Financial Management Development Scheme. Information for Applicants

Transcription

1 Financial Management Development Scheme Information for Applicants GFP 2011

2 Departmental Objectives The Department for Work and Pensions is responsible for the Government s Welfare reform agenda. Its aim is to promote opportunity and independence for all, delivering support and advice through a modern network of services. These services are available to people of working age, employers, pensioners, families and children, and disabled people. The aims of the Department are: contribute towards fair, safe and fulfilling lives, free from poverty, for children, people in work and retirement, disabled people and carers; reduce welfare dependency and increase economic competitiveness by helping people to work wherever they can and employers to secure the skills and employees they need; and provide greater choice and personalisation and higher quality of service for customers where it is in their interests and those of the taxpayers. For further information on DWP and finance careers go to: Number and Types of Role Offered 5 posts, to start in September Operating in an environment of unprecedented change, the Department is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and promote equality of opportunity. Finance has a key role to play in ensuring the success of this reforming agenda. We are looking for high calibre, determined, self motivated individuals with the potential to be the Finance Directors of the future. If you join our finance training scheme, over the 3-4 year period, supported by a mentor, you will have the opportunity to become not only a qualified accountant, but an accomplished manager with the skills to advance rapidly to senior position within Finance or the business. You will undertake a series of work placements in which you ll gain a thorough introduction to the finance function within the Department whilst making a real contribution to our business. Our training scheme is accredited at the highest level with CIPFA, CIMA and ICAEW in recognition of the comprehensive support provided to trainees.

3 Locations Leeds, London, Sheffield and the North West of England. DWP Businesses Corporate Centre Jobcentre Plus Pension Disability & Carers Service Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission Health & Safety Exec Institutes Supported CIMA, CIPFA, ICAEW Support for Study Towards Professional Qualifications A 3 to 4 year programme of study towards a professional accountancy qualification. We will meet the costs of registering you with the professional body and with the tuition provider, open learning materials, tuition fees, examination fees, exemption fees if applicable, plus the Institute s annual membership subscription each year. Provide you with a generous study leave entitlement. Provide tailored job placements in different parts of our organisation to provide a wide variety of experience whilst making a real contribution to our business. These will include a range of key finance experiences, such as: management and financial accounting, governance and risk, strategic planning. They will also include placements in the businesses as well as our finance directorate, so that you gain an understanding of operational and policy issues. In some instances we are able to offer placements in external organisations to further enhance your understanding of the role of the finance function. Provide a qualified, trained mentor for you for the duration of the programme. Provide a buddy, who is a more experienced trainee. The buddy will offer advice and informal support to you soon after you receive a job offer, and in your early days on the scheme. Encourage you to become active in your Institute. Many of our trainees take on roles in local or national Institute committees and groups.

4 Qualification Criteria Minimum entry requirements External candidates must have a 2:2 honours degree (predicted or equivalent) in any discipline, to apply for these posts. All FMDS trainees will start their career in the DWP as an Executive Officer unless already a member of the civil service and working at a higher grade. For this reason, applications are welcome from existing Civil Servants working at Higher Executive Officer (HEO) level or below. While external candidates must meet the minimum entry requirements as stated above, applications are also welcome from those candidates who have already completed some professional accountancy qualifications up to but no further than stage 2 as shown in Table 1 overleaf. Applications from those candidates who have completed stage 3 or above as shown in Table 1 will not be accepted. Internal candidates currently working for DWP or one of its agencies should refer to their internal vacancy notice for details of entry requirements. Other Development On joining us you will receive an induction to the department and the training scheme, which includes meeting with a representative of the professional Institute you will be studying with. You will be offered a wide variety of training and development to enable you to progress quickly to a senior position within the organisation. Your development planning begins with the feedback report from the selection process. Working jointly with your mentor, you will develop a tailored personal development programme. There will be some needs in your programme that are specific to you as an individual, but there are also some needs that many trainees will share. A group of trainees arranges bespoke high-impact training to meet the shared needs. The training offered through this group covers many topics, including leadership, communication and thinking skills. A variety of formats for delivery are used including conventional training courses, short training sessions of up to 90 minutes and outward bound training. You may also undertake other development such as shadowing a senior director or receiving coaching from your line manager.

5 Trainees are also supported to design, develop and deliver their own six monthly networking events. These include training, information sharing, and structured feedback on performance in team challenges. In all cases the learning for performance in the workplace is drawn out, to enable the trainee to continue to develop. Salary Progression and Benefits The starting salary will be 22,600 plus benefits for Leeds, Sheffield and the North West of England and 26,650 plus benefits for London. Flexible starting pay may be considered. All FMDS trainees will start their career in the DWP as an Executive Officer (unless already a member of the civil service and higher graded). Having reviewed market rates, we have identified a trainee entry point, which places trainees part way up this scale from the outset. The Executive Officer (EO) grade is the third grade in the Department s grading structure. Once you have successfully completed two year s experience within the department s finance function, at least one of which must be as a member of the FMDS and stage 2 of your accountancy studies (the definition of which is shown in the table below), provided you meet the performance, behaviour and potential criteria, you will then be considered for promotion to Higher Executive Officer (HEO) grade.

