Accountant in the Civil Service- flexible working

suilegorma

I have just applied for this, closing date tomorrow. One thing I am keen to understand is where flexible working arrangements would apply to this role ? I can't find any reference to the grade level, and the flexitime circular only refers to AP and PO grades.

Riskymove

It wont have flexi-time it would appear (it is comparable to AP grade which currently doesn't offer flexi to new appointments)

Hours of attendance
Hours of attendance will be fixed from time to time but will amount to not less than 43 hours 15
minutes gross per week. The successful candidate will be required to work such additional hours
from time to time as may be reasonable and necessary for the proper performance of his/her duties
subject to the limits set down in the working time regulations. The rate of remuneration payable
covers any extra attendance liability that may arise from time to time.

suilegorma

Thanks. I thought as much ! Really off-putting as 5.45 is way too late to finish in what will probably be a city centre location. And one hour fifteen for lunch is a bit ridiculous! Does not suit families at all.

Riskymove

suilegorma wrote: »

Thanks. I thought as much ! Really off-putting as 5.45 is way too late to finish in what will probably be a city centre location. And one hour fifteen for lunch is a bit ridiculous! Does not suit families at all.

yes the withdrawal of flexi to AP grade is seen by many as a step backwards on the family friendly practices in the PS. Many think it will be offered again as things loosen up with regard to cuts.

just on that, while you may not be on flexi-system, most people work out arrangements with managers. Once the hours are being done and work is being done most people are flexible if you wish to work 8-4 or 10-7 etc...

barneystinson

Riskymove wrote: »

yes the withdrawal of flexi to AP grade is seen by many as a step backwards on the family friendly practices in the PS. Many think it will be offered again as things loosen up with regard to cuts.

just on that, while you may not be on flexi-system, most people work out arrangements with managers. Once the hours are being done and work is being done most people are flexible if you wish to work 8-4 or 10-7 etc...

^^^^^

At this level you're not a schoolchild, you're a senior manager and should be capable of working out a suitable arrangement with the manager above you.

passinginterest

Not being on the flexi system and having flexible working arrangements are very different things. In some ways the APs have greater flexibility as they're not required to clock in an out and can work hours that suit local arrangements. Obviously the work can be very demanding. I'm sure the accountant grade is very similar and long hours might be required at certain times, but it's not too different to anyone else. It probably depends on the direct manager and the Department to an extent but if you're not in a public facing role the chances are most places will be open to early start, early finish, or the opposite of it suits. You definitely see the full range in my Department anyway.

suilegorma

Great to hear that. I am not really interested in the time off as such, more fitting working hours and life hours into the day !

Belt

OP how did your application progress? I also applied but never heard anything back so not too optimistic!

suilegorma

No, nothing back yet. I presume they are still processing? No messages in my publicjobs inbox.

Belt

suilegorma wrote: »

No, nothing back yet. I presume they are still processing? No messages in my publicjobs inbox.

They must be but they did say interviews would take place in August and September

snowden

Shortlisting was organised for 7th September so maybe we'll hear this week

Mollyd90

sorry stupid question but where is best place to see public sector job vacancies. I dont really see many public jobs advertised.

gazzer

Mollyd90 wrote: »

sorry stupid question but where is best place to see public sector job vacancies. I dont really see many public jobs advertised.

Here ya go https://www.publicjobs.ie/publicjobs/

Mollyd90

thanks!

markkk100

Hi guys, first time on this, shortlisting is over, just got called for interview, anybody got any ideas how to prepare for this;please bear in mind I have never done an interview with the civil service before.

Decinho

results came out today but apparently there's only one vacancy. I wonder how long the panel lasts for....

You would hope there will be more vacancies, it said on the information booklet that there were several vacancies in Dublin.
The panel should last at least at year, here's hoping.

Decinho

I might ring them tomorrow, I think the panel will last for 2 years. Yeah the booklet did say several vacancies, it would be truly bizarre to run a competition of that size and interview 50 odd unless they knew there were a number of vacancies in the pipeline.

Does anyone have any idea how many people were taken off the panel the last time they ran this competition a few years ago?

A friend of mine was 20+ place on the panel, and was offered and accepted a job the last time

Sonjac

I rang yesterday, there's 30/31 on the panel. They said it will last 12-18 months or until the panel is exhausted.

Decinho

Sonjac wrote: »

I rang yesterday, there's 30/31 on the panel. They said it will last 12-18 months or until the panel is exhausted.

I thought it would be 24 months, but anyway it's good that they said or until the panel is exhausted because that means surely they are expecting to fill plenty of positions. It really was strange that there was only one current vacancy.

Sonjac

I was a bit surprised - from what I have seen before the life of the panel is set out in the competition information.

daveyboy41

Rang them and told panel was 18 -24 mths usually. Would have expected more than 1 open position at this point and given 2 wks of interviewing

markkk100

Lads; has there been any movement on the panel. How long should you wait until contacting PAS about this?

