The Bank of England is the UK's central bank. Our mission is to deliver monetary and financial stability for the British people.

The Bank of England is a diverse organisation. Each of its 4,000 plus people are committed to public service and dedicated to promoting the good of the people of the United Kingdom by maintaining monetary and financial stability.

The Secretary's Department supports the Court of Directors and other key Governing Committees of the Bank.

The Secretary is the Bank's Conflicts Officer, and Secretary's Department is responsible for the application of the Conflicts of Interest Codes applying to the Bank's policy committees, and has responsibility for the individual conflict of interest policies that are reflected in 'Our Code', and for the provision of advice.

The Secretary's Department is also responsible for the Bank's records and archives; the Bank's records management; and the Information Centre.

Team Overview

The Secretary’s Department sits at the heart of the Bank of England, and carries out three main purposes:

• First, we contribute to effective decision-making and the smooth running of the Bank.  We do this by providing the Bank’s central secretariat to the Bank’s Court of Directors, the Executive and subsidiaries; promote good corporate governance throughout the organisation; and provide advice to Governors on national security issues. 
• Second, we help protect the integrity and impartiality of the Bank and its officials.  We do this by maintaining and promoting Our Code and advising all levels of the organisation advising all levels of the organisation on conflicts of interest; handling “Speak Up” whistleblowing matters; and identifying, mitigating and managing insider risks.  
• Third, we serve as a custodian of corporate information and institutional memory.  We do this by cataloguing, preserving and making accessible historic records; acquiring and managing access to information resources, and delivering a professional library service for the Bank; and delivering a records service which manages the Bank’s information and records to meet professional standards and statutory obligations.

Job description

Are you interested in learning more about how the Bank handles conflicts of interest, both real and potential?  Would you like to manage a busy team dealing with varied and interesting queries every day?  If so, we currently have a vacancy for a permanent Manager of the Conflicts Team in the Secretary’s Department, to do just that.  The role will support the Department in helping protect the integrity and impartiality of the Bank and its officials, and the Secretary of the Bank in their specific role as Conflicts Officer, which is a specific responsibility under the Senior Manager Regime as it applies to the Bank. 

The new role will include the following responsibilities:

• Supporting the senior advisers in managing and implementing the policies on directorships, gifts and entertainment, political activities, personal and financial relationships, personal financial transactions, and Speak Up (whistle-blowing). 
• As part of the Conflicts Team, provide advice to staff Bank-wide on the Bank’s conflicts of interest policies, via the AskConflicts Advice in-box.  In conjunction with the Team, act as a Bank-wide screening officer for Personal Financial Transaction requests.  With the Team, help to develop and provide training to the wider Bank on the conflicts policies.
• Act as line manager for members of the Conflicts Team (up to 4 people) and ensure that resourcing for smooth operation of the in-box is maintained day-to-day.
• Becoming an expert on the functions of the Our Code Compliance system, including oversight of administration of the system, and assessing with Technology the resources needed to maintain and develop the system.
• Liaise with Compliance Division to monitor adherence to the policies, manage and report breaches.  Support all stages of the annual Our Code attestation process.

• Providing support to the conflicts senior advisers in carrying out conflicts management for the Bank’s non-statutory committees that have external members (RTGS/CHAPS Board, FMI Board, SONIA Oversight Committee). The opportunity to support the Secretary, Deputy Secretary and senior conflicts advisers on a range of conflicts of interest matters.
• There is also the opportunity to act as a contact for the Bank’s Speak Up (internal whistleblowing) policy, pursue individual cases as required, and ensure policy and practice follows best practice.  This element can be expanded to include liaison with those areas working to maintain and improve related policies, such as the bullying and harassment policy.

This role will provide the successful applicant with first‑hand insight into how the Bank manages conflicts of interest. 

This is role includes some people management via line management within the Conflicts team.  Two people work full-time on the team, and two others work part-time in another team in the department.  You will be responsible for day to day management of the team and for defining roles and responsibilities. You will develop your team through sharing information effectively, coaching and communicating a clear vision to ensure that your staff are productive, engaged and motivated to deliver the area’s aims. This will include setting clear goals and smart stretching objectives that are aligned to those of the team, division and directorate. You will also be responsible for managing all staff-related matters that may arise including performance, absence and sickness.  

Number of direct reports:

Two direct reports, with up to two additional team members managed in a matrix management arrangement.

Role Requirements

Minimum Essential Criteria

• A broad knowledge of the Bank – both its policy responsibilities and its operation.
• Experience of mentoring, coaching or supporting team members or other colleagues.

Essential Criteria

• Good communications skills, including an accurate and clear written style.
• Ability to juggle a number of tasks.
• Self-starter with strong organisational skills.
• Team-player, with a sense of humour.
• Sound judgement, grounded in common sense, and high levels of ethical behaviour, sensitivity and discretion.
• Strong self-awareness, with a willingness to accept and learn from feedback and proactively identify areas for personal development.  
• Evidence of ability to work constructively and flexibly across boundaries and to contribute beyond the demands of the day job to advancing strategic outcomes, priorities and vision.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of advising on conflicts of interest/ethical issues, or experience of handling sensitive matters.
• It would be helpful for applicants to have had experience of working in a front-line policy area of the Bank, but it’s not essential.