Financial Controller Grade (PO10) Candidate Information Pack

Transcription

1 Financial Controller Grade (PO10) Candidate Information Pack

2 CONTENTS Section 1 Foreword 3 Page Section 2 Organisational Information 4 Section 3 The Role 6 Section 4 Job Description 7 Section 5 Person Specification 11 Section 6 Conditions of Appointment 13 Section 7 Guidance Notes for Applicants 15 Section 8 Additional Information 17 Section 9 Application Form Checklist 19 Financial Controller Candidate Pack October 2015 Page 2 of 19

3 Section 1 Foreword Thank you for your interest in applying for the position of Financial Controller. The successful candidate will be the senior operational lead responsible for the provision of effective and efficient services within the Finance Directorate within the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS). The Financial Controller as a member of the senior management team, will help develop and implement financial strategy, support senior management throughout the organisation and manage a team of professional staff to ensure effective service delivery and compliance with financial regulations. I am currently undertaking a structural review of the Directorate. The Financial Controller will play a key role in the effective implementation of the new structure including reviewing the systems, processes and working practices required to support the change agenda. This is an excellent opportunity for a senior manager who has the ability to lead and deliver significant change and improvement across an organisation. Strong project and people management skills are key to success in this demanding role along with the ability to meet challenging corporate objectives. If you feel you have the required skills and experience NIFRS would invite you to apply for this post. Josephine Kelly Director of Finance Financial Controller Candidate Pack October 2015 Page 3 of 19

4 Section 2 Organisational Information This information pack is designed to provide you with a brief overview of NIFRS s terms and conditions, along with information which should assist you in the completion of your application form. NIFRS protects and serves the entire population of Northern Ireland, an area of over 5,500 square miles and with a population of 1.8 million, providing them with a range of fire and rescue services. Under The Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 and The Fire and Rescue Services (Emergencies) Order (Northern Ireland) 2011, we respond to fires, road traffic collisions and other emergencies including chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear incidents, search and rescue incidents, serious flooding and serious transport incidents. We provide a range of community engagement initiatives to help reduce risk and keep people safe from the dangers of fire and other types of incidents that we respond to. We have a dedicated 999 Regional Control Centre where all the fire 999 calls for Northern Ireland are answered and fire crews mobilised to respond. As an organisation we have a shared vision, a clear mission and values that underpin absolutely everything we do. Our Vision: Our Mission: Protecting Our Community. To deliver a fire and rescue service and work in partnership with others to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our community. Our Values: We are committed to: People - We value keeping our people safe and well trained; Leadership - We value leading by example; Teamwork - We value working together; Integrity - We value the utmost integrity in everything we do; Diversity - We value equality and fairness and we consider the needs of our staff and the community we serve; Communication - We value open and honest communication with our staff and with all our stakeholders; Partnership - We value working in partnership; and Pursuit of Excellence - We value continuous improvement at all levels of our organisation. Financial Controller Candidate Pack October 2015 Page 4 of 19

5 Our Operational Structure We currently have 4 operational Area Commands Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western. Area Commanders, each responsible for one of the 4 Area Commands, manage operational activity on a day to day basis. Our 4 Area Commands are supported by 14 Districts, strategically placed across Northern Ireland and which create a community focus for NIFRS activities. District Commanders are responsible for the Fire Stations in their District. There are 68 Fire Stations across Northern Ireland each serving their local community. Our Headquarters and Regional Control Centre are based in Lisburn and our Fire & Rescue Service Training Centre is currently situated at Boucher Crescent in Belfast. NIFRS has with 917 Wholetime Firefighters who work together with 994 Community Firefighters to protect the local community. Further details in relation to Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service are available on the NIFRS website: You can also follow NIFRS on Social Media - Facebook ( and Twitter (@nifrsofficial). Financial Controller Candidate Pack October 2015 Page 5 of 19

