Senior Finance Officer - Systems

Job summary

Serious and organised crime may feel far removed from our everyday lives, but it kills more people than all other national security threats combined. The NCA sits at the heart of the UK's response. We tackle those that pose the greatest risk to our safety and security. We operate proactively at the high end of high risk, undertaking investigations to bring offenders to justice.

Information about the Command

Corporate Business Services (CBS) is led by the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the NCA and enables the operational capability of the NCA to protect the public from serious and organised crime.

The command includes Business Services, Commercial, Concordis Programme, Estates and Finance. Together, these functions ensure the NCA's activity is financially and commercially compliant, helps achieve value for money and improves the Agency financial capabilities and performance. CBS also aligns the NCA estates strategy in promoting a safe, secure and compliant estate with delivering a fit for purpose vehicle Fleet in line with a sustainability and fleet strategy.

Information about the Business Area

The Finance team provide effective and timely financial and management reports, in line with business requirements and both statutory and regulatory duties, including supporting documentation to audit standard, ensuring that NCA complies with general accounting standards and internal corporate governance requirements. The Finance Management Team also help Commands develop budget and savings proposals to inform the negotiations on future budget delegations.

Role Summary

We are seeking to recruit a Senior Finance Officer - Systems. This is an exciting time for the team and the NCA and the post holder will perform a key role in managing the NCA's suite of finance system applications which are used Agency wide and also play a key role in the Agency's journey to an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution.This will be a leadership roll requiring key technical knowledge, the management of the systems team and the ability to influence stakeholders across the Agency at Senior levels.

Job description

The post holder will manage the existing finance systems team ensuring the systems are maintained and supported with all regulatory tasks completed. They will ensure that the systems support the business through maintained policies, planning, performance, training, service delivery and governance. They will play a vital role providing business support for the existing finance system applications (iPOS and SUN Systems).

The role involves working closely with the line manager and other internal and external stakeholders to help deliver system enhancements and be a key visible leader on the Agency's transformation to an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution.

The post holder will play an important role in producing accurate and timely financial and management information, by ensuring the finance systems are capable of delivering the service required by the Finance department. The management of information is key to the role, in order to ensure data is supported by clear, audit-ready documentation and in line with relevant public sector guidance such as Managing Public Money.

Duties and Responsibilities

Provide support to management on the development and successful implementation of the new systems upgrade project and ensure users receive training and application support on the use of the new financial applications.

Ensure financial systems are maintained to a high standard and that they deliver an effective overall service in line with business needs to enable delivery of NCA’s statutory and regulatory requirements.

Provide effective and timely financial and management reports, including supporting documentation to audit standard, ensuring that NCA complies with general accounting standards.

Support and deputise as necessary for other officers and the Finance Manager - Systems.

Identify improvements to the effectiveness and efficiency of the NCA business, including internal finance systems, IT and processes, so that accurate and consistent information is produced together with reports as and when required.

Manage the monthly compliance reporting. Ensure the collection, analysis, and distribution of data to finance users and work under pressure to meet internal deadlines.

Person specification

Ability to provide first line management in a financial environment

Post holder will manage the finances of a particular business area, or service delivery function.

Good technical knowledge of accounting processes, policies, statutory requirements and internal controls

To ensure financial management is implemented within appropriate controls and with adherence to accountancy standards in financial accounts.

Strong customer service and stakeholder management skills

The role will require engagements across a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.

Strong analytical and reasoning skills, and ability to develop financial models

To ensure data can be accurately analysed on which decisions will be made against.

Knowledge of financial management principles and practices is desirable, but not essential. This ensures that appropriate financial processes and regulatory requirements are followed in line with recognised accounting standard

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £45,326, National Crime Agency contributes £13,130 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

New entrants to the NCA receive 26 days annual leave, rising to 31 on completion of 5 years continuous service, plus 8 bank holidays.

If qualifying criteria is met new joiners from UK Police Forces or the UK Intelligence Community (UKIC) will have service with those employers taken into account for continuous service purposes for annual leave entitlement only, this will be up to a maximum of 31 days leave (including 1 privilege day).