Sonjac

markkk100 wrote: »

Lads; has there been any movement on the panel. How long should you wait until contacting PAS about this?

Give them a call and let us know what they say ;-)

markkk100

Sonjac wrote: »

Give them a call and let us know what they say ;-)

Rang them; put through to clearance unit, just one vacancy at the moment. I’m placed in the mid twenties on the panel so should probably forget about it. It’s just on the initial application it said there was several vacancies

markkk100

markkk100 wrote: »

Rang them; put through to clearance unit, just one vacancy at the moment. I’m placed in the mid twenties on the panel so should probably forget about it. It’s just on the initial application it said there was several vacancies

There have been 2 jobs offered so far, I would not give up hope, after all its only a week!

markkk100

[Deleted User] wrote: »

There have been 2 jobs offered so far, I would not give up hope, after all its only a week!

True; see how things develop over next few months; if I hear anything I’ll post here

markkk100

markkk100 wrote: »

True; see how things develop over next few months; if I hear anything I’ll post here

My friend who was offered a job the last time was 20+ on the panel and was offered a job after 18 months

daveyboy41

Wonder will there be more openings at the start of the new year....looks positive if 2 offers out already and am sure some will turn down offers..
Late teens on panel but still hopeful ðŸ‘

Decinho

Any more offers go out or is it just the 2 so far?

daveyboy41

Decinho wrote: »

Any more offers go out or is it just the 2 so far?

Speaking to them today, there appears to be 4 jobs, not sure if all are filled. 33 on the panel. I guess if panel was kept open for 24 mths panel would be used at that rate.

markkk100

Some positive news on this; I just rang clearing unit, they have called 7 so far, civil service moving swifty for once

daveyboy41

That would appear very positive. Fingers crossed

markkk100

daveyboy41 wrote: »

That would appear very positive. Fingers crossed

I phrased this incorrectly; the clearing unit has had seven separate requests from government departments requesting accountants; which means there are seven separate jobs, I don’t know how many candidates have been contacted so far.

markkk100

Lads make that 9 places on offer now. Will any of you guys ring clearing unit next week; I think Yvonne in the section is getting fed up of me ringing; thanks

daveyboy41

Will give them a call...sounds like there are a few roles coming out....seems to be a few in public jobs aswell

markkk100

daveyboy41 wrote: »

Will give them a call...sounds like there are a few roles coming out....seems to be a few in public jobs aswell

Sound daveyboy, might be an idea to leave ringing her again towards the end of next week as I called her just before lunch

Sonjac

Up to 10 now

daveyboy41

Does anyone know whats the process if a role does come up....is it next in merit list is interviewed?

daveyboy41

daveyboy41 wrote: »

Does anyone know whats the process if a role does come up....is it next in merit list is interviewed?

No interview, you are asked to fill in.the garda vetting, health declaration, and supply references.I was offered a job early on and still going through the process

markkk100

Does anyone know how far down the panel they have gone, I know there are 10 positions but some may have turned down for one reason or other; maybe theres a department I could ring to find out?

Sonjac

markkk100 wrote: »

Does anyone know how far down the panel they have gone, I know there are 10 positions but some may have turned down for one reason or other; maybe theres a department I could ring to find out?

They were at number 10 on the panel on Thursday - you can ring PAS and say you are enquiring about the accountant panel and they'll put you through to the right section. The lady said she expected a few more positions to come up before Christmas.

markkk100

Sonjac wrote: »

They were at number 10 on the panel on Thursday - you can ring PAS and say you are enquiring about the accountant panel and they'll put you through to the right section. The lady said she expected a few more positions to come up before Christmas.

Thanks Sonjac, I'm probably jumping the gun a bit here. I'll wait for a week or two & give her a try again

Sonjac

Anyone up for ringing PAS today?

daveyboy41

Sonjac wrote: »

Anyone up for ringing PAS today?

Called clearance....still at 10 so no movement....

Decinho

Has anyone been offered a position outside of Dublin?

markkk100

Decinho wrote: »

Has anyone been offered a position outside of Dublin?

The best person I can think of asking is Yvonne in clearing unit; she mightn’t know but worth asking. I’m going to ring her on Friday to see if there is any more movement on the panel; I’ll ask her then if u want

Decinho

markkk100 wrote: »

The best person I can think of asking is Yvonne in clearing unit; she mightn’t know but worth asking. I’m going to ring her on Friday to see if there is any more movement on the panel; I’ll ask her then if u want

That would be great , thanks. I turned down a position in Dublin on Friday so the panel might have moved another place.

markkk100

Decinho wrote: »

That would be great , thanks. I turned down a position in Dublin on Friday so the panel might have moved another place.

I’ll call her on Friday morning so; I’ll post here to let you know what she says

markkk100

I called just after lunch today, they are still at number 10, so no movement on panel. I asked were all the positions based in Dublin, I was told that 8 of them were & 1 position not in Dublin, she couldn't tell me where that position was located.