6 Section 3 The Role The main purpose of the Financial Controller role is; To be the senior operational lead responsible for the effective and efficient delivery of the services within the Finance Directorate. The post holder will assist in developing the Financial Strategy for NIFRS; lead a team of professional staff who oversee the planning and delivery of services within the Finance Directorate. To contribute as an integral member of the Finance team to the provision of a modern professional and responsive Finance service to underpin the vision and mission of NIFRS as outlined below: Vision Protecting Our Community Mission To deliver a fire and rescue service and work in partnership with others to ensure the safety and well-being of our community Please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification within this pack for full details of the requirements for this role. Financial Controller Candidate Pack October 2015 Page 6 of 19

7 Section 4 Job Description Ref No: N078/10/2015 Date: 28 September 2015 Dept: Section: Job Title: Grade: Reports to: Finance Finance Financial Controller PO10 Director of Finance Summary of responsibilities and personal duties: Strategic Financial Planning 1. To support the Director of Finance in ensuring that the strategic direction of the Finance Department enables and supports NIFRS service delivery model. 2. To ensure financial strategies, policies and procedures are aligned to the legislative context, Financial Regulations and best practice. 3. To work with the Director of Finance in formulating financial forecasts and plans to enable service delivery. 4. To work in conjunction with key internal and external stakeholders to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of financial support services. 5. To provide expert advice and guidance to senior management throughout NIFRS. Financial Management 6. To be the senior operational lead for financial, management and capital accounting. 7. To be responsible for the development of the annual revenue and capital budgets and subsequent production of budgetary and outturn forecasts and issue of periodic reports, including monthly management accounts and monitoring returns for to the Board, Corporate Management Team and the Sponsoring Government Department. Financial Controller Candidate Pack October 2015 Page 7 of 19

8 8. To be responsible for maintaining adequate financial controls and procedures and other arrangements to ensure value for money, priority and regularity. 9. To manage and co-ordinate the preparation of internal and external Business Cases and Economic Appraisals used to support expenditure. 10. To assist in the preparation of such financial information, briefing material, and reports as required by the Director of Finance. 11. To manage and co-ordinate with the Financial Accountant, the preparation of the Statutory Financial Statements in accordance with Departmental and Public Sector Directives, Financial Reporting requirements and other relevant guidance. 12. To take lead responsibility for the day-to-day management of all of the Finance Directorate internal/external audit assignments and to coordinate timely implementation of audit recommendations, and reviewing and redesigning processes where necessary. 13. To be responsible for formulating and overseeing the implementation of efficiency and cash releasing strategies for NIFRS and ensure that workable plans and targets are set and delivered on a timely basis. 14. To maintain an expert knowledge and up-to-date documentation on the Departmental directives, policy and legislative requirements insofar as they are relevant to NIFRS, and develop and maintain all relevant policies, procedures and practices. 15. To be responsible for assisting in developing Standing Financial Instructions and procedure manuals to ensure probity and regularity over public expenditure. 16. To be responsible for maintaining and enhancing Corporate Governance to ensure high standards of financial administration, probity and control. 17. To undertake any Whistleblowing / Fraud investigations, as required. 18. To be responsible for developing and managing Corporate Banking arrangements and take lead responsibility for developing banking policies, procedures, controls and reconciliations. 19. To ensure the management and development of the Directorate Risk Register so as to ensure that NIFRS complies with relevant statutory guidance and to provide the Board with appropriate reports and recommendations in order to minimise and manage risk. Financial Controller Candidate Pack October 2015 Page 8 of 19

9 Payroll and Pensions 20. To be responsible for overseeing the management of the NIFRS Payroll. 21. To act on the Pensions Board and oversee the management of the Pensions Services Contract. 22. To maintain an expert knowledge and up-to-date documentation in respect of Firefighters and NILGOSC pensions legislation, policies and procedures. Performance Management and Governance 23. To be responsible for Benchmarking activities with both internal and external stakeholders to ensure value for money and the efficient allocation of finite resources. 24. To be responsible for developing and maintaining key performance indicators and monitoring/reporting performance against the indicators. 25. To ensure that expenditure is incurred and accounted for in accordance with NIFRS, Departmental and other relevant standards. 26. To take the lead in or contribute to procurement processes as required. Records Management 27. To be responsible for financial records held, created or used as part of their business including corporate and administrative records whether paper-based or electronic and also including s. 28. To maintain and develop the NIFRS Finance Asset Register. People Management 29. To manage and co-ordinate the work of other staff and take into account complex interdepartmental issues when developing work programmes and prioritise work, to ensure that high quality and consistent accounting information is produced on a timely basis. 30. To participate in the NIFRS Performance Review Scheme and review individually on a regular basis the performance of any direct reports and develop individual development plans as required. 31. To maintain good relationships and morale amongst the Finance Directorate. Financial Controller Candidate Pack October 2015 Page 9 of 19

