DetailsReference number 432196
Salary £31,479 A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97% GBP
Job grade Executive Officer
Contract type Permanent
Apprenticeship
Business area DFE - Operations and Infrastructure Group
Type of role Finance
Working pattern Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time
Number of jobs available 1
Contents- Location
- About the job
- Benefits
- Things you need to know
- Apply and further information
Location Coventry, West Midlands (England), CV1 2WT : Darlington, North East England, DL1 5QE : Manchester, North West England, M1 2WD
About the job Job summaryWe're looking for an enthusiastic self-starter with a collaborative approach and a genuine drive and passion for finance as our division's Programme Funding Co-ordinator. This is a varied role and requires good judgement and being solutions-focused. You should have the ability to anticipate the impact of issues/emerging events in the division, and suggest and deliver solutions.
You are comfortable working with senior leaders and use your initiative and experience to meet the variety of challenge that might arise. You have an eye for detail and strong organisational ability, along with the skills and confidence to own your outputs and work autonomously. You are adaptable and calm under pressure, with a can-do approach and experience of working with a variety of stakeholders, effectively engaging them and helping them to deliver.
Job description The DfE's Education Estates Directorate is a dynamic environment, delivering multi-billion-pound construction programmes, with involvement in the wider Government industrial strategy to transform the UK construction sector; and undertaking over 1000 land transactions and consents annually. We are one of the largest public sector construction clients in England, with a capital budget of almost £20 billion between 2022 and 2025.
We deliver new and refurbished schools colleges and support works to improve the condition of the whole school estate. We help provide high quality places for learners and set standards for school buildings across the country. We also provide capital funding to schools and colleges so people can learn in good quality, safe buildings.
The Payments and Assurance area within the Education Estates Directorate is responsible for processing payments for several capital expenditure programmes within the Department for Education, that support condition improvements and expansion of the schools and wider educational estate. The team(s) supports payments of £2bn+ annually through programmes such as Free Schools, School Rebuilding Programme, Condition Improvement Fund and Priority schools building Programmes.
The role will involve working collaboratively and flexibly across all its areas, with the opportunity to gain experience in:
- Raising grant payment requests within published guidance.
- Review and process construction invoices and purchase orders using the Finance system.
- Managing shared mailboxes and resolving queries with excellent customer service (with both internal and external stakeholders).
- Managing stakeholders and suppliers to ensure payments.
- Processing supplier invoices and grant transactions in finance systems.
- Performing payment reconciliations daily and ensuring the necessary control and validation checks are completed.
- Providing support to the Department's finance system users.
- Assisting in the prompt recovery of outstanding debts and receivables
Apprenticeship:
This is an excellent opportunity to gain a Level 3 Business Administrator apprenticeship. Completing the apprenticeship will lead to a highly transferable set of knowledge, skills and behaviours that can be applied in all sectors with fantastic career progression. Please check the eligibility requirements below using the apprenticeship standard: Business administrator / Skills England
You must have lived in the UK for 3 years prior to apprenticeship start date and not be undertaking another apprenticeship at the same time.
You must not already have a substantial amount of the skills and knowledge that is covered in the contents of the apprenticeship standard.
You must not have already worked in a similar role or have previous learning and/or work experience that covers the contents (Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours) of the apprenticeship standard.
Please do not apply if:
- You already have all the skills and knowledge that is covered in the contents of the apprenticeship standard. You have already worked in a similar role, or your previous learning and/or work experience covers the contents (Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours) of the apprenticeship standard.
- You have a degree (or equivalent) in Business Administration or finance related degree. Part of this apprenticeship is to complete a level 2 English and Maths Functional Skills qualification. If you have already achieved GCSEs in English and maths at Level 4 (grade C) or equivalent or a higher grade, you will not need to complete the functional skills qualification.
At the enrolment state, the individual's eligibility will be checked by the training provider.
Person specification Essential Criteria.
- Are comfortable working in a complex and fast paced finance environment.
- Knowledge of working effectively in a team and also taking individual initiative and proactiveness.
