Job summary
We are seeking two proactive and reliable individuals to support our Finance or Procurement function, with strong administrative skills, excellent attention to detail, and a commitment to delivering an efficient and customer-focused service.
If you’re motivated by public service and keen to strengthen how research informs inspection, thematic work and strategic decision-making, we’d be pleased to hear from you.
Job description
Key tasks include:
Finance
- Raising purchase orders and processing supplier invoices accurately and on time
- Maintaining supplier records in line with controls
- Supporting financial reporting and record keeping
- Supporting audits; providing documentation
- Handling sensitive financial data appropriately
- Responding to finance queries and correspondence
Procurement
- Raising purchase orders ensuring their accuracy and approval
- Supporting colleagues with procurement processes
- Assisting with tender and contract administration, including procurement of external inspection resource
- Supporting procurement campaigns; ensuring procurement rules and regulations are observed in their delivery
- Handling sensitive financial, commercial and personal data appropriately
- Responding to procurement queries and correspondence
Both roles will have responsibility for:
Managing hotel accommodation and travel requirements of inspectors
- Undertaking any other duties as may reasonably be required by managers
- Providing support for other AOs on the team
Person specification
For both roles, it is essential that you have:
- Strong administrative and organisational skills, with excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
- Good written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships with colleagues, suppliers and stakeholders at all levels.
- Ability to prioritise tasks, manage competing demands and work effectively to meet deadlines in a busy environment.
- Experience of maintaining accurate and detailed records, data and documentation.
- Ability to process information accurately, identify issues or discrepancies, and take appropriate action to resolve them.
- Understanding of business processes and the importance of compliance, controls, governance and regulatory requirements.
- Strong IT skills, including the effective use of Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, Word and Outlook, and the ability to learn new systems quickly.
- Ability to communicate information clearly and ensure the timely delivery of work and information to support business needs.
- Awareness of fraud risks and the importance of maintaining robust controls, with the ability to recognise and appropriately escalate unusual transactions or activity.
- A customer-focused approach, with a commitment to delivering a high-quality service.
- Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team while also taking responsibility for managing your own workload.
It is desirable that you have:
- Have experience of working in a service delivery or customer service environment
- Are working towards or willing to undertake a financial qualification
- Have commercial awareness – budgeting and value for money principles
- Ability to work through the medium of Welsh
Key behaviours
- Seeing the big picture
- Communicating and influencing
- Working together
- Delivering at pace
Further information and example of these behaviours are detailed in the Success Profiles - Civil Service Behaviours at Grade AO.
In addition to a good work/life balance, job satisfaction, a supporting culture, ongoing learning and development opportunities and professional development, you can also expect other benefits, including the following:
· Competitive salary and incremental points meaning that you will normally reach the maximum of the pay scale within two/three years of joining us.
· Generous holiday entitlement – 41 days away from work each year (made up of 32 days of annual leave, plus 9 public/privilege holidays (pro-rated for those who work part-time).
· Flexible working - We operate a flexi-time system, giving you the freedom to shape your working day in a way that suits you and meets business needs.
· Excellent pension - When you join Estyn, you’ll automatically become part of the Civil Service Pension scheme, one of the most valuable pension schemes in the UK. We invest in your future by contributing 28.97% of your salary which equates to £7,913 helping you build a strong and secure pension for later in life.
· Support for your wellbeing – We provide an hour of wellbeing time per week (pro-rated) for staff. We also provide an employee assistance programme, free annual health checks, seasonal flu jabs, a free eye care scheme and access to Health Insurance Plans through Civil Service Healthcare.
· Support for your family life – generous family friendly policies including maternity, paternity, adoption leave.
· Tax-free savings – Access to a cycle to work scheme.
· Special offers and discounts – Access to a range of discounts and exclusive offers through the Civil Service Social Club – Sports and Leisure, the Civil Service Motoring Association, the Civil Service Insurance Society and the Charity for Civil Servants.
Enquiries: If you have any questions about the role, please contact Emma Rees (Finance Queries) on [email protected] OR Jonathan Cooper (Procurement Queries) on [email protected]
Apply online: To apply for the role please visit - JobBoard
Closing date: 10:00am on 22 June 2026
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £27,315.00-£29,305.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Flexitime
- Free parking
- Sick pay
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Cardiff CF24 5JW
