Finance Senior Project Support Officer

Job summary

The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.

The Chief Operating Officer Group works closely with the Home Office’s policy and operational commands to enable us together to deliver the department’s priorities.

The group is comprised of different teams and professional functions, including Commercial, Finance, People, Portfolio and Project Delivery, Security, Estates and Information and Digital, Data and Technology.

The Finance Change Team supports colleagues across the Finance Directorate, driving a positive employee experience and enabling excellent departmental decision-making.

The Change Team sits within the Transactions, Change and Assurance portfolio and reports to the Home Office Director of Finance, Operations.

Working collaboratively with all areas of the Finance Directorate, the team is responsible for planning, delivering, and evaluating the Elevate 2.0 Finance Change Programme—a five-year strategic initiative aimed at transforming the culture, capability, and user experience within Finance.

The Finance Change Team are seeking a Senior Project Support Officer to help implementation of fast-paced Finance Change and transformation.

Job description

The SEO Project Support Officer will assist the Finance Directorate in bringing about positive change. This includes helping to drive multiple priority workstreams, cross cutting finance work areas and finance team Elevate plans. It may also involve contributing to some workstreams.

You will be a core member of the Finance Change Team working closely with the Project lead to ensure the programme delivers within the programme’s governance and assurance frameworks.

The role requires strong organisational skills, determination, and someone with a demonstrable track record of understanding and experience in project management as well as a sound knowledge of Finance and Finance processes. Along with this, the role requires excellent communication skills both written and oral, plus the ability to work to tight deadlines.

Change is a complex, and challenging, yet an incredibly important area to underpin departmental outcomes.

Key Responsibilities:

• Maintain, track and coordinate programme governance to ensure appropriate arrangements are in place to enable successful delivery of the programme, with escalation routes and accountabilities made clear.
• Manages project controls and reports the project status to the project manager.
• Ensure effective programme configuration management is adopted and in place covering aspects from document changes to deliverables as agreed with stakeholders.
• Assist in preparing key management information and performance reports for the Programme Manager, including Board reports.
• Interaction with the whole Finance Directorate and wider Departmental stakeholders to build engagement and support outcomes.
• Maintain and monitor project risks and issues. Ensure mitigating actions are in place and escalate as appropriate.
• Adopt and share best practice project delivery processes, tools and templates.
• Maintain and regularly review and update programme content on the Elevate Hub web site.
• Provide ad-hoc programme support as needed.

Working Pattern

Due to the business requirements of this role, it is only available on a full-time basis. However, compressed hours are available.

Travel

Occasional travel within the UK may be required. Travel costs incurred for business need will be reimbursed in line with Home Office travel policy.

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Experience of actively supporting a major project or programme and monitoring project and programme milestones deadlines.
• A solid background in Finance and understanding of finance policy, systems, and processes.
• Excellent communication and networking skills with the ability to persuade and influence others, establishing positive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Manage multiple priorities at pace and respond flexibly to complex demands.
• Proactive in promoting an organisational culture that is positive about change and continuous improvement.
• Strong risk management and decision-making skills, being able to oversee high-profile areas of work, and be able to problem solve to find solutions.

Essential qualification

• Project and Programme qualification (e.g., Prince 2 / Managing Successful Programmes).

Desirable criteria

• Analytical/evaluative skills.
• Experience of providing senior briefings and written advice.
• Finance CCAB qualification.

Behaviours

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

In addition to your salary, a career with the Home Office offers a range of benefits, including:

• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
• 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service to 30 days.
• Eight days of public holidays, plus one additional privilege day.
• Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office.
• See more of our benefits on our careers website.

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, Strengths, Ability and Experience.

This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

We will endeavour to conduct the selection process in line with the dates indicated below, but cannot guarantee that these will not, where necessary, be revised.

As part of the application process, you will first be asked to confirm your eligibility by providing some basic personal information.

After submission of this first stage, you will be invited to complete the followingCivil Service Numerical and Judgement tests.

1. Online Test – by 20th February 2026.

If you successfully pass the Numerical and Judgement tests, you will be invited to complete the full application form. Please complete the online test(s) as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended). If you fail to complete the online test(s) or full application before the deadline, your application will be withdrawn.

Guidance for the Civil Service test(s) will be available when you are invited to take the test(s). The online tests are accessed via the Civil Service Jobs website.

You cannot complete the tests on a mobile phone or tablet.

Following successful completion of your test/s, you will then be asked to complete the full application form.

2. Application – by 20th February 2026.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:

• CV
• Personal Statement (maximum 1000 words).

Your CV should consist of your career history, qualifications and skills/experience including any key achievements in each role. Your CV will be scored against the experience required for the role as noted within the essential criteria.

The Personal Statement should be aligned to and demonstrate how you meet the skills and experience set out in the essential criteria, detailed in the job description.

For guidance and information on how to construct your application (CV and Personal Statement), you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers website.

3. Sift – commencing from 25th February 2026.

The sift will be held on the CV and Personal Statement.

Should a high volume of applications be received, an initial sift will be conducted on the CV. Candidates who pass the initial sift will then be progressed to a full sift that will consist of the Personal Statement.

Candidates who fail to meet the minimum pass score for the initial sift will not have their remaining submitted elements scored and will only receive a sift score for that assessed at the initial sift.

4. Interview – week commencing 16th March 2026.

If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview that will be Behaviours (as listed in the job advert) and Strength based questions.

Interviews will take place on Teams. Candidates will be required to have access to:

• A laptop (personal or work) with a working webcam
• Good internet connection
• Microsoft Teams

For guidance and information on what to expect and how to prepare for an interview, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers.

Problems during the application process

If you experience problems accessing this advert, or you think you’ve made a mistake on an initial application, please contact hocandidates.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk, including the vacancy reference, at least two working days before the vacancy closes. Further information can be found on our website.

Do not create or attempt to submit another application, online test or use a different Civil Service Jobs account to proceed as this would be in violation of the candidate declaration.

Location Preferences

You can select up to threelocations in order of preference. Please ensure that these are locations you are prepared to travel to. If you are offered a role at one of your preferred locations and you decline, your application will be withdrawn.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made. There is no guarantee that being held on a reserve list will lead to a job offer. Further information can be found on our website.

Reserve lists will be held for each location. Candidates will be appointed in merit order by location.

Standards

All Civil Servants are expected to comply with the Civil Service Code, and its core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.

Additional Security Checks

As well as successfully obtaining UK Security Vetting clearance, candidates will be subject to a range of additional checks. The range of checks carried out will depend on whether you are a current Home Office employee, existing civil servant or an external new entrant as well as the role requirements.

The level of Disclosure and Barring Service check required for this role is Basic. We’ll submit your Criminal Record Check to the Disclosure and Barring Service . We know that in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms directly. If you prefer to do that, email Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk with the job reference in the subject line.

Reasonable Adjustments

If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs

• Complete the “Assistance Required” section in the “Additional Requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a language service professional

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.

Feedback

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 counter-terrorist 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.

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 : HORC Campaign Team - (Corporate Enablers)
• Email : horccampaignteamcorporateenablers@homeoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Civil Service recruitment principles and you wish to make a complaint, then contact the Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

Home Office Candidate_information_v15_DECEMBER_2025 Opens in new window (pdf, 429kB)2025-11-01 Pre-employment Checking - Document Requirements (V17) Opens in new window (pdf, 231kB)