Job profile

Job title: Information Analyst

Responsible to: Senior Intelligence Analyst

Responsible for: Success of the role

Principal working contacts

• Head of Intelligence
• Intelligence and Analysis Manager
• Intelligence team members
• Strategic Inspectors
• Inspection Team Managers
• Information Governance team
• Internal and External Communication teams
• Internal ICT/Digital colleagues
• Managers and employees of the Care Inspectorate
• Analytical and policy colleagues in Scottish Government and other national organisations

Job purpose

The Information Analyst is a technical specialist who is responsible for the production of a variety of cutting edge analytical products that meet professional standards to support the organisation to be risk-based and intelligence led, and for supporting the development and management of data assets to enable this.

Key responsibilities

Intelligence and analysis:

• Produces analytical reports and products to agreed timescales and professional standards.
• Is a highly skilled analyst with considerable expertise in at least some of the following: Intelligence analysis, statistical analysis and reporting; data science, performance analysis and reporting.
• Brings their analytical skills to bear within a complex data environment, with the technical skills to manage and developing data assets in collaboration with colleagues across with organisation.
• Uses expert knowledge of relevant data and analytical techniques to develop and deliver intelligence products that will help the organisation focus on mitigating key risks, and direct our work where it will have greatest impact.
• Adheres to and promotes the Code of Practice for Official Statistics, producing high quality statistical publications which meet the needs of a wide range of users both within the Care Inspectorate and outside.
• Provides advice on statistical and analytical methods and is highly skilled in a range of associated software.
• Develops new and innovative approaches to turning large quantities of operational data into valuable information assets and managing those assets to deliver valuable intelligence products.
• Delivers high quality intelligence products that provide advice and recommendations to decision-makers

Relationship management:

• Builds and maintains strong working relationships with a range of customers, managing customer expectations and ensuring products meet customer requirements.
• Represents the team at a variety of fora, both within the Care Inspectorate and outside, including government departments, the care sector and professional groups.
• Ensures effective working protocols in accordance with the Care Inspectorate’s polices.
• Projects a professional image for the Care Inspectorate when dealing with colleagues and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrates a commitment to the Care Inspectorate’s aims, vision and values and to the Care Inspectorate’s overall objective of improving care in Scotland.
• Demonstrates enthusiasm for delivering excellent customer service.
• Carries out duties in accordance with our Health and Safety policies, procedures, guidance, practices and legislative requirements, taking reasonable care for your safety and that of others who may be affected by what you do or fail to do while at work.

Other duties

This job description is a broad picture of the post at the date of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties and it is recognised that jobs change and evolve over time. Consequently, the post holder will be required to carry out any other duties to the equivalent level that are necessary to fulfil the purpose of the job, and to respond positively to changing business needs.

Accountant

Job title: Accountant          

Salary: £38,553 - £42,597

Location: Flexible – any Care Inspectorate office

Hours: 35 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

About us 

We are the national regulator and scrutiny body responsible for providing assurance and protection for people who experience care services, their families, carers and the wider public, as well as supporting delivery partners to improve the quality of care for people in Scotland.  Our vision is that people across Scotland experience high quality care that meets their needs, rights and choices. 

We are a scrutiny body that supports improvement.  We inspect individual care services and we also work with other scrutiny bodies to inspect the social care and social work services people are experiencing in their local areas. 

Our desire is to achieve an effective and balanced way of working, that enables us to meet organisational needs and achieve a work-life balance that promotes wellbeing and collaboration opportunities. We are moving towards an expectation that all staff will work collaboratively, within and across teams, in person, for approximately 40% of their working week. 

About the role

We have a permanent vacancy for an Accountant within our busy Finance and Corporate Governance Department within the Accounting Team.

Working in a busy team you will: 

• lead, manage and provide professional advice to the accounting team
• compile financial information and support budget managers in the management of their budgets
• prepare monthly budget monitoring reports for senior managers and the Board as required
• help compile the Care Inspectorate annual budgets
• assist in the production of the Care Inspectorate statutory annual accounts
• prepare financial reports
• review monthly balance sheet reconciliations
• compile information for financial or statistical returns
• play a key role in ensuring resources are managed as efficiently and effectively as possible
• train and develop finance and non-finance staff.
• assist in other financial activities, such as monthly payroll and cashflow.

