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We encourage flexible and hybrid working but although this role can be based anywhere, some office attendance is required depending on business need. This role is based in Cardiff office.
About the job…
Job summary
We’re responsible for Land Transaction Tax and Landfill Disposals Tax. Our work raises revenue to support public services, like the NHS and schools, in communities across Wales. But that’s not all, we’re also involved with and support future tax design for Wales.
Join a place with purpose
You’ll join a team of 80+ talented people from across 14 different professions. Our culture is best described as innovative, collaborative and kind.
By working together, we’ll deliver a fair tax system for Wales.
You’ll be working with…
Our people come from a wide range of backgrounds and experience. From Operations, Policy, Digital and Data, HR, Communications to Finance – there’s a place for you in our friendly team.
You’ll be our greatest asset
When you join us, you’ll be part of a fair and inclusive team where you can thrive, be rewarded and heard.
We’ve consistently featured in the top 3 for people engagement in the Civil Service People Survey. Inclusion and fairness are our most strongest scoring areas – see our latest People Survey results.
And we’re recognised for our innovation as a digital ‘cloud-based’ organisation that supports hybrid and flexible working that enables a great work-life balance. More about working for us, our roles and our Corporate Plan 2022 – 2025.
Job description
Working directly to the Chief Executive, the Chief Finance Officer will play a vital role in leading and managing our finance function to both deliver everyday excellence in our tax collection functions, and also to shape the future of the organisation as a key strategic partner. They will enjoy the responsibility of making high-level decisions, prioritising and setting future direction, balancing risk and opportunity, providing assurance to the Accounting Officer for both the corporate budget and the expected tax income of around £0.5bn per annum.
The Chief Finance Officer will need to be an inspiring, confident leader, adaptable and with sound judgement. Able to influence effectively at Board level, they will be a key player both internally as part of Tîm Arwain (WRA’s executive committee) and externally with Welsh Government and Ministers and, as we take on Visitor Levy this will extend to include Local Authorities in Wales. To be successful in the role, they will need to enjoy creating long-term plans, providing clarity on complex topics to non-finance colleagues, and being central to decision making in the organisation.
The finance function is still growing and the CFO will be a visible role model to both the finance teams, and as a corporate leader WRA-wide. We are looking for an individual who can use their influence and leverage to drive transformational change in the business to ensure the delivery of the current Corporate Plan and beyond, while balancing the need to deliver value for money. To enjoy the role, they will appreciate that the WRA is evolving, not least with the advent of Visitor Levy, and there is much to do, and that the role will change over time.
“This is an exciting opportunity for a finance professional to help shape the financial future of the WRA. As a member of our leadership team, you will have an important role in inspiring the WRA to build on the success we’ve delivered to date.”
Dyfed Alsop, Chief Executive.
Person specification
- Structure the financial future of the WRA
- Lead and develop the WRA’s finance function (including tax and corporate finance, contracts and purchasing)
- Aid strategic decision making, acting as a strategic partner to the CEO and Accounting Officer
- Oversee the WRA’s budgetary procedures, advise the Board on its financial plans, leading on the work to determine the setting and management of its budget
- Facilitate discussion to engage Tîm Arwain (WRA’s Executive Committee) and the Board in owning the financial future of the organisation, by explaining and building the senior leadership’s financial knowledge and keeping conversations strategic and focused
- Advising Ministers in clear terms on the strategic consequences of financial decisions
- Creating strategic relationships with Local Authorities through regular reporting to senior stakeholders becoming a trusted partner for Visitor Levy and beyond
- Ensuring consideration of financial performance and planning at appropriate levels throughout the organisation
- Proactively asses the financial risks and opportunities the organisation faces and ensure steps are taken, as a leadership team, to address them
- Ensure the annual financial reporting cycle is delivered according to Government finance standards (for example, the FReM) as assessed externally (for example, by the Welsh Audit Office)
- Lead the work on purchasing and contract management to ensure value for money, due diligence and compliance
- Oversee the continuous improvement of the finance system
- Role model and champion continuous development, overseeing the creation of long-term talent and career management of all staff, providing a range of development experiences including professional qualifications and development
- Act as a corporate leader across WRA, with particular ownership of the “Efficiency” areas of the 2019-2022 Corporate Plan, to be a visible and inspirational role model for leadership behaviours to all our people.
Languages
The following list of language requirements represents an objective assessment of the Welsh language skills required to undertake the duties of this post:
Welsh language skills – Welsh skills are desirableReading 0 = No skills
Spoken 0 = No skills
Understanding 0 = No skills
Written 0 = No skills
Welsh desirable means that having Welsh language skills would be useful in this role, but it is not an assessment criteria so it won’t put you at any disadvantage during recruitment if you aren’t a Welsh speaker. We support all staff to learn or improve their Welsh language skills once they join us.
Benefits…
Alongside your salary of £70,455, Welsh Revenue Authority contributes £19,022 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
- 31 days annual leave + Bank Holidays, and 2 Privilege days
- Flexible and hybrid working
- Generous employer contribution pension schemes ranging from 24% to 34%
- Time off for wellbeing activities
- Green car scheme
- Cycle2Work and season travel tickets
- Access to subsidised sports groups
- Generous family-friendly leave policies
- Free Welsh language courses and time off to learn
- Access to a range of staff diversity networks
- Free counselling and support service via our Employee Assistance Programme
Things you need to know…
Selection process details
We recruit using success profiles. Our success profiles guidance will help you in completing your application.
In brief, this approach means:
- we look for evidence of what you have done and what you can do. This means we look for the behaviours, strengths and ability needed to do the job
- where necessary or relevant, we also consider experience and technical knowledge
- this approach starts at application stage and continues throughout the recruitment process
- we may only look for some things at certain stages. We’ll always be clear what we’re looking for and when
You should highlight evidence from the table below during the recruitment process. You may also wish to refer to the main tasks mentioned above.
Whilst the use of Generative AI (GenAI) isn’t prohibited, it must be used truthfully and your application must be factually accurate. It should be noted that presenting ideas and experience generated by artificial intelligence as your own, may be considered plagiarism.
Candidate information session
We will be holding a virtual information session for candidates on 22 August 2024 at 12.00-12.30pm on Microsoft Teams. This will be an opportunity for you to find out more about the role. If you would like to attend, register for the information session please email recruitment@wra.gov.wales.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
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