Assistant Director - Special Situations Group - Leeds

UK Government Investments provides the Government with expertise in corporate finance and governance. We are responsible for ensuring the effective governance of Government owned companies, advising on significant UK Government asset sales, and corporate finance negotiations, including interventions into distressed corporate situations. The work we do has a significant social, economic, and political impact.

The UKGI team comprises 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 can be acted upon effectively. Working for UKGI offers a unique opportunity for talented individuals with experience in both the public and private sectors to contribute to work of national importance.

Please note that this role can be based in either Leeds or London.

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

As an Assistant Director, you will be part of a team coordinating the 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 the structuring of financial interventions and/or contingency plans.

Key duties and responsibilities include:

• 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 managing the criticality of any impact and potential interdependencies.
• Contributing to advice for Ministers and senior officials on available options, including potential mechanisms for financial intervention where there is a value for money case.
• Advising Government departments on the 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 expertise of the Special Situations Group can be applied for maximum 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 needed.

Required Skills, Knowledge and Experience:

• Excellent commercial and restructuring capability, including assessment of business plans and cash flow forecasts, 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 with Ministers.

If you would like to be challenged by genuinely fascinating work and work in an environment where UKGI’s values are taken seriously, please apply 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, meaning we’ve been recognised as an employer confident in recruiting and retaining staff with disabilities. We will offer an interview to any applicants with a disability who 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 inform us in your application.

UKGI is also part of the ‘Great Place to Work for Veterans’ initiative, offering interviews to eligible applicants from His Majesty’s Armed Forces who meet the essential criteria for the post. Please indicate on your application if you wish for it to be considered as part of this initiative.

In line with company policy, we will be employing a hybrid working model, with 40% of your time being home-based. At UKGI, we value work-life balance and encourage applications from individuals seeking flexible working, reduced hours contracts, and job shares.