About you

To succeed in this role, you will ideally have the following: 

• a degree level qualification
• membership of the Association of Accounting Technicians or part qualification with a Committee of Consultative Accountancy Bodies (CCAB) or equivalent, or a commitment to work towards this.
• strong financial management experience with the ability to generate, identify and interrogate financial data to support decision making.
• strong analytical skills with the ability to analyse complex data, identify trends and make decisions based on findings.
• be a strong communicator and be able to demonstrate your commitment to excellent customer service.
• be able to work on your own initiative and with minimal supervision.
• excellent problem solving and analytical skills.
• be able to work flexibly as part of a team.
• experience of line management including the training and development of team members.

Please note if you don’t meet the essential qualification criteria listed in the person specification, but feel you have relevant experience and would be willing to work towards achieving them, then we would welcome an application.

Next steps

You’ll find more information in the job profile and person specification below.

If you would like to have an informal chat regarding this role, please contact Dawn Johnston, Senior Accountant on tel: 01382 317977, or Gillian Berry, Accounting & Procurement Manager, on tel: 01382 207140 or via e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

If you believe that you are a suitable candidate for this post, please complete our online application form by 08:00 on Monday 30 September 2024.

We expect interviews to take place on 17 October at our Dundee office.

Job profile

Job title: Accountant

Responsible to: Senior Accountant

Principal working contacts

• Head of Finance and Corporate Governance
• Finance & Procurement Manager
• Senior Accountant
• Finance Officers
• Transactions Manager
• Procurement Officer
• Senior Managers in the Care Inspectorate
• Internal and External Auditors

Job purpose

Support the Finance and Procurement Manager and the Senior Accountant to deliver a comprehensive finance service to the Care Inspectorate in line with Care Inspectorate policies. This role also supports the provision of financial services to the Scottish charity regular, OSCR.

Key responsibilities

Annual budget:

• Supporting the preparation of the annual budget, including reviewing financial plans to ensure high quality budget setting and monitoring.

Budget monitoring:

• Preparing monthly budget monitoring information to budget holders to meet their individual needs.
• Support budget managers with the management of their budgets by providing financial advice and guidance in line with financial regulations and other financial processes to make sure the operational requirements of the Care Inspectorate are met.
• Ensuring financial transactions are properly recorded.
• Developing financial management reports within the financial management system.

Reconciliations and ledger control:

• Reviewing suspense and control account reconciliations monthly.
• Ensure all month and year end procedures are performed within the timescales agreed with the Senior Accountant.
• Leading on the financial management of specific grant funded projects.
• Managing cashflow and banking arrangements for the Care Inspectorate.
• Prepare monthly grant in aid claims.

Annual accounts:

• Assisting in the production of the Care Inspectorate and OSCR’’s annual statutory accounts. This includes liaising with finance staff, budget holders and auditors, and ensuring all working papers are prepared to a high standard.
• Review monthly analysis to ensure information is accurate for our statutory accounts.

Other tasks:

• Prepare draft reports to Senior Managers and Committee.
• Providing financial training and ongoing support to non-finance staff.
• Developing procedures to ensure the integrity and accuracy of financial data.
• Maintaining and developing finance systems and processes including undertaking process improvement and LEAN reviews.
• Preparing or reviewing statutory returns, as required.
• Preparation and submission of quarterly VAT returns.
• Participation in Best Value reviews, including reporting on the findings.
• Supporting the maintenance and development of the financial system.
• Working in partnership with managers and key stakeholders to jointly develop finance plans necessary to support their operational plans.
• Support the Senior Accountant to risk assess applications to register services to ensure that services understand their responsibilities and are financially resourced to establish, maintain and improve service provision.
• Keeping up to date with developments in financial regulations/legislation and best practice, sharing knowledge across the team to ensure continuous development and improvements in the service offered.
• Actively contributing to the wider aims, workload and objectives of the finance function, ensuring that they are consistent with best practice and ensuring the provision of a sound finance service across the Care Inspectorate.