10 Performance and General Management 32. To represent the Director of Finance, as required. 33. To participate as required in the NIFRS recruitment and selection procedures, chairing panels as required. 34. To keep abreast of professional development issues and take responsibility for personal learning and development to ensure an effective personal contribution to the service. 35. To undertake the duties in such a way as to enhance and protect the reputation and public profile of the NIFRS. 36. To be responsible for promoting, upholding and implementing all NIFRS policies, plans and procedures and those relating to legal requirements such as equality, health and safety, data protection and freedom of information, etc. 37. To undertake any other duties which may be assigned to meet organisational need and the change agenda and which are reasonably regarded as within the nature of the duties, responsibilities and grade of the post as defined. Key Organisational Relationships Internal External Director of Finance Members of the Corporate Management Team (CMT) Members of the Senior Management Team (SMT) Members of the Operational Management Team (OMT) Other Directorates Contractors / Suppliers Internal and External Audit Sponsoring Government Department Applicants Should Note: This job description is subject to review in light of ongoing change within NIFRS and it is therefore not intended to be an exhaustive description of the duties of the post. Other duties appropriate to the grade may be assigned to the post holder to meet organisational need and the change agenda. Financial Controller Candidate Pack October 2015 Page 10 of 19

11 Experience and Qualifications Essential Section 5 Person Specification Applicants must provide evidence by the closing date of application that they meet the following essential criteria: 1. Be a CCAB Qualified Accountant, having successfully completed the professional examinations and been accepted as a Member of one of the following or equivalent: Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICAEW, ICAI, ICAS) Chartered Institute of Management Accountants Chartered Association of Certified Accountants Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy Institute of Cost & Management Accountants 2. Have at least five years relevant post qualification experience at senior management level* in at least two of the following areas: Financial Accounting/Financial Governance Management Accounting and Budgetary Control Capital Accounting/Investment Appraisals Accounting Systems Development *Senior management experience is defined as responsibility for managing a service/business unit, as a Head of Function and normally reporting directly to at least a Director within the organisation. Applicants must provide information on the organisation structure to illustrate this status. 3. At least two years recent** experience in the preparation of Statutory Annual Accounts. **recent will normally mean within the last 5 years 4. Demonstrate successful delivery of change and improvement in the context of challenging financial objectives. 5. Demonstrate experience of: (a) Developing financial solutions for customers and allocating resources to strategic organisational priorities to ensure effective service delivery; (b) Using financial information to make a significant impact on corporate strategic decision making. Financial Controller Candidate Pack October 2015 Page 11 of 19

12 6. Can demonstrate: (a) Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills with a successful track record in developing and maintaining productive working relationships; (b) Excellent planning and organisational skills and the ability to work under the pressure of multiple deadlines. 7. Possess a full, current UK driving licence or have access to a form of transport which enables them to fulfil the full requirements of the job. Desirable 1. Have previous experience of working within the public sector. 2. A proven track record of working in a large, multi-site organisation comparable to NIFRS.*** ***NIFRS employs circa 2,200 staff, has 75 sites (including 68 stations) and a revenue budget of circa 70m. 3. Have previous experience of working with and providing information to Board Committees. Financial Controller Candidate Pack October 2015 Page 12 of 19

13 Section 6 Conditions of Appointment This is an indication of the conditions of appointment and is not intended to be exhaustive. Full conditions of service are contained within the National Joint Council for Local Government Services National Agreement on Pay and Conditions of Service. 1 Pay The salary range is 50, to 53, per annum. The normal expectation is that the successful applicant will commence on is 50, per annum. 2 Increments Increments are normally payable from 1 April in each year, subject to satisfactory service. 3 Hours Currently 36¼ hours per week, Monday to Friday, 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. A Flexible Working Hours Scheme is in operation. In view of the level of this appointment, the postholder will be required to work in such a way as to fulfil the obligations of the post. 4 Annual Leave Details of Annual Leave entitlement, based on a 5-day week, are as follows: (a) Annual Leave (b) Officers with 5 or more years service in Local Government 23 days; 28 days; (c) Officers with 10 or more years service in Local Government 31 days. Annual leave may only be taken as it accrues during the first 6 months of service. Financial Controller Candidate Pack October 2015 Page 13 of 19