6 Table 1: Summary of current trainee pay and progression arrangements STAGE CIPFA CIMA ICAEW Pay scale On joining scheme On completion of stage 1 On completion stage 2 On completion stage 3 On completion stage 4 On qualification On joining On joining On joining Certificate Diploma Year 1, 4 full papers Completion of Diploma Year 2 Final Test of Professional Competence Certificate & 2 papers at Managerial Level Completion of Managerial Level Strategic Level TOPCIMA Professional Stage Knowledge & 2 Application papers Completion of Application Papers at Professional Stage 2 papers at Advanced Stage Advanced Case Study Qualification Qualification Qualification EO normal trainee entry point EO with normal progression from trainee entry point above HEO on normal promotion terms from previous point HEO with 10% uprating HEO with normal progression HEO with progression to top of scale Additional Reward Nil Nil Nil Nil 1,000 lump sum 2,000 lump sum After qualification, individuals compete for promotion in the same way that other staff do. We believe that the scheme has provided a range of experience and training that positions individuals to make the most of their potential. We expect qualified accountants to achieve Senior Executive Officer (SEO) grade within two years of qualification.

7 Table 2: Extract of the current pay scales (subject to review) NATIONAL PAYSCALES Executive Officer Grade INNER LONDON PAYSCALES Executive Officer Grade Max 24,230 Max 28,130 Min 21,320 Min 23,940 Higher Executive Officer Higher Executive Officer Max 29,800 Max 33,530 Min 24,660 Min 28,250 Qualified Accountant Senior Executive Officer Qualified Accountant Senior Executive Officer Max 42,920 Max 47,380 Min 36,850 Min 42,180 Hours Full time staff work 37 hours a week (36 hours in London). Flexible working hours are available. Pension The DWP provides a Civil Service Pension scheme which includes a choice of final salary benefits giving the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you. Leave You will usually start with 22 days paid annual leave, rising to 25 days after 1 year and you will also be entitled to 10.5 days privilege and public holidays a year. Leave for part time staff is calculated on a pro rata basis. The DWP also operates a flexible working scheme, under which you can work additional hours, subject to business need, and then build up a bank of time that use can use to take a day off. So for example, if you worked an extra hour a day for 8 days, you would subject to business cover and with the agreement of your manager then be able to take a day s leave. Trainees often use this flexibility to create additional study time.

8 Study Leave You will be provided with study leave to undertake your training. People Friendly Policies DWP values its employees and provides a range of policies that allows staff to balance work and family life. Examples of People Friendly policies are:- antenatal care, paid maternity leave, paid paternity leave and flexible working. Career Development DWP places a high priority on staff development and ensures that each member of staff fulfils their potential by providing extensive training at all levels. This scheme will give you the opportunity to gain experience, knowledge and skills in a wide variety of finance disciplines. We are looking for candidates who are aiming high, who will work hard and make the most of the opportunities available, so that they may progress quickly through the organisation. We do not require repayment of training fees if you do choose to move to another employer post-qualification. We offer excellent development post-qualification, including further qualifications such as MBAs, MSCs etc, and structured development programmes. The career opportunities we offer postqualification are excellent too, and we believe that you will want to stay with us. Probation Your appointment will be subject to satisfactorily completing a 6 month probation period. Disability The DWP operates a guaranteed interview scheme (GIS) for disabled candidates (as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995) and will interview any person with a disability who meets the minimum selection criteria for this appointment. If you wish to apply for consideration under this scheme, please complete the relevant section in your application. Summer Diversity Internship Programme The DWP takes part in the Summer Diversity Internship Programme run by the Cabinet Office. This is an Internship Programme for ethnic minority and disabled students only, which has the aim of providing high calibre undergraduates/graduates with a 6-9 weeks training work placement within government departments.

9 The scheme is an excellent way to gain real-life experience of how departments function, policy areas they are responsible for and how their work impacts on the public. The programme will only be open to eligible applicants who are of high calibre who do not receive a job offer under the Financial Management Development Scheme. While there is no guarantee that an internship will be available if a final job offer is not made by DWP, eligible candidates who are interested in the opportunity should indicated this in the relevant section of their application. Nationality As DWP is a government department, people have to meet certain legal nationality requirements to become an employee. Your application will be considered if you are one of the following: British National, National of the European Economic Area (EEA), National of the European Union (EU), Citizen of the Republic of Ireland (Eire), Commonwealth Citizens who have permission to work in the country, British Protected person. If your nationality is not included in this list, please contact the number in the advert for further information before completing this application. Please note: If you are appointed, documentary evidence will be sought to confirm your answers. Equal Opportunities DWP operate a people friendly policy and are an equal opportunities employer. We intend to make sure that there is equality of opportunity and fair treatment for all, regardless of gender, marital status, sexual orientation, race, colour, nationality, religion, age, disability, HIV positively, working pattern, caring responsibilities, trade union activity or political beliefs or any other grounds. Employment Enquiry Form You will need to complete an employment enquiry form if invited to the Assessment Centre, in order for certain checks to be made to ensure you are suitable to work for the Department for Work and Pensions. This may include a Criminal Records Bureau check.

10 Data Protection CRIMINAL RECORDS: Please Note: When applying for a sensitive post within DWP, you may be subject to criminal records check. If you are appointed to a sensitive post, we will seek your authorisation to undertake the check prior to your appointment. Data Protection Act (1998) The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) collects information for purposes related to your application and potential employment. We may check information provided by you, or information about you provided by a third party, with other information held by us. We will not disclose information about you to anyone outside DWP unless the law permits us to. The information provided by you in this application and the supporting documentation will be used by the panel to consider your suitability for the panel or post. If you are successful, this information will become part of your employment record. If you are unsuccessful, some data will be used for monitoring purposes and will be destroyed after 12 months. DWP is the Data Controller for the purposes of the Data Protection Act. If you want to know more about what information we have about you, or the way we use your information, you should contact the number in the advert for further information.