Financial Reporting Accountant

Description:

We are building an inclusive culture to make BEIS a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it will help us be more innovative and make better decisions.

We offer first-class flexible working benefits, excellent employee well-being support and a great pension. We are fortunate to have a range of excellent staff networks and are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We will support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive.

We actively welcome applications from anyone who shares our commitment to inclusion. We will fully support candidates with a disability or long-term condition who require adjustments in our recruitment process.

Job description

We are looking for two outstanding finance professionals with the required experience, skills and personal qualities to be Senior Executive Officer (SEO) Financial Reporting Accountants, within the Financial Reporting and Accounting Advice team.

This is an important role within the finance function requiring the ability to work as part of a team to deliver the Departmental Group accounts and provide accounting expertise to support the Department's Partner Organisations. It is an excellent opportunity to play an important and active role in the production of the Departmental group accounts and build strong relationships with wider partners. We will provide you with the opportunity for a diverse, interesting, and worthwhile career and support you with training and development.

You will be entitled to the benefits of working for the civil service including flexible working and the option to join the civil service pension scheme. Along with 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day for each year of service up to 30 days leave entitlement.

The successful post holders will be able to deliver at pace, whilst working together with a range of partners, acting as the face of the Department's financial reporting team. They will be able to make effective decisions, in providing sound advice on the application of accounting standards (as interpreted by HM Treasury), to ensure the Department's financial records are free from errors and the annual accounts return to a pre-summer parliamentary recess timetable.

The Financial Reporting and Accounting Advice team, sits in BEIS's Financial Reporting & Control (FR&C) team, which is a central team within BEIS's Finance function. The wider FR&C team comprises four teams that support the Core Department and it's Partner Organisations:
 

• Core Financial Accounting

• Financial Reporting & Accounting Advice

• Internal Control

• Treasury & Parliamentary Reporting

Financial Reporting & Control is part of the Government Finance Function and is committed to diversity and inclusion.

Your application will be assessed against the Civil Service's Success Profiles, and the panel will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills. So, please ensure your application covers examples of the Behaviours, Strengths, Experiences and Technical skills we are looking for.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities will include:
 

• Managing and quality assuring Partner Organisations (POs) financial and non-financial information submissions, collected through the consolidation data collection tool at interim and year-end

• Engaging effectively with the rest of finance, the Core Department and external Partner Organisations within the Group, to resolve accounting issues and differences

• Ensuring that all the technical aspects of the accounts production process are consistent with HM Treasury guidance and specifically the requirements of the Financial Reporting Manual (FReM)

• Providing technical accounting advice under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and guidance to a variety of partners around the Department

• Where appropriate, collaborate closely with HM Treasury colleagues on technical issues and cross Whitehall accountancy issues

• Providing Boundary and classification advice

• Preparing accounts and financial statements for BEIS minor bodies

• Collaborating with the wider finance community within BEIS to mitigate