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Schemeto which HSE contribute 28.97%, far more than in the private sector.
• Family friendly policies and working hours to help balance your home life and career
• Carer friendly policies to help create a supportive working culture
• 25 days annual holiday increasing to 30 days after 5 years' service, plus bank holidays and 1-day Civil Service privilege leave
• Parental leave benefits
• As a member of HSE you will gain access to a wide range of fantastic benefits that you can take advantage of such as the Cycle to Work Scheme, E-Gift Cards and Vouchers via our partner EdenRed.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Application Information:

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete your CV which should include your skills, employment history and qualification details relevant to the job role.

You will also be asked to complete a Personal Statement of no more than 750 words. This should outline how you meet the essential skills and criteria listed within the person specification.

Application Guidance:

Please access the following link for guidance on how to apply and how to complete a personal statement https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/how-to-apply/

Sift information:

The sift will take place during the week commencing 30/03/2026 where you will be assessed on your Personal Statement. Please note that your CV will not be scored and will be used for information purposes only.

Interview:

At interview you will be asked to complete a short five-minute behavioural presentation (topic will be provided in advance of the interview) and you will be asked questions.

You will be assessed on the three behaviours outlined within the advert along with your Strengths.

Interviews will be held w/c 06/04/2026 at HSE’s Headquarters building, Redgrave Court, Bootle, Merseyside.

The closing date for applications is 30/03/2026.

Please note: These dates may be subject to change depending on the panel availability.

AI Tools & Platforms

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Sponsorship

This role is not open to application from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system. Should you apply for this role and require sponsorship your application will be rejected, and any provisional offers of employment will be withdrawn.

Further Information

Please note that a Reserve List will be held for the period of up to 12 months. There is no guarantee you will be offered a role from our reserve lists, so if you see a vacancy on Civil Service Jobs that you are interested in, we recommend you apply.

HSE reserve the right to conduct additional checks, including Google and social media checks, when recruiting candidates into a role within HSE. These checks will be carried out in line with the Civil Service Commission Principles and, if used all candidates will be subject to these additional checks.

From 23rd June 2025, if you are successful at interview, as part of your pre-employment checks, HSE’s Recruitment Team are required to check your details against the Internal Fraud Hub (IFH), using your personal details – name, NINO, and date of birth. If you are included on the database, you will be refused employment. If you believe that there has been an error in the inclusion of your data and wish to make an appeal, please contact the CO email box internal.fraud@cabinetoffice.gov.uk .

Details of the types of internal fraud/dishonesty covered by this process are defined by the Cabinet Office and can be found here Internal Fraud Register privacy notice - GOV.UK

It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the terms and conditions they will adopt should they be successful in their application. For a summary of HSE terms and conditions as part of Civil Service Reform, please see the attached HSE Terms and Conditions document.

Progression through pay ranges is subject to annual pay awards as permitted within annual Civil Service pay remit guidance and negotiations with Trade Unions.

HSE is proud to be a part of the Disability Confidence Scheme (DCS). As a Disability Confident employer, we positively welcome applications from disabled people. We are committed to making workplace adjustments to ensure anyone can participate in the recruitment and selection process.

If, during the application or interview process, you require any assistance due to a disability or a medical condition, please contact us at the email address below to discuss how we can support you. For example, if you have a disability, and you need an application form in an alternative format or you would like to know more about our recruitment process, please contact: HR.Resourcing-Team@hse.gov.uk

If successful in securing your role, HSE can provide suitable workplace adjustments to support you throughout your career with HSE.

Any move to HSE 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 here

Please note, if you are a current civil servant and you are currently undergoing any of the following formal actions your application will not be progressed any further; Formal discipline action, any formal action regarding attendance, poor performance or any restriction of duties as a result of disciplinary action.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

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 theCivil 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.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Dave Thomas
• Email : Dave.Thomas@hse.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : HR.Resourcing-Team@hse.gov.uk

Further information

If you believe that Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition have not been met, you can raise a complaint by emailing: HR.Resourcing-Team@hse.gov.uk or by writing to HSE at the following address:
HR Resourcing Team, 2.3 Redgrave Court, Merton Road, Bootle, Merseyside, L20 7HS. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact Civil Service commissioners: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/code/civilservicecode…

Attachments

HSE Terms and Conditions - CSJ Advert Annex (1) Opens in new window (pdf, 116kB)