Assistant Director - Special Situations Group - Leeds

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UK Government Investments, we provide the Government with expertise in corporate finance and governance. What we do is unique. We are responsible for ensuring the effective governance of Government owned companies, we advise on all significant UK Government asset sales and advise on corporate finance negotiations (including Government interventions into distressed corporate situations). The work we do is significant in terms of social, economic and political impact.

The UKGI team is comprised of 150 experts with prior experience in the private sector (mainly banks, accountancy and legal firms) and the Civil Service, ensuring we provide Government departments with high quality advice that is delivered and can be acted upon in the best way possible.

Working for UKGI provides a unique opportunity for talented individuals with experience in both the public and private sector to contribute to work of national importance.

The role

The Special Situations Group, is the team within UKGI that provides specialist restructuring advice to Government Ministers and Departments which have an interest in financially distressed organisations or sectors of the economy. We are currently recruiting individuals with around 5-10 years experience in financial restructuring to join us.

As an Assistant Director, you will be part of a team working to coordinate Government’s response to a distressed situation. You will undertake financial and commercial analysis and use this to contribute to advice for senior officials and Ministers. Where necessary, work will be hands-on, supporting on the structuring of financial interventions and/or contingency plans.

We frequently work with assets of significant complexity and national profile, and you will have the opportunity to make a substantial impact through your role in the team’s daily work. Accordingly, you will have strong communication and influencing skills, be recognised as an experienced participant in your field and be able to engage convincingly with a range of senior stakeholders.

Although we anticipate you would initially work full time within the Special Situations Group, UKGI can also offer you the opportunity over time to work on other projects which could have a transaction or governance focus. UKGI is responsible for driving best practice corporate governance in some of Government’s largest and most complex owned assets. This could involve advising on matters such as strategic direction and setting business plans embedding good governance and risk processes; and board appointments and remuneration. This provides valuable shareholder type experience supporting the role of Boards and their Directors.

Key duties and responsibilities:
• Analysing a range of information (financial and non-financial) to determine the timing and criticality of any impact to Government
• Inputting into the across-government design of policies and procedures for Government to manage the criticality of any impact and potential interdependencies
• Contributing to advice for Ministers and senior officials on the options available to them, including, where there is a value for money case, on potential mechanisms for financial intervention
• Contributing to advice for Government departments on preparation of contingency plans to ensure continuity of supply where there are concerns regarding a supplier’s financial sustainability
• Working closely with department officials and external advisors to ensure that Government’s objectives are achieved during any action or restructuring
• Representing the Special Situations Group within UKGI, supporting collaborative working to bring the best of UKGI to any situation
• Handling multiple cases and being part of multiple project teams, ensuring that senior individuals within UKGI and other Government departments are engaged and briefed on key issues
• Identifying issues, situations and challenges where the particular expertise of the Special Situations Group can be applied to greatest impact
• Developing effective working relationships with officials across Government departments
• Representing the Special Situations Group and UKGI amongst the financial restructuring community and managing relationships with stakeholders

This list is not exhaustive, and the post-holder will be required to carry out other tasks as and when required.

Required Skills, Knowledge and Experience:

Applicants must be able to demonstrate:
• Excellent commercial and restructuring capability, including assessment of business plans and cash flow forecasts (e.g. writing/using Independent Business Reviews), options analysis, appraisal of business strategy and risks, capital structuring, and contingency planning
• Use of sound judgement, evidence and knowledge to provide accurate, expert and professional advice to support the achievement of commercial outcomes relevant to UKGI and Government’s objectives
• Strong interpersonal and influencing skills focused on building stakeholder consensus
• The ability to communicate complex scenarios with clarity and conviction to stakeholders and non-experts, whilst having the confidence to challenge assumptions as part of a team and with colleagues at all levels
• Managing and engaging people with integrity to create positive, professional and trusted working relationships and building a network of engaged market contacts
• An appreciation of the political context and taking account of wider impacts to develop strategies for ensuring best value for Government
• Adaptability to rapidly changing circumstances

The following skills would also be advantageous:

• Knowledge of insolvency regulation and its application
• Broader experience in areas such as shareholder governance, mergers and acquisitions, financial due diligence, valuations and strategy
• Experience of working in Government or working with Ministers

Next steps

If you would like to be challenged by genuinely fascinating work and work in an environment where working in line with UKGI’s values is taken seriously, please apply to this advertisement with your CV and a short covering note outlining your credentials for the role.

Diversity statement

UKGI has a strong commitment to equality and diversity. Our aim is to be an open and inclusive organisation, recruiting and retaining diverse, talented and high-performing people who support and develop one another.

UKGI is a Disability Confident Employer. This means we’ve been recognised as an employer which is confident and leading the way in recruiting and retaining staff with disabilities. We will offer an interview to any applicants with a disability who have indicated they wish to take part in the disability confident scheme, provided they meet the essential criteria for the post set out in the person specification. If you need any reasonable adjustments to take part in the selection process, please tell us about this in your application.

UKGI is also part of the ‘Great Place to Work for Veterans’ initiative. This means that as part of our commitment to diversity and equality in our recruitment and retention policy, we will offer an interview to any eligible applicants from His Majesty’s Armed Forces provided they meet the essential criteria for the post set out in the person specification. Please indicate on your application that you wish for your application to be considered as part of this initiative.

In line with company policy, we will be employing a hybrid working model based, with 40% of your time being home-based. At UKGI we place a high degree of value on work life balance and as such applications from individuals seeking flexible working, reduced hours contracts and job shares are also actively encouraged.

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