- You have a proven availability to engage partners and build strong relationships and have confidence, credibility and people skills.
- Ability to work to tight deadlines under pressure and manage competing priorities.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with strong attention to detail.
- Strong numerical and analytical skills.
Desirable criteria:
- A working knowledge of Microsoft Business Central would be desirable, but not essential , as full training will be given.
Desirable criteria will only be assessed in the event of a tie break situation to make an informed decision.
BehavioursWe'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Managing a Quality Service
Benefits Alongside your salary of £31,479, Department for Education contributes £9,119 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department’s transfer / promotion policies.
As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK.
You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service. In addition, all staff receive the King’s Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days’ bank and public holidays.
We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role.
Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DfE, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.
As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.
Things you need to know Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
Application
To apply for this role, you will be required to provide a CV and Statement of Suitability (statement max word count 500 words).
We will use your CV and statement to assess your suitability for the role against the essential criteria listed in the person specification section above.
You will be required to provide a 250 word example demonstrating how you meet the behaviour Managing a Quality Service.
If we receive high volumes of applications, we reserve the right to increase the pass mark and we shall sift only on the Personal Statement.
There will also be an online test at the application stage covering Numeracy.
The test and the application form must be completed prior to the closing time.
Interview
At interview you will be asked questions around the behaviours listed in the advert.
We will also ask you some strength based questions.
Feedback will only be offered if you attend an interview.
Other Information
Interviews may be via Microsoft teams or face to face; the vacancy manager will confirm prior to the Interview.
In your application, please don’t include personal information that identifies you.
This means we can recruit based on your knowledge and skills, and not background, gender or ethnicity - it's called name blind recruitment .
Please ensure that you remove from your application, all references to your:
- name/title
- educational institutions
- age
- gender
- email address
- postal address
- phone number
- nationality/immigration status
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.
We reserve the right to raise the minimum pass mark in the event of a high volume or strong field of candidates.
Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK from the location options provided and not from overseas.
The government is committed to supporting apprenticeships, enabling people to learn and progress in a role whilst earning. We want to monitor the number of people who have completed apprenticeships who are now applying to progress further in their career and are asking this question to all candidates, on all vacancies. You will be asked a question as part of the application process about any previous apprenticeships you have completed. Your response to this question will not affect your application and it is not a requirement of the role to have completed a previous apprenticeship.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Department of Education of your intention by emailing stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Department for Education do not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment unless otherwise stated.
A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.
Candidates will be posted in merit order based upon location preference. Where more than one location is advertised you will be asked to state your preferred location.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
Terms and conditions of candidates transferring from ALBs and NDPBs
Bodies that are not accredited by the Civil Service Commission and are not able to advertise at Across Government on Civil Service jobs will be treated as external new starters and will come into DfE on modernised terms and conditions with a salary at the band minimum.
Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission but do not have civil service status will be offered modernised terms and will not have continuous service recognised for leave or sickness benefits. Salaries should be offered at band minimum, but there is some flexibility where this would cause a detriment to the individual.
Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission and do have Civil Service status will be treated as OGD transfers. Staff appointed on lateral transfer will move on to pre-modernised DfE terms (unless they were on modernised terms in their previous organisation). Staff appointed on promotion will move on to modernised DfE terms. Staff will transfer over on their existing salary (on lateral transfer) and any pay above the DfE pay band maximum will be paid as a mark time allowance. Staff moving on promotion will have their salaries calculated using the principles set out in the attached OGD transfer supplementary information.
Reasonable adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put 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 Department of Education via 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.
Please refer to the attached ‘Reasonable Adjustments Guide 05_2025 – accessible version’ at the bottom of the advert, for further information.
Childcare Vouchers
Any move to Department for Education (DfE) will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirementsThis 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)
- 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
Working for the Civil Service Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission. 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 the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .
Apply and further information This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans 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 : Nabila Shaheen
- Email :
Recruitment team Further information The Department for Education’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the Civil Service Commissioners Recruitment Principles, which outlines that selection for appointment is made on merit based on fair and open competition. You have the right to complain if you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles. In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly with the department concerned via . If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages
