CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER ROLE

What are we looking for?

• We are looking for a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who brings vision and drive to the Agency, can inspire staff to get behind the Agency’s ambitions and work with key stakeholders to drive forward the insolvency and corporate enforcement agendas for Government.
• The CEO will need to be an experienced and inspirational Executive to lead an important government agency that delivers essential services to the public and business.
• The CEO will operate in a political environment at a senior level and will have experience of leading or being part of the leadership of a large operational organisation. The successful candidate will build upon the Agency’s strengths, drive up standards through continuous improvement and pursue new opportunities to improve service delivery that technology opens up.
• The CEO will be someone who understands what it means to work in the wider regulatory and enforcement sphere and who will engage with fellow regulators, building and enhancing the agency’s key relationships.

Key Responsibilities

Some key responsibilities in the role will include:

• Being the accounting officer for the agency, accountable to the DBT Permanent Secretary and responsible for effective management of the Agency budget and delivering value for money for taxpayers.
• Providing the leadership, vision and strategic framework which will ensure that the agency operates as a cohesive and high-performing organisation which is able to meet its performance targets, strategic goals and function effectively within a fluid regulatory environment.
• Ensuring that the structure and skill set of the agency is appropriate and sufficiently nimble to enable the agency to deliver its functions and complete its change agenda.
• Ensuring that the Insolvency Service operates within, and holds others to account for, the legislative framework and regulations for Insolvency and Company Law in the UK.
• Working with the Chair to ensure that the board fulfils its statutory obligations and discharges its accountabilities through appropriate governance.
• Working across the insolvency profession and governmental landscapes, in partnership with DBT and others, to ensure that the Insolvency Service contributes to wider government priorities, including the development of policy where necessary.
• Ensuring that the Insolvency Service operates effectively in its role as oversight regulator for insolvency practitioners
• Continuing to develop and build upon the positive reputation of the Insolvency Service through effective communication, both within the regulatory sphere and with external stakeholders, media and across wider government.

Essential Criteria

We are looking to appoint an inspirational leader able to deliver on the Agency’s operational priorities and targets and build a vision for its future to be delivered through a programme of change. We are looking for evidence against the following essential criteria:

• A proven track-record of success in leading and delivering transformational change through technology in large and complex organisations, building and sustaining highly performing, motivated and innovative teams, and driving high staff engagement. 
• An accounting officer with evidence of strong financial acumen and experience of the management of risk and budgets within a large and/or complex organisation.
• Excellent communication skills and experience of establishing credibility and relationships with a range of senior stakeholders in both private and public sectors, including Ministers, and an ability to work in conjunction with other agencies or organisations to deliver and strengthen the enforcement of services.
• It is essential that the successful candidate has an interest and ability to learn insolvency laws and regulations.

This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. This is an expectation only; it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by.

Standard Civil Service pay principles apply to existing civil servants: Those applying on promotion will receive either a 10% increase of their current basic salary or the pay band minimum (whichever is greater), for those applying on level transfer, there would be no salary uplift, in line with Civil Service pay rules.

This role is available for full-time, or flexible working arrangements. If you wish to discuss your needs in more detail, please get in touch.

Salary - £149,000 + benefits (SCS2 grade)

Key Document

Please watch this interview with the Chair of The Insolvency Service, Mark Austen for more information on the context of the role.