Job summary
Our aim at Companies House is to be the best business registry in the world. We're�currently undertaking an ambitious programme of organisational transformation, underpinned by legislative reform and the introduction of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA) 2023.
As a Senior Policy Adviser, you'll be part of the policy team responsible for the development and delivery of all ECCTA 2023 measures, and the development of secondary legislation.
There are two posts available:
1. Accounts & Reporting - You will take a senior lead role in the Accounts and Reporting team developing policy and legislation for the filing of company accounts, working closely with other Government departments and multi-disciplinary teams across Companies House.
As we transition towards becoming a fully digital organization and the move to software-only filing of accounts, you will work closely with colleagues to ensure our systems are enabled for all account types and compliant with the law, helping to communicate the changes and requirements clearly to our customers and partners.
You will also help to deliver the Government�s commitment for �full tagging� of company accounts delivered to the Registrar, so that complete company accounts can be delivered in a digital format and helping to ensure our financial reporting systems are kept abreast of advancements in digital technology. You will represent the team and Companies House through membership of UK Taxonomy Governance groups, providing regular engagement with Financial Reporting Council, HMRC and other government partners to support ongoing Annual Taxonomy updates.
This is a great opportunity to create and introduce policy that will deliver a more streamlined accounts filing process for companies, improve the transparency of company accounts and the quality of financial information available on the public register.
2. The second post will focus primarily on measures related to compliance and enforcement. ECCTA 2023 gives Companies House the power to play a more significant role in tackling economic crime and supporting economic growth. Over time, the measures will lead to improved transparency and more accurate and trusted information on our registers. This is an opportunity to develop and implement policy that will tackle economic crime and help to drive confidence in the UK economy. This post will also be responsible for working with Finance colleagues on policies related to fees charged for our services.
If you can see yourself in either of these policy roles, we�d love to hear from you.
Job description
This is an exciting opportunity for you to work in a busy, outward-looking team. As a Senior Policy Advisor you�ll develop policy and legislation for the filing of company accounts and provide expert advice to operational colleagues, working closely with multi-disciplinary teams across Companies House.
You will:
1. Work closely with DBT, FRC, HMRC and other government departments to develop policy and legislative change.
2. Support implementation of the new ECCT Act requirements, including developing the secondary legislation and guidance about the new filing requirements placed upon companies.
3. Develop expertise and provide advice to colleagues on complex queries received from companies and colleagues about filing requirements, also during meetings with business areas and workshops.
4. Provide advice and support for service owners and work closely with other business areas to influence stakeholders and communicate policy intent / requirements.
5. Analyse legislation to assess potential impacts on our processes, systems and customers, and advise colleagues accordingly.
6. Take ownership of specified workstreams, working closely with colleagues on projects that enable the digitization of accounts and their filing journey, meeting our aim of becoming a fully digital organization.
7. Develop and maintaining strong working relationships with key stakeholders in business teams and the accounting profession.
8. Represent Companies House and the team through membership of Boards and at cross-Government meetings.
9. Draft policy papers for consideration at Business Boards and panels.
10. Consider and draft responses to Ministerial and Chief Executive correspondence.
Person specification
We�re looking for a Senior Policy Advisor who:
11. Can effectively develop policy proposals that support delivery of a high profile, ambitious transformation programme.
12. Has strong analytical skills and is able to understand complex concepts and legislation.
13. Has knowledge and experience of working with legislation and the process of legislative development.
14. Is a confident communicator - effectively articulating detailed proposals in a manner that ensures understanding and encourages engagement.
15. Is a great team player, able to support the principal policy adviser and senior colleagues with detailed analysis.
16. Is able to provide clear recommendations based on their expertise.
17. Is able to build and maintain a strong network of stakeholders (internally and externally) and is confident collaborating with colleagues at all levels.
18. Works at pace and is resilient under pressure; juggling competing priorities and delivering on time and to high quality.
To be assessed through the interview activity:
19. Policy skills including drafting, analysis and briefing
Desirable, but not essential:
20. Accountancy experience or understanding of company accounts/company law.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
21. Seeing the Big Picture
22. Making Effective Decisions
23. Leadership
24. Communicating and Influencing
Benefits
Alongside your salary of �40,676, Companies House contributes �10,982 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
Please note that the minimum salary does not reflect the 2023/24 pay deal and we are therefore expecting this to increase in the near future.
Join us at and experience the difference of working within a culture that values you, not only as an employee, but as an integral part of our Companies House team.�
We believe that our success is driven by the well-being and satisfaction of our team members at all levels of the organisation. At Companies House we�re committed to providing a comprehensive benefits package that goes beyond the ordinary, ensuring your career journey with us is not only fulfilling, but also rewarding. We pride ourselves on offering a quality work-life balance with our employee wellbeing being central to our working practices.�
Head to� to find out more about the fantastic benefits package we have at Companies House.��
We celebrate diversity...�
As an equal opportunity employer, we celebrate diversity, being committed to ensuring we�re representative of the citizens we serve and creating an inclusive environment. Everyone in Companies House brings something different, and so will you. To fulfil our commitment to recruiting and attracting diverse talent we welcome applications from underrepresented groups. We also welcome applications from Welsh speakers.�
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the��and the�
Where will you be working?�
You will be aligned to our Cardiff Office, where we are currently using a hybrid approach to the way we work. Our approach to hybrid working provides opportunities for you to be adaptable in the way you work so that you can achieve a healthy balance between your work and home life. The degree of choice you have will depend on business need, your role and your day-to-day work activities and will be discussed at offer stage.
We're�currently exploring options for new office space in the Cardiff and surrounding areas as we're due to be moving from our current building - join us on this journey where we can support you in your career and professional growth. Details are still being confirmed about our new building and we're keeping all our colleagues updated.�
About the team...
Following enactment of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill in October 2023 () we are working closely with the Department for Business and Trade and other government departments to develop policy and legislation that promotes the UK as the best place in the world to start and grow a business, while also strengthening our ability to combat economic crime. With a key role to play in register reform, there has never been a better time to join our brilliant policy team.