14 5 Pension Under current pensions legislation, NIFRS employees automatically join the Northern Ireland Local Government Superannuation Scheme. Upon joining the Scheme, NILGOSC will issue you with a members guide. Further information in relation to the Scheme can be found on the NILGOSC website. At present the employee contribution for the first point of the scale is 8.5% and is in line with the Northern Ireland Local Government Officers' Superannuation Pension Scheme and will be deducted at source. 6 Probation Appointment is subject to the satisfactory completion of a probationary period of 6 months from the date of appointment. 7 Location The role is based at NIFRS Headquarters, 1 Seymour Street, Lisburn, BT27 4SX. 8 Period of Notice The appointment may be terminated by the employee giving 1 month s notice in writing, terminating on the last day of a calendar month. The period of notice to be given to the employee will be as recommended for Local Government Officers. 9 Canvassing Canvassing, in any form, oral or written, direct or indirect, will, if proven, lead to disqualification. 10 Pre-Employment Checks Appointment is subject to; (i) (ii) A satisfactory medical examination. Receipt of satisfactory references. References will only be sought as part of a pre-employment check prior to appointment. References will be taken up from both referees named on the application form, one of which must be a current employer or, if not currently employed, the most recent employer who would have knowledge of the successful candidate in a working environment. Candidates must be specific when providing address/contact details for referees. Financial Controller Candidate Pack October 2015 Page 14 of 19

15 Section 7 Guidance Notes for Applicants 1. Please read the candidate information pack before completing your application form. 2. We will not accept CVs, letters, additional pages or any other supplementary material in place of or in addition to completed application forms. 3. We do not accept applications via You must complete all sections of the application form before your application can be considered. Failure to do so will result in disqualification. 5. You must sign your application form prior to submission. Application forms without a signature will not be accepted and will result in disqualification. 6. All applications must be received by the closing date. Late applications will not be accepted. 7. Ensure that the correct postage is applied as NIFRS will not pay excess postage and as such any application forms with insufficient postage will not be accepted. 8. The space available on the application form is the same for all applicants and must not be altered. 9. You must complete the application form in either typescript font size 12 or legible block capitals using black ink. If typing, you must do so directly into the form. Please do not copy and paste from another document. 10. Candidates must not reformat application forms. The form has been locked to restrict editing. 11. Information in support of your application will not be accepted after the closing date for receipt of applications. 12. Do not use abbreviations or complex technical detail. 13. You must provide evidence in the relevant section of the application form that you meet the criteria by the closing date for applications. 14. You must provide sufficient information for your application to be assessed bearing in mind the criteria for the post. Care should be taken to ensure that details are full, accurate and relevant to the post requirements. You must ensure that the information provided clearly demonstrates how you Financial Controller Candidate Pack October 2015 Page 15 of 19

16 meet the criteria as failure to do so will result in your application not being shortlisted. 15. You must demonstrate how you meet the criteria in the relevant section provided. Each criterion is assessed individually and must therefore be completed in full i.e. you must not rely on information included in a previous section for another criterion. 16. Applicants relying on qualifications regarded as equivalent are responsible for providing evidence as to how qualifications meet the required standard. If equivalence is not immediately clear, no enquiries will be made by NIFRS and your application may not proceed as a result. 17. NIFRS reserve the right to use both the essential and desirable criteria for shortlisting purposes. 18. Communication with candidate during some stages of the selection process may be via , therefore please ensure you provide a valid address and ensure you check your junk mail folder for communication. 19. Please print and sign your completed application form on single sided pages prior to submission. 20. You will be advised of the outcome of your application in writing as soon as possible following each stage of the selection process Financial Controller Candidate Pack October 2015 Page 16 of 19