People management:

• Lead, manage and provide professional advice to the Finance Officers.
• Support, develop and coach direct reports through regular 1-1 supervision and appraisal and lead on consistent, high-quality practice amongst staff and support development.
• Promote a positive and inclusive working environment which supports continuous professional development.
• Manage the Finance Officers, reviewing work, prioritising and managing workload. Carry out training and development, recruitment and absence management.
• Promote the health, safety and welfare of employees, with responsibility for ensuring that the Care Inspectorate health and safety policies, procedures and practice and legislative requirements are met across the team.
• Carry out your duties in accordance with our Health and Safety policies, procedures, guidance, practices and legislative requirements, taking reasonable care for your safety and that of others who may be affected by what you do or fail to do while at work.
• Promote diversity, equality of opportunity, fairness, dignity and trust, ensuring that these principles are upheld across all areas of service delivery.

Relationship management:

• Model corporate behaviour and demonstrate commitment to organisation values.
• Develop and maintain constructive and co-operative working relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure effective and efficient directorate support.
• Promote the principles of collaborative working throughout the organisation and in all working practices in accordance with the Partnership Agreements with the trade unions.
• Ensure effective working protocols in accordance with the Care Inspectorate’s Communications, Human Resources, Finance, IT and Operations function.
• Project a professional image for the Care Inspectorate when dealing with colleagues and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrate a commitment to the Care Inspectorate’s aims, vision and values and to the Care Inspectorate’s overall objective of improving care in Scotland.

Other duties

This job profile is a broad picture of the post at the date of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties, and it is recognised that jobs change and evolve over time. Consequently, the post holder will be required to carry out any other duties to the equivalent level that are necessary to fulfil the purpose of the job, and to respond positively to changing business needs.

Person specification

Job title - Modern apprentice

Attributes

Experience

Essential

Care Experienced - aged 16 up to the age of 29 for completion of the MA qualification.

Desirable

Experience of planning, organising and problem solving (in a non-work context).

Education, qualifications and training

Essential

• Willingness to undertake and complete an SVQ (Scottish Vocational Qualification) that matches with the job role/funding criteria.
• Commitment to undertake further training and development in the role (particularly if needed for desirable skills).

Skills and knowledge

Essential

• Good working knowledge of Outlook and Word.
• Comfortable with using numbers.
• Communication skills – includes reading, writing, listening, and speaking.

Desirable

• Use of Excel, PowerPoint, Aha Slides (or similar) and Microsoft Forms.
• Attention to detail.
• Enjoys working in a focused way.

Key Performance Outcomes

Effective communication

Essential

• Shows a positive image when communicating both inside and outside the organisation.
• Listens actively to people, questions and checks understanding.

Desirable

Chooses right communication style depending on people’s needs.

Planning and organising

Essential

• Uses a focused approach to make best use of time.
• Able to be flexible to meet changing priorities.

Desirable

Prioritises work effectively to meet aims.

Flexibility

Essential

• Listens to feedback and ideas from people and takes right action.
• Understands where a flexible approach is needed.

Desirable

Adapts well to change, adjusting priorities as needed.

Team working

Essential

• Shows respect and fairness towards others, values diversity and is non-discriminatory in their actions.
• Values and makes use of the skills, knowledge, and experience of others.

Desirable

Works together as part of a team and is supportive of others.

Personal Accountability and Responsibility

Essential

Contributes positively and finds how tasks can be improved.
Takes ownership for own development and willing to accept help and guidance.

Desirable

Demonstrates initiative within their own area of work.

Please note – these are key performance outcomes to be used to recruit into the role. Successful applicants will be assessed against all the performance indicators used in the Performance Development Review System once set up in the role.