Other benefits include:

• Flexible working, including flexi-time, compressed hours and job sharing (in line with business requirements)
• Family friendly policies, notably above the statutory minimum
• Learning and Development opportunities
• Interest free loans and advances, including season tickets, childcare and rental deposits
• Housing schemes - Key Worker status
• Discounts and Savings with a wide variety of services including Cycle to Work, Smart Tech schemes, dental insurance, gym discounts and savings on everyday spending, available through the Reward Gateway , Edenred and Blue Light Card schemes.
• Staff support groups/networks
• Sports and social activities, including membership to the Civil Service Sports Council (CSSC)

Further information is available on the NCA 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

How we will assess you

Your application will be assessed against the following:Technical - this will be assessed by 250 word examples on:

• Understanding of information management and its role with a finance department.

Experience - This will be assessed by 250 word examples on:

• Experience working in a financial systems team to include using finance applications to input, process and provide management information.
• Experience managing key stakeholders and suppliers to ensure continuity of service and the effective delivery of finance applications.

A panel will assess how well your application demonstrates the requirements outlined above.

Longlist

In the event of a high number of applications, we may operate a longlist. Applicants will need to meet the minimum pass mark for the lead criteria.

• Experience working in a financial systems team to include using finance applications to input, process and provide management information.

Candidates who do not meet the minimum pass mark for the lead criteria will not progress to having their other criteria assessed. Applications must meet the minimum criteria to be progressed to the assessment stage.

You will receive an acknowledgement once your application is submitted.

We aim to have sift completed and scores released within 10 working days of the closing date of the advert. For high volume campaigns this timeframe may be extended.

Scores will be provided but further feedback will not be available at this stage.

For guidance on the application process, visit:
NCA Applying and Onboarding

Assessment 1

The format of this assessment will be Interview which will be tested on the criteria listed in the Success Profiles at Assessment section.

Success Profiles at Assessment

Behaviours

• Seeing the Big Picture

Technical

• Understanding of information management and its role with a finance department

Experience

• Experience working in a financial systems team to include using finance applications to input, process and provide management information.

• Experience managing key stakeholders and suppliers to ensure continuity of service and the effective delivery of finance applications.

Assessment Outcome

Outcomes will be communicated via the NCA recruitment portal.
If successful but no role is immediately available, you may be placed on a reserve list for 12 months.
Reserve lists can be used to fill similar role types across the Agency where the assessment criteria is considered a match by the recruitment team and the business area.

In the event of a tie at the assessment stage, available roles will be offered in merit order using the following order:

1. Lead criteria (behaviours/technical/experience)
2. If still tied, desirable criteria will be assessed (if advertised)
3. If still tied, application sift scores will be used

Feedback is provided only to those who attend an assessment.You will be subject to vetting and pre-employment checks before appointment.Once the vacancy closes, the advert will no longer be accessible. Please save a copy for your records. We encourage all candidates to visit the NCA Careers Page for more information.

Eligibility, Pre-Employment Check and Vetting

Please see the NCA T&Cs and Privacy Policy (pdf) for details on how your data is handled. If you are an internal candidate who has passed interview but is undergoing an internal investigation or have a written warning in place preventing a post move you may not be able to be posted until this investigation is concluded or restriction lifted.

Security and Vetting

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is SC Enhanced. All security clearances will be managed by the NCA.For more information on security vetting please visit: UK Security Vetting guidance for applicants and Demystifying Vetting and see our vetting charter at: The Vetting Charter.

Vetting requirements - SC Enhanced

Prior to commencing the role, you will need to successfully complete SC Enhanced clearance and then achieve DV Enhanced clearance within the first 12 months in post. The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years.The requirement for DV Enhanced clearance is to have been present in the UK for at least 7 of the last 10 years.Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected.If you fail to obtain the increased clearance within 12 months of starting, your contract of employment is at risk of termination.For further information on National Security Vetting checks please visit the following page Demystifying VettingIndividuals will be required to undertake and pass a substance misuse test as part of pre-employment checks.

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

Security

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 : central.recruitment@nca.gov.uk
• Email : central.recruitment@nca.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : central.recruitment@nca.gov.uk

Further information

If you believe your application has not been treated fairly, email: Central.Recruitment@nca.gov.uk (quoting the vacancy reference).
If unresolved, you may escalate your complaint to the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

Team Overview - Business Support (1) Opens in new window (pdf, 1748kB)Online Test Guidance Opens in new window (docx, 82kB)