Assistant Director - Special Situations Group

More details

At 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, all significant UK Government asset sales and advising the government on corporate finance negotiations (including interventions into distressed corporate structures). The work we do is significant in terms of social, economic and political impact.
Within UKGI we have a team comprised of 150 experts from the private sector (from banks, accountancy and legal firms) and from the Civil Service to ensure we provide government departments with high quality advice that it is delivered and acted upon in the best way possible.

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


The role

Our team within UKGI 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 experienced individuals with a background in financial restructuring to join the Special Situations Group.

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 as an important part of the team’s daily work. Accordingly, you will have strong communication and influencing skills, be recognised as an experienced senior participant in your field and be able to engage convincingly with a range of senior stakeholders.

Although we anticipate you to be full time within the Special Situations team in the first instance, UKGI can also offer you the opportunity to work on other transactions / projects or join one of UKGI’s shareholder relationship teams, 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 to 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;
- Represent the Special Situations team within UKGI, supporting collaborative working to bring the best of UKGI together;
- Handling multiple cases and project teams, ensuring that senior individuals within UKGI and other government departments are engaged and briefed on key issues;
- Identify issues, situations and challenges where the particular expertise of the Special Situations team can be applied to greatest impact; and
- Representing the Special Situations team 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:
- Substantial experience in financial restructuring
- Must 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. Knowledge of insolvency regulation and its application would be an advantage;
- Broader experience in areas such as shareholder governance, mergers and acquisitions, financial due diligence, valuations, corporate development and strategy is also an advantage;
- 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;
- Demonstrate strong interpersonal and influencing skills focused on building stakeholder consensus, including 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. Experience of working in government or working with Ministers would be a benefit.
- Be adaptable to rapidly changing circumstances.


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 online application form.