Person specification

Job title: Information Governance Lead

Attributes

Experience

Essential

• Demonstrate a successful track record within a similar role.
• Experience of developing, implementing and maintaining information governance tools and standards, for example, business and security classifications, metadata schemes, life-cycle retention schedules and information asset registers
• Experience of writing policies, procedures and guidance
• Experience of working with and influencing stakeholders and partners
• Experience of undertaking information and process surveys, current state assessments and compliance audits
• Developing and/or delivering training programmes
• Experience of designing, developing and maintaining information management systems
• Line management experience
• Experience of working with the ICO and other regulatory bodies

Desirable

• Experience of working within the social care sector
• Experience of working with IT and business colleagues to integrate IG into technology platforms and business systems

Education, qualifications and training

Essential

Educated to degree level unless has proven experience in senior information governance role in a similar public body

Desirable

• Graduate or post graduate degree, or other qualification in IG-related discipline e.g. Records Management, Data Protection, Freedom of
• Information, Information Security and Assurance
• Legal qualification

Skills and knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge and understanding of the relevant legislation in the context within which the Care Inspectorate works e.g. UK GDPR, DPA 2018
• The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, Public services reform (Scotland) Act 2010, Public Records (Scotland) Act 2011 and associated legislation.
• Knowledge and understanding of the importance of confidentiality and information governance and security principles
• Ability to interpret and present information governance concepts and terminology legal information in lay terms
• Excellent all-round IT skills, including familiarity with the Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Explorer) and Adobe Writer.
• Proven analytical and problem solving skills

Desirable

Good working knowledge of project planning and process tools such as MS Project, Visio, and data analysis and productivity tools such as DROID and TreeSize

Key performance outcomes

Effective commmunication

Essential

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to explain specialist/complex issues to non-specialist staff at a variety of levels and to draft clear and concise written reports.
• The ability to foster good working relationships with a range of colleagues, providing expert or professional advice, both internally and externally.
• Portrays a positive image of the Care Inspectorate when communicating both inside the organisation and externally.
• Selects appropriate communication, style and methods depending on the needs and abilities of the audience.
• Listens actively to people, questions and checks understanding.
• Possesses and displays self-confidence, enthusiasm, motivation, tact and diplomacy when communicating both inside the organisation and externally.
• Focus on representing the work area or function with the main emphasis on advising, guiding, and persuasion; to be instrumental in resolving tensions and difficulties.
• Senior representative in their area of expertise with external contacts.

Planning and organising

Essential

• Uses a systematic approach to make efficient use of time and manage workload.
• Recognises the need to be flexible in order to meet changing priorities.
• Prioritises work effectively to meet deadlines and objectives.
• Ability to multi-task, deal with work within tight/conflicting deadlines and prioritise work appropriately.
• Excellent planning and project management skills and ability to deliver work to specified timescales.
• Responsible for a discrete area of the Care Inspectorate’s work, policy, functional or operational area of activity and for managing projects and associated resources.
• People management responsibilities in terms of planning, leading, organising and controlling the work of others.
• Plan, having an impact across the organisation or affecting the sector, externally.

Flexibility

Essential

• Demonstrates a flexible, positive approach to work and in all duties performed.
• Listens to feedback and ideas from people and will take appropriate and considered action.
• Adapts well to change, adjusting priorities as required.
• Understands where a flexible approach is required.
• Adopting creative approaches and flexibility in the use of judgement which will be influenced by a number of variables requiring significant levels of discretion.

Team working

Essential

• Remains tolerant and fair towards others, values diversity and is nondiscriminatory in their actions.
• Values and makes use of the skills, knowledge and experience of others.
• Works co-operatively and supportively with others.
• Will develop ideas and contribute directly to parts of the Corporate Plan, having an impact across the organisation or affecting the sector, externally.

Personal accountability and responsibility

Essential

• Ability to work on own initiative and exercise own judgment with discretion.
• Takes responsibility for decisions and actions taken keeping line management informed of developments or issues as they arise.
• Maintains a high standard of work and actively seeks out continuous improvement.
• Demonstrates initiative within own area of expertise with limited line management experience.
• Takes responsibility for identifying and addressing areas of personal and professional development.
• To work independently on particular aspects of projects, reporting progress and liaising as necessary.
• Provide information which typically influence decision makers and will take the lead on organisation wide projects reporting directly to a member of the ET.

Please note – these are key performance outcomes to be used to recruit into the role. Successful applicants will be assessed against all the performance indicators used in the Performance Development Review System once established in the role.