You will also contribute to the development of GAD’s wider model quality assurance capability. This will include sharing good practice, helping improve assurance templates and guidance, supporting colleagues to apply appropriate standards, and promoting a culture where model risks are understood, documented and managed effectively.

What does the role involve?

As a Financial and Excel Model Quality Assurance Analyst, you will help deliver independent and proportionate assurance of models that support important public sector decisions. You will work with analysts, actuaries, policy teams and client organisations to review how models have been designed, built, tested, documented and governed, with a particular focus on spreadsheet-based, actuarial and financial models.

The role will involve examining model logic, formulae, inputs, assumptions, outputs, controls and audit trails to assess whether models are robust, transparent and fit for purpose. You will help identify errors, weaknesses and areas of model risk, and work constructively with model owners to agree practical recommendations that improve confidence in the model and the decisions it supports.

You will support a range of assurance activities across the model lifecycle. This may include helping clients define model requirements, reviewing documentation and governance arrangements, testing calculations and sensitivities, checking changes to existing models, assessing the suitability of assumptions, and preparing clear assurance reports for technical and non-technical audiences.

You will also contribute to the development of GAD’s wider model quality assurance capability. This will include sharing good practice, helping improve assurance templates and guidance, supporting colleagues to apply appropriate standards, and promoting a culture where model risks are understood, documented and managed effectively.

Person specification

Managing delivery

• Work with client leads and project managers to agree proportionate QA scopes, plans, priorities and deliverables.
• Manage allocated assurance work to agreed timescales, budgets and quality expectations.
• Maintain clear records and audit trails, including issue logs, findings, actions, risks and follow-up activity.
• Prepare clear, concise and accessible assurance outputs for clients and internal stakeholders, including reports, findings summaries and recommendations.

Conducting QA

• Conduct quality assurance reviews of Excel-based, actuarial and financial models, including reviewing model design, structure, formulae, inputs, assumptions, outputs, documentation, controls and governance.
• Carry out verification and validation activities to check that models have been built correctly, work as intended, and are suitable for their stated purpose and level of risk.
• Test model calculations and sensitivities, investigate issues, challenge assumptions constructively, and identify practical recommendations to improve model quality, transparency and reliability.
• Apply relevant modelling and quality assurance standards, including GAD guidance, professional standards and wider government good practice such as the AQuA Book.

Building capability

• Support improvements to model QA templates, tools, checklists and guidance, with a focus on spreadsheet and financial model assurance.
• Share learning and good practice across the team and wider organisation to promote consistent, proportionate and effective model assurance.
• Support training, mentoring and knowledge sharing for colleagues involved in model development and assurance.
• Promote a culture where model risks are understood, documented and managed effectively.

Other

• To ensure effective and agile co-operation with other teams within AST, including flexible working across teams as required to meet client demand.

This job description is a broad reflection of the current duties. It is not an exhaustive list, and changes may be required, based on GAD’s immediate operational needs which are at the discretion of the relevant Unit Director and in conjunction with the post holder.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a Quality Service

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Experience of developing and reviewing Excel-based analytical models used for financial forecasting, investment/economic appraisal, regulatory/policy analysis. (Essential)

Alongside your salary of £53,539, Government Actuary's Department contributes £15,510 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

As well as competitive salaries, we offer a substantial package of benefits:

• Exceptional learning and development opportunities that you can explore alongside your day-to-day work.
• 25 days annual leave per year, increasing to 30 days after 5 years’ service. In addition, we offer 9 days public and privilege days leave per year (pro rata for part time staff)
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• 5 days of paid volunteering leave
• Up to 9 months maternity leave on full pay + generous paternity and adoption leave
• Staff reward and recognition bonuses that operate throughout the year.
• Occupational sick pay
• Family-friendly policies such as help with caring responsibilities, special leave, generous paid maternity, paternity, and adoption leave.
• Access to employee assistance programme which offers staff 24/7 confidential support and resources such as counselling, debt guidance and management advice.
• The opportunity to join a trade union.
• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity.
• Salary advances for travel costs, including annual season tickets and cycle-to-work schemes.
• Access to the Edenred employee benefits system which offers discounts to popular retailers and access to various useful resources such as financial and savings advice.
• Complimentary BUPA health check.

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Technical skills.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you provide employment history that relates to the essential criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained.