Senior Assurance Technical Officer

Job summary

IMPORTANT - This vacancy is using the Civil Service Numerical and Verbal tests. The deadline for completing the tests is the same as the vacancy closing date. Please ensure you complete the tests with sufficient time to complete the written application.

About the team

This role is in the Assurance Division of the Funding and Financial Oversight Directorate (FFO) of Operations and Infrastructure Group – FFO Assurance. The division is led by the assurance deputy director and comprises 3 grade 6 senior managers, 10 grade 7 managers and 47 assurance staff.

The team provides regularity assurance to the Department’s Accounting Officer on DfE grants / funding of circa £100 billion to local authorities, academy trusts, FE colleges, higher education providers and independent training providers .

Job description

About the role

We are looking for an experienced professional with a strong background in IT, product development, data analysis, and digital solutions to drive the design and delivery of critical IT assurance tools and related initiatives.

This is an exciting time for the Assurance Division. DfE funding for the schools and early years sectors continues to grow, with the recent expansion in Early Years funded childcare places and the growth in Special Education Needs funding, as well as significant developments in post-16 funding, particularly around devolution. This change and growth, together with the need for the Division to make better use of technology, including automation and AI, means that we need a technical officer to support the Division.

You will lead and support continuous improvement of our assurance services through the greater use of technology, automation, digitisation and AI. You will lead the development / further development of new and existing IT assurance tools and products, including DfE’s Provider Data Self-Assessment Tool (PDSAT),(PDSAT is a data interrogation / analysis tool, developed by DfE for post-16 providers and auditors, to check the validity and accuracy of providers’ post-16 funding data and returns), to facilitate the delivery of more effective and efficient assurance services. The role will include working alongside assurance managers and colleagues in the FFO Intelligence and Solutions Team and in Enterprise Data for Funding & Oversight (EDFO) to identify and oversee the development of the tools and products.

The ideal candidate will have a good understanding of how technology solutions are designed and delivered, how assurance activities operate, and how data can be used to improve risk identification, assurance coverage, and the evaluation of errors and issues. You will bring experience in areas such as software and product design, digital transformation, automation, data interrogation and analysis, and stakeholder engagement. An understanding of internal control frameworks and risk-based assurance approaches would be advantageous.

PDSAT is a data interrogation / analysis tool, developed by DfE for post-16 providers and auditors, to check the validity and accuracy of providers’ post-16 funding data and returns.

Responsibilities will include, but not limited to for the roles:

Delivery

• Lead the development / further development of new and existing IT assurance tools and products, including DfE’s Provider Data Self-Assessment Tool (PDSAT).
• Lead the annual development/continuous improvement of DfE’s Provider Data Self-Assessment Tool (PDSAT), together with its sampling tool and audit working papers, including development of the specification, engagement with, stakeholders, including funding policy teams and software developers (Enterprise Data for Funding & Oversight (EDFO)), testing and quality assurance.
• Lead and support continuous improvement of our assurance services through the greater use of technology, automation, digitisation and AI.
• Develop guidance and user support resources for internal and external stakeholders, which support PDSAT and other assurance tools.
• Develop and deliver training sessions for internal and external stakeholders, which support PDSAT and other assurance tools.
• Work with assurance managers and the Intelligence and Solutions Team, supporting the delivery of the annual regularity assurance programme, through:
• Development of statistical sampling methodologies and preparation of statistical samples.
• Development of error evaluation models, the analysis and reporting of errors, including estimation of population errors for funding streams.
• Supporting liaison with the NAO Audit Team to facilitate delivery of their regularity audit of grants (a key element of their external audit of the Department’s annua report and accounts).
• Own outputs and deliverables, ensuring work aligns with wider assurance objectives, departmental and strategic priorities.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including policy teams, The Intelligence and Solutions Team, EDFO, providers and audit firms.

We welcome applications from candidates seeking part time or compressed working pattern. However, due to the nature of the work and the shift coverage required, the minimum number of contracted hours for this role is 30 hours per week over a 4 day period.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Good understanding of the software development lifecycle , including requirements gathering, user research, testing, quality assurance, and interpreting complex regulatory and data requirements.
• Experience in supporting product design and digital transformation , including process mapping, workflow design, process improvement, automation, benefits realisation, and the use of AI and digital technologies to improve outcomes.
• Good understanding of data engineering and analysis , including data modelling, extraction, validation, cleansing, reconciliation, data quality assurance, and the use of Excel (including VBA/macros), Power Query, Power BI, SQL, and similar data automation and reporting tools to support decision-making.
• Strong planning and organisational skills , with the ability to manage competing priorities, risks, and deadlines effectively.
• Strong stakeholder management, influencing, and communication skills , with the ability to build relationships and communicate clearly with technical and non-technical audiences, both verbally and in writing.

Desirable criteria

• Experience in assurance, audit, risk management, governance and/or control environments, including understanding of assurance and sampling methodologies, internal control frameworks, error detection techniques and assurance reporting.
• Knowledge of the education, academy and/or local authority sectors, including working with academies, FE colleges and independent training providers.
• Knowledge of post-16 funding, including Adult Skills Fund, apprenticeships and 16 to 19 study programmes, as well as Individualised Learner Records (ILR).
• Knowledge of regularity requirements within public and/or education bodies.

Desirable criteria will only be assessed at interview in the event of a tie break situation to make an informed decision.

Behaviours

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

• Changing and Improving
• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,305, Department for Education contributes

£12,835 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).

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

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 and Experience.

To apply for this role, please select 'Apply Now' at the top or bottom of this advert. CV details need to be included in the template within the application form; attached or emailed CVs will not be considered.

Stage 1: Civil Service Numerical Test (CSNT)

When you have completed your personal information, you will be asked to complete the CSNT. You must achieve the minimum pass mark to progress to the next stage.

Stage 2: Civil Service Verbal Test (CSVT)

When you have completed the CSNT, you will be asked to complete the CSVT. You must achieve the minimum pass mark to progress to the next stage.

It is important you allow enough time to complete the test online (within 24-48 hours is recommended), and obtain the results before you can complete your full application online prior to the test closing date and time.

Do not leave completing the tests until the last minute in case you experience any access or technical issues. There may not be technical support available after business hours.

While the tests should work on most operating systems and modern browsers with a good internet connection, we cannot guarantee that every combination will work. At the beginning, the test will check which browser you are using, and alert you if it is likely to be incompatible.

It is highly recommended that you complete the online tests on a desktop computer, not a mobile phone or tablet.

If candidates require reasonable adjustments during the application process, or online test process, please allow sufficient time (at least 5 working days prior to the closing date) to allow us to review and progress your application to the next stage of the process.

Please note that there is no candidate support available from Friday 5pm until Monday 9am.

If you are unsuccessful in passing the online tests you will be unable to continue any further in the application process. If you successfully pass the tests, you will then progress to stage 3 of completing the full application.

Stage 3: Written Application

At sift stage, you will be assessed on your Experience in line with the essential criteria listed in the person specification section of the job advert. You will also be assessed on the Behaviours listed in the advert.

To apply for this role, pl