Operational Support Officer

Job summary

The Operations Division reports to the Chief Operating Officer and is responsible for the accurate recording, servicing, and control of UKEF’s transactions across corporate systems (historically ACBS, transitioning to GIFT) for post issue only. The Division partners with stakeholders across Risk, Policy, Legal, Finance, and Country/sector teams to maintain data integrity, ensure compliance, and support delivery at pace for UK exporters.

About the Role

Provide operational support across the Deal Lifecycle by completing defined processing tasks, maintaining accurate records, and supporting the team to meet service standards. The postholder will work to established procedures, escalating queries and exceptions to HEO colleagues.

Job description

Main Activities

• Provide executive support to the Operations head/ leadership, including diary coordination, meeting organisation, correspondence handling, and administrative support as required.
• Complete routine lifecycle processing tasks and system updates in ACBS/GIFT, following instructions and checking work for accuracy.
• Complete allocated work accurately to agreed service standards and timescales, escalating promptly where deadlines or quality are at risk.
• Maintain SharePoint records/diaries, trackers and filing, ensuring documentation is complete and retained in line with procedures.
• Support preparation of data requests and reporting by gathering information, maintaining control logs/trackers as required, completing basic validation checks, and flagging gaps or inconsistencies.
• Respond to routine queries, obtain missing information, and route/escalate issues or exceptions to HEO colleagues promptly.
• Carry out quality checks on inputs (e.g., amounts, dates, schedules) and reconcile information against source documentation, identifying potential risks/control issues and raising errors for resolution.
• Work collaboratively within the team to balance workloads and priorities, and provide cover for colleagues as required to maintain service levels.
• Follow established procedures and contribute to maintaining and improving guidance, templates and process notes, including supporting updates for non-standard/novel cases under supervision.
• Where applicable, support the identification, allocation and processing of receipts/payments in line with documented instructions, ensuring records are updated accurately.
• Support continuous improvement by identifying recurring issues, suggesting practical solutions, and helping to update local guidance and records.

This list is not exhaustive, and you may be required to carry out additional duties according to business needs.

Person specification

UK Export Finance is looking for motivated individuals with a desire to learn about the business. Successful candidates will be provided not only with functional training to enable them to do well in their role, but also with personal development to help them to achieve their career ambitions. Please note that the person specification below outlines at which stage(s) you will be assessed on how you meet the criteria for the role(s) including:-

A = assessed at application stage

I = assessed at interview stage

= assessed at presentation stage

Essential

Qualifications

• GCSE/O Levels or equivalent experience. (A)

Knowledge

• Understanding of the importance of accuracy, controls, and confidentiality; willingness to learn processes and systems.(A, I)
• Knowledge of improving processes. (A, I)

Skills/Ability

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing, producing clear, structured and accurate documents that are appropriate for the audience, with attention to detail and consistency. (A, I, P)
• Good attention to detail; ability to follow procedures; effective organisation and time management; clear verbal communication. (A, I, P)
• Ability to use Microsoft Office applications (e.g. Outlook, Word, Excel) to a competent level. (A)
• Ability to work under pressure. (A, I, P)
• Ability to work as part of a team. (A, I, P)

Experience

• Experience in an administrative/operational role, managing records and delivering accurate outputs to deadlines. (A, I)
• Experience in inputting, analysing and validating data. (A, I)

Qualifications

GCSE/O Levels or equivalent demonstrable work experience. (A)

Behaviours

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

• Changing and Improving
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together

Technical skills

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

• Presentation - a short presentation (this will be on a topic determined by UKEF and will need to be prepared in advance)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,305, UK Export Finance contributes £10,807 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

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, Ability, Experience and Technical skills.

We are assessing candidates using Success Profiles (see Appendix 1) and across the whole process we will assess your Experience, Ability, Technical and Behaviours as highlighted below.

The application must be completed by 23.55 on the day of the closing date for it to be accepted.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

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.

Please ensure that you read through the Candidate Information Pack attached to this advert, before applying.

All applications will be sifted against our essential criteria outlined in the personal specification. In addition to this, applicants will also be asked to complete an on-line ability test, this must also be completed prior to the deadline for your application.

• Qualification
  • GCSE/O Levels or equivalent demonstrable work experience. (A)
• On-line ability tests
  • Civil Service Numerical Test (this must be completed and passed by 12:00 midday on Thursday 28 May 2026)
  • Civil Service Verbal Test (this must be completed and passed by 12:00 midday on Thursday 28 May 2026)
• Statement of suitability - you should fully articulate in 500 words how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the person specification within the Information Pack.

For the initial sift your application will be evaluated against:

1. Experience - CV / Application and Statement of Suitability
2. Ability
   • Civil Service Numerical Test (this must be completed and passed by 12:00 midday on Thursday 28 May 2026)
   • Civil Service Verbal Test (this must be completed and passed by 12:00 midday on Thursday 28 May 2026)

In the event of a large number of applications an initial sift will be undertaken against the following essential criteria:

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing, producing clear, structured and accurate documents that are appropriate for the audience, with attention to detail and consistency. (A, I, P)
• Experience in an administrative/operational role, managing records and delivering accurate outputs to deadlines. (A, I)
• Experience in inputting, analysing and validating data. (A, I)

If you are successful following the sift stage, you will be invited to an initial interview, to be held onsite at 1 Horse Guards Road; this will include the following assessment:

1. Behaviours / Experience - a formal panel interview where you will be interviewed across all four behaviours highlighted in Appendix 1.
   1. Behaviour - Changing and Improving (Lead behaviour in the event of tied scoring)
   2. Behaviour - Managing a Quality Service
   3. Behaviour - Delivering at Pace
   4. Behaviour - Working Together
2. Technical - you will be assessed across your technical expertise and acumen, in relation to the essential criteria
   1. Presentation - a short presentation (this will be on a topic determined by UKEF and will need to be prepared in advance).

Details of interview panel members will be e-mailed to all successful candidates who are invited for interview.

Due to high interview volumes and limited diary availability with interviewers, we would greatly appreciate it if you could make every effort to attend your scheduled interview slot. Requests submitted within 72 hours of the scheduled interview time may not always be accommodated and will be considered at the Hiring Manager’s discretion, taking into account panel availability and recruitment timelines.

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 security 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 : UKEF Recruitment
• Email : Recruitment2@ukexportfinance.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : Recruitment2@ukexportfinance.gov.uk

Further information

Should you have a complaint or wish to raise any concerns regarding the recruitment process, please e-mail your complaint to the Head of Pay and Resourcing (UKEF) at Recruitment2@ukexportfinance.gov.uk and include “Complaint” in the subject heading. Should you remain dissatisfied following UKEF’s investigation then you can refer your complaint to the Commission - http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/making-complaint.

Attachments

Information Pack - Operational Support Officer Opens in new window (pdf, 4324kB)