Senior Assurance Technical Officer

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.

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.

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

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

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, please provide:

• A Short CV setting out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role.
• Your Statement of Suitability – In no more than 1000 words, provide examples of how your personal skills, qualities and experience meet the essential criteria. This is not intended to be a cover letter, instead work through each essential criteria in turn. You may wish to follow the STAR technique to help focus your examples. The key things we are looking for are what you did, how you did it and what the outcome was.
• 250-word examples to demonstrate how you meet the behaviours listed in the advert.

To confirm, the maximum word count for the statement of suitability is 1000 words. Please adhere to this limit as anything over 1000 words will not be taken into account.

The CV, Statement of Suitability & Behaviours will be assessed against the essential criteria detailed in the advert.

Should there be a high volume of applicants, candidates will be sifted using the lead Behaviour, Changing & Improving, only.

Application sifting will take place w/c 05 October 2026. Please note these dates are subject to change.

Please note, CV details must be contained within the template on the application form. Any CV or Statement of Suitability that has been emailed to our team will not be considered.

Once you have submitted your application it cannot be amended; only submit your application when you have completely finished, answered all the relevant questions and reviewed the information entered.

We reserve the right to increase the minimum pass mark for the CSNT and CSVT where there is a high volume of applications or a particularly strong field of candidates. Where this occurs, candidates who do not meet the revised pass mark will not progress further, and their written application will not be assessed.

If you are successful at application sift stage, your application will be progressed onto Stage 4 of the Selection process.

Stage 4: Presentation/Interview

The interview will be a 2-part process:

Part 1: Prepare and deliver a short presentation (approx. 10 minutes) to the panel. Please be prepared to answer follow up questions on the presentation.

Presentation details

How you would identify and deliver a digital or data-driven improvement to a business process, covering:

• Understanding the problem and gathering requirements
• Stakeholder engagement
• Process and data analysis
• Potential use of automation, AI, and reporting tools
• Risks, challenges, and implementation considerations
• How success and benefits would be measured.

You can use handouts if you wish to. Feel free to use notes as a point of reference, if needed.

Part 2: The interview will last approximately 1 hour. You will be asked questions on the Behaviours and Essential Skills listed above to determine your level of experience in these areas.

Behaviours are the actions and activities that people do which result in effective performance in a job. We want to get an understanding of the actions and activities that you have done (or would do) that result in effective performance.

Experience is the knowledge or mastery of an activity or subject by involvement in or exposure to it. When looking at your experience we are looking for/;

• Previous examples of what you have achieved.
• Your knowledge in a particular field which is relevant to the job role.
• How you performed in a particular field – not how long you served

Sometimes experience from outside work can be transferable from a non-work context. Skills gained through voluntary work or a hobby can show the experience you may need for a role. For example, teamwork or communication.

Interviews will take place early to mid-October 2026. Please note these dates are subject to change. Interviews will be held in person at our Sheffield Hub, ​​​2 St Paul’s Place, 125 Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 2FJ. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

We receive many applications, and unfortunately we’re not able to provide feedback for candidates who aren’t shortlisted. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

All communications will be electronic therefore it is vitally important that you check your Civil Service Jobs account regularly, as well as your spam/junk email folder.

Important Information

If you fail to complete the tests before the deadline, your application will be withdrawn. Guidance will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are untimed, administered via Civil Service Jobs, and applicant guidance is available during the test and online on GOV.UK Online Tests guidance.

Applicants must complete the test on their own, without help, and Departments reserve the right to retest applicants under supervised conditions at later stages of the selection process. Doing this can provide reassurance to recruiters who are concerned about the authenticity of one or more test results.

Please ensure you allow yourself sufficient time to complete both assessments and submit your application before the advertised deadline.

Reasonable adjustments & test accessibility:

See our reasonable adjustments guide for candidates (online tests), or some example case studies, to act as a guide. You can use these to help you decide whether to ask for help or take the test without help.

More information about online tests can be found here: Preparing for the Civil Service Verbal and Numerical tests - GOV.UK. You will also find practice tests on this page if you would find them helpful prior to completing the live test.

Other Information

In your application, please don’t include personal information that identifies you.

This means we can recruit based on your knowledge and skills, and not background, gender or ethnicity - it's called name blind recruitment (opens in a new window).

Please ensure that you remove from your application, all references to your:

• name/title
• educational institutions
• age
• gender
• email address
• postal address
• phone number
• nationality/immigration status

We reserve the right to raise the minimum pass mark in the event of a high volume or strong field of candidates.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK from the location options provided and not from overseas.

The government is committed to supporting apprenticeships, enabling people to learn and progress in a role whilst earning. We want to monitor the number of people who have completed apprenticeships who are now applying to progress further in their career and are asking this question to all candidates, on all vacancies. You will be asked a question as part of the application process about any previous apprenticeships you have completed. Your response to this question will not affect your application and it is not a requirement of the role to have completed a previous apprenticeship.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Department of Education of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks.DFE@education.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Department for Education do not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment unless otherwise stated.

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Candidates will be posted in merit order based upon location preference. Where more than one location is advertised you will be asked to state your preferred location.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

Terms and conditions of candidates transferring from ALBs and NDPBs

Bodies that are not accredited by the Civil Service Commission and are not able to advertise at Across Government on Civil Service jobs will be treated as external new starters and will come into DfE on modernised terms and conditions with a salary at the band minimum.

Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission but do not have civil service status will be offered modernised terms and will not have continuous service recognised for leave or sickness benefits. Salaries should be offered at band minimum, but there is some flexibility where this would cause a detriment to the individual.

Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission and do have Civil Service status will be treated as OGD transfers. Staff appointed on lateral transfer will move on to pre-modernised DfE terms (unless they were on modernised terms in their previous organisation). Staff appointed on promotion will move on to modernised DfE terms. Staff will transfer over on their existing salary (on lateral transfer) and any pay above the DfE pay band maximum will be paid as a mark time allowance. Staff moving on promotion will have their salaries calculated using the principles set out in the attached OGD transfer supplementary information.

Reasonable adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Department of Education via centralrecruitment.operations@education.gov.uk soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Please refer to the attached ‘Reasonable Adjustments Guide 05_2025 – accessible version’ at the bottom of the advert, for further information.

Childcare Vouchers

Any move to Department for Education (DfE) will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.