Corporate Services Business Operations Officer in Birmingham

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) mission is to serve the public interest by setting high standards of corporate governance, reporting and audit and holding to account those responsible for delivering them. We are the UK Competent Authority for audit. We also set the UK Corporate Governance and Stewardship Codes as well as UK standards for accounting, auditing and actuarial work, and monitor and take action to promote the quality of corporate reporting and operate independent enforcement arrangements for accountants and actuaries.

Stakeholder & Relationship Management

• Cultivate and sustain robust, trusted relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.
• Serve as a strategic advisor and gatekeeper to the COO, proactively identifying upcoming decisions, challenges, and pressure points.

Strategic Advisory Support

• Provide clear, insightful written and verbal advice to the COO.
• Ensure internal actions align with the COO's direction, connecting the dots across business areas to offer coherent, strategic guidance.

Briefing & Submissions

• Lead the commissioning and development of high-quality briefing materials and submissions.
• Take ownership of content quality, offering constructive feedback and ensuring alignment with the COO's expectations.

Process Improvement

• Enhance operational efficiency within the Corporate Services Division and across senior leadership forums.
• Streamline internal processes to empower the COO in driving transformation and delivery.

Project & Portfolio Management

• Independently manage a dynamic portfolio of work, addressing emerging issues while supporting the delivery of the COO's strategic goals.
• Contribute to long-term projects in collaboration with the Corporate Services Leadership Team.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive support to senior executives, including daily planning, anticipating needs, and managing the flow of high-quality information and briefings.
• Contribute to strategy development and implementation within government, regulatory, or political environments.

Essential Skills

• Possess excellent time management skills and work at speed to deliver competing priorities at short notice.
• Demonstrate strong stakeholder management skills up to the Executive and Board level, with the ability to influence and collaborate across all levels to resolve complex issues.
• Exhibit exceptional organizational and prioritization skills, capable of managing diverse tasks under pressure.
• Possess excellent drafting and editing skills, with the confidence to challenge and refine work from senior colleagues.
• Identify areas for improvement and implement innovative solutions.
• Act as a self-starter with proactive communication and strong engagement with leadership teams.
• Have solid experience in risk management, including developing and applying risk frameworks and policies.
• Demonstrate ability to manage high-profile programmes – effectively leading multiple workstreams and managing resources while communicating progress with senior stakeholders.
• Display advanced analytical skills and the ability to communicate complex information clearly and persuasively, both in writing and face-to-face.

Work efficiently and effectively, and build and maintain relationships with:

• Entire Corporate Services division
• Wider FRC staff
• Executive Director- and Board-level

Excellent organisational skills and the ability to work in an efficient, methodical, and effective manner. Ability to effectively and independently prioritise their workload. Ability to manage and support initiatives delegated to them by the COO. Work with the Corporate Services Operations Analyst to direct their work and priorities. The Corporate Services Division covers a wide portfolio of work which requires proactive management. The Corporate Services Operations Officer will provide efficient, effective, and proactive assistance to support the COO in setting the strategic direction of the division and work across teams to provide management support.

Rewards and benefits

• The FRC offers remuneration packages, including 30 days annual leave, ability to buy extra leave.
• Generous employer pension contribution of 10%.
• Staff Employee Assistance Programme including confidential counselling and work life services.
• The FRC offers staff the opportunity to save at least 25% on the purchase of a new bike through the Cycle to work scheme.
• The FRC has a strong work/life balance ethos.

Equal Opportunities

The FRC believes that equality of opportunity and diversity is important in the work that we do and we are strongly committed to being an inclusive employer. Our values of being fair and independent supports this commitment. Equal opportunities monitoring is an important means of demonstrating and implementing our commitment to promoting equality of opportunity and diversity. Completing our diversity form will assist the FRC to identify any barriers that prevent access to employment and career development for certain groups of people, and to develop solutions, such as action plans, new policies and practices.

Disability Confident Employer

The FRC is a Disability Confident Employer and we welcome applications under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme from disabled people as defined by the Equality Act 2010 that meet the minimum requirements for the role.

Location and Working Arrangement

The role is based in our central Birmingham office. The post holder should be able to work flexibly to support the team's activities and also provide cover within the FRC as necessary. The FRC operates a hybrid working arrangement with its workforce, with an expectation that 40% of a person's working time will be located at one of our offices per week, with precise arrangements to be agreed between the employee and the line manager.