Apply before
12/08/2026, 23:55
Reference number
1078
Salary
£47049
RRA - Recruitment and Retention Allowance (Per Annum)
£ 1000
Role grade
G4
Contract type
Permanent, Fixed Term Appointment, Loan, Secondment
Length of employment
24 months
Please note that the Length of Employment does not include those hired on Permanent contracts.
Command
Corporate Business Services (CBS)
Business Area
Finance
Type of role
Accountancy, Analytical, Audit, Corporate Finance, Finance
Working pattern
Full time, Part time, Flexible Working, Job share
Number of roles available
1
Senior Finance Officer - Payroll and Pensions
Location(s)
Belfast, Bristol, Warrington
About the Role
Information about the Command
Corporate Business Services (CBS) is led by the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the NCA and enables the operational capability of the NCA to protect the public from serious and organised crime.
The command includes Business Services, Commercial, Concordis Programme, Estates and Finance. Together, these functions ensure the NCA's activity is financially and commercially compliant, helps achieve value for money and improves the Agency financial capabilities and performance. CBS also aligns the NCA estates strategy in promoting a safe, secure and compliant estate with delivering a fit for purpose vehicle Fleet in line with a sustainability and fleet strategy.
Information about the Business Area
The Finance team provide effective and timely financial and management reports, in line with business requirements and both statutory and regulatory duties, including supporting documentation to audit standard, ensuring that NCA complies with general accounting standards and internal corporate governance requirements. The Finance Management Team also help Commands develop budget and savings proposals to inform the negotiations on future budget delegations.
Role Summary
We are currently seeking to recruit a Senior Pensions Officer to supervise the Agency's Pension Function. Your role will provide key service delivery enabling and supporting the Agency to respond and combat serious and organised crime.
This is a key role to support the overall provision of a payroll and pension administration service for all directly employed NCA staff. The Payroll and Pensions Team sits within Finance, but are visible across the NCA and have direct, regular contact with officers across the agency where building successful partnerships is key. If you like to be challenged and enjoy working in a dynamic and busy environment, then this could be the job for you.
Role Description
This is a key role to support the overall provision of a payroll and pension administration service for all directly employed NCA staff.
- Ensure that pension systems are maintained to provide an effective service in line with Agency timelines and statutory regulations.
- Build good working relationships with both internal and external partners, including Capita.
- Manage and direct resources to ensure work is completed within agreed timescales/financial constraints in line with NCA policy.
- Accurately record financial transactions with appropriate evidence in place.
- Ensure financial controls and a full audit trail is maintained in provision of Pensions.
- Support and deputise as necessary for the Payroll & Pensions Manager.
- Ensure the quality, secure handling and dissemination of data/information, maintaining confidentiality, sensitivity and a duty of care in line with Agency policy.
Duties and Responsibilities
Manage and direct resources to ensure work is completed within agreed timescales/ financial constraints in line with NCA policy.
Provide advice on all aspects of pay and pensions.
Ensure that payroll and pension systems are maintained to provide an effective service in line with statutory regulations.
Support and deputise as necessary for the other G4 officers and the G3 pension/payroll manager.
Supervise Research, development, collation, co-ordinate and disseminate management information including , policies, reports, briefings and business plans and communications as appropriate.
Assist in the Development of policy, reports, procedures and assist in the management of the data systems across the business area.
Assist in the development and maintenance of effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders and foster collaborative working.
Support to integrate a new ERP system.
Person Specification
Strong numerical skills - The ability to quantify and manipulate financial data.
Strong analytical skills - Able to analyse data from multiple sources.
Proficient in Microsoft Office - Good Excel skills relating to analysing data, information and statistics from a wide range of sources
Technical understanding of finance systems - Good technical knowledge of accounting processes, policies, statutory requirements and internal controls.