17 Section 8 Additional Information Reasonable Adjustments If you require any assistance/reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process due to a disability, please give details in the relevant section of the monitoring form on your application form. Details of any disability are only used for this purpose and do not form any part of the selection process. If you would like to speak to someone about reasonable adjustments, please contact the HR Manager Equality, Inclusion and Legal on Tel: Equality Monitoring NIFRS is committed to equality of opportunity for all employees and job applicants, regardless of gender, marital status, disability, age, religious affiliation, political opinion, ethnic origin, dependants or sexual orientation. NIFRS selects those suitable for employment and advancement solely on the basis of merit. In order to comply with legislative requirements, you must complete the Equality Monitoring Form. This also allows us to monitor the effectiveness of our policy of equal opportunities in employment and effectiveness of our recruitment advertising. Please note, this form is regarded as part of your application and failure to complete and return it will result in your application being rejected. Assessment & Interview Documentation All candidates invited to attend for assessment must bring along the required documentation to satisfy the eligibility criteria and documentation checks for the prevention of illegal working. It is the responsibility of the applicant to demonstrate they are entitled to work in the UK. If the individual is unable to produce the relevant documents, or the documents are not satisfactory, the offer of employment may be withdrawn. Candidates are also required to produce original documents to verify their identity, one of which must be photographic identification. Further details regarding acceptable documentation will be issued with invitations. Financial Controller Candidate Pack October 2015 Page 17 of 19

18 Changes in Personal Circumstances Please ensure that you inform us immediately of any changes in personal circumstances. If you decide at any point during the recruitment process to withdraw your application, please inform us as soon as possible. Appeals Please note that candidates cannot appeal any stage of the selection process. Professional membership/qualification Checks The HR Resourcing Unit will carry out checks to confirm professional membership and any qualifications which are listed as essential in the Person Specification. Proof of qualifications and/or professional membership will be carried out at the interview stage. Applicants relying on qualifications regarded as equivalent are responsible for providing evidence as to how their qualifications meet the required standard. If equivalence is not immediately clear to the Selecting Officers, no enquiries will be made by NIFRS and the candidate's application may not proceed as a result. Criminal Convictions Prior to appointment candidates will be asked to declare any criminal convictions. It is essential that you state all offences, including motoring offences, even if they happened a long time ago. Any criminal conviction may never be regarded as spent and must be disclosed when applying for a post within NIFRS. Please note that disclosure of a conviction does not necessarily debar any applicant from obtaining employment. Return of Application Forms Application forms must be completed and returned, in hard copy in the envelope provided or using the label provided, to the Equality Unit, Fire & Rescue Service Headquarters, 1 Seymour Street, Lisburn, BT27 4SX by no later than 3.00 pm on Thursday 22 October Late applications will not be accepted. Financial Controller Candidate Pack October 2015 Page 18 of 19

19 Section 9 Application Form Checklist Please use the checklist below to help ensure that you have completed your form in full and are ready to submit your application. Have you Read the Important Guidance Notes for Applicants on pages of this information pack? Provided full details on relevant qualifications, professional membership, ie, subjects, grades, dates, membership number Clearly demonstrated how you meet all criteria requirements? Provided full up-to-date details of 2 relevant referees? Listed current/previous employment details since leaving education, including details of posts held, exact dates (dd/mm/yy), and a brief summary of main duties? Explained any gaps in employment and listed reasons for leaving previous employment? Read and signed/agreed to the Personal Declaration? Remember, failure to provide complete and accurate information may lead to a withdrawal of employment/offer of employment if this is subsequently discovered. Completed your Equality Monitoring Form? By gathering this information from all applicants it will help us continue to implement positive action programmes, to remove barriers to equality and promote concepts of diversity and equality of opportunity. The job description and person specification will help you prepare for the selection process. Applicants should be aware that NIFRS aim to hold interviews in November In addition, candidates may be asked to complete assessments and/or psychometric tests prior to interview. If you have any queries or would like further information, please refer to the Careers Section of the NIFRS website at or contact the HR Manager, Resourcing and Employee Services on We look forward to receiving your application. Financial Controller Candidate Pack October 2015 Page 19 of 19