Finance policy within public sector - Good knowledge of Finance policy within public sector
Customer Service Experience - Able to communicate with internal and external stakeholders
Line Management - Developing individuals in a payroll pension operational environment
Ability to translate pension / payroll legislation into policy
Deep understanding of payroll & pension legislation
Essential Criteria
You must meet the essential criteria and evidence this within your application to be considered for the role.
Qualifications, Membership and Licences
CIPP qualification or detailed knowledge/experience of Payroll and Civil Service Pension Schemes
Any applications from candidates not meeting this eligibility criteria will not progress.
Salary
Allowances are reviewed annually and may be increased, decreased or removed.
All salary offers will be made in line with Remuneration Policy.
This position attracts a Recruitment and Retention Allowance (RRA) of £1000 (Per Annum) available as an addition to the advertised salary.
Benefits
All NCA employees are members of the UK Civil Service and eligible for the Civil Service pension scheme, alongside your salary the NCA contributes £13630. Further information on the benefits of the scheme is available on the Civil Service Pension Website.
New entrants to the NCA receive 26 days annual leave, rising to 31 on completion of 5 years continuous service, plus 8 bank holidays.
If qualifying criteria is met new joiners from UK Police Forces or the UK Intelligence Community (UKIC) will have service with those employers taken into account for continuous service purposes for annual leave entitlement only, this will be up to a maximum of 31 days leave (including 1 privilege day).
Other benefits include:
Flexible working, including flexi-time, compressed hours and job sharing (in line with business requirements)
Family friendly policies, notably above the statutory minimum
Learning and Development opportunities
Interest free loans and advances, including season tickets, childcare and rental deposits
Housing schemes - Key Worker status
Discounts and Savings with a wide variety of services including Cycle to Work, Smart Tech schemes, dental insurance, gym discounts and savings on everyday spending, available through the Reward Gateway | Edenred and Blue Light Card schemes.
Staff support groups/networks
Sports and social activities, including membership to the Civil Service Sports Council (CSSC)
Further information is available on the NCA Website.
Selection Process Details
This vacancy is using the Success Profiles framework and will assess using the following criteria: Behaviours, Technical Skills
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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
How we will assess you
Your application will be assessed against the following:
Technical - this will be assessed by 250 word examples on:
Organisational skills/experience of working to tight timelines, work prioritisation and managing competing job demands.
Experience of analysing data, information and statistics from a wide range of sources.
Advanced knowledge of PAYE and occupational pension scheme administration.
A panel will assess how well your application demonstrates the requirements outlined above.
Longlist
In the event of a high number of applications, we may operate a longlist. Applicants will need to meet the minimum pass mark for the lead criteria.
- Organisational skills/experience of working to tight timelines, work prioritisation and managing competing job demands. .
Candidates who do not meet the minimum pass mark for the lead criteria will not progress to having their other criteria assessed. Applications must meet the minimum criteria to be progressed to the assessment stage.
You will receive an acknowledgement once your application is submitted.
We aim to have sift completed and scores released within 10 working days of the closing date of the advert. For high volume campaigns this timeframe may be extended.
Scores will be provided but further feedback will not be available at this stage.
For guidance on the application process, visit:
NCA Applying and Onboarding
Assessment 1
The format of this assessment will be Interview which will be tested on the criteria listed in the Success Profiles at Assessment section.
Success Profiles at Assessment
Behaviours
Managing a Quality Service
Working Together
Technical
Organisational skills/experience of working to tight timelines, work prioritisation and managing competing job demands.
Experience of analysing data, information and statistics from a wide range of sources.
Advanced knowledge of PAYE and occupational pension scheme administration.
Assessment Outcome
Outcomes will be communicated via the NCA recruitment portal.
If successful but no role is immediately available, you may be placed on a reserve list for 12 months.
Reserve lists can be used to fill similar role types across the Agency where the assessment criteria is considered a match by the recruitment team and the business area.
In the event of a tie at the assessment stage, available roles will be offered in merit order using the following order:
Lead criteria (behaviours/technical/experience)
If still tied, desirable criteria will be assessed (if advertised)
If still tied, application sift scores will be used
Feedback is provided only to those who attend an assessment.
You will be subject to vetting and pre-employment checks before appointment.
Once the vacancy closes, the advert will no longer be accessible. Please save a copy for your records.
We encourage all candidates to visit the NCA Careers Page for more information.
Eligibility, Pre-Employment Check and Vetting
Please see the NCA T&Cs and Privacy Policy (pdf) for details on how your data is handled.
If you are an internal candidate who has passed interview but is undergoing an internal investigation or have a written warning in place preventing a post move you may not be able to be posted until this investigation is concluded or restriction lifted.
Nationality Requirements
This role is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals or dual nationals, where one component is British
- 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)
- 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
You will be required to participate in digital right to work and address checks as part of the recruitment process.
Security and Vetting
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is SC Enhanced. All security clearances will be managed by the NCA.
For more information on security vetting please visit: UK Security Vetting guidance for applicants and Demystifying Vetting and see our vetting charter at: The Vetting Charter.
Vetting requirements - SC Enhanced
Prior to commencing the role, you will need to successfully complete SC Enhanced clearance.
The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years.
Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected.
For further information on National Security Vetting checks please visit the following page Demystifying Vetting
Individuals will be required to undertake and pass a substance misuse test as part of pre-employment checks.
Occupational Health
Successful candidates will be expected to undertake an occupational health assessment. Depending on the role an in-person medical may be required in either London or Warrington. Unfortunately, travel costs will not be reimbursed.
Things you need to know
Multi Location
Where multiple locations are advertised, appointments will be made in merit order for each location.
Please indicate up to three location preferences clearly. Only your first three preferences will be considered. You may be allocated to any of the locations you select. If you decline an offer for a location you have selected as a preference, a further offer may not be made.
If you choose to reject an offer and no alternative preferred location can be offered, you will not be able to return to the process or be placed on a reserve list.
Only the advertised locations are available; any additional notes added to the application will not be taken into account.
Near Miss
If you meet the criteria for a lower grade, you may be offered that role if not appointable at the advertised grade.
Conversely, if found appointable at a higher grade but no posts are available, you may be offered a lower-grade role.
All offers are made based on merit.
Hybrid Working
The NCA supports hybrid working. The extent of remote working will depend on the role and can be discussed at the offer stage.
Reasonable Adjustments
We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Leader and an inclusive, equal opportunities employer.
We’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone can be their authentic self. If you’re neurodiverse, have a disability, or live with a long-term health condition, we encourage you to let us know about any reasonable adjustments you may need during the recruitment process.
If you experience accessibility issues with the advert or require reasonable adjustments, please contact our Recruitment Team at
[email protected] before the advert closing date.
Please ensure you complete the ‘Equal opportunities’ and 'Reasonable Adjustments' sections in the application form to inform us on what support you may need in the recruitment process.
For more on our Disability Confident commitment, visit Disability Confident Scheme | Civil Service Careers.
Visit NCA Benefits and Support for more details.
Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy
In order to monitor the effectiveness of the National Crime Agency's Diversity & Inclusion strategy, we require certain personal details about you on submission of your application for statistical and monitoring purposes only. Please note that this will be treated in confidence and will not impact your application.
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit on merit through fair and open competition, in line with the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
If you believe your application has not been treated fairly, email:
[email protected] (quoting the vacancy reference).
If unresolved, you may escalate your complaint to the Civil Service Commission.
Working for the NCA
The National Crime Agency is a 24/7 organisation, and working patterns must support business requirements. Some roles may require you to respond at short notice or outside of core hours.
If preferable, alternative contract types may be available. Please review the green bar of this advert to view all available contract types for this role. Where Loan or Secondment options are available, these would be for existing Civil Servants (Loan) and applicants from accredited Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) or any other employer (Secondment). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.
If you have any specific queries about the role that are not covered by the advert, please contact:
Name : Central Recruitment Team
Email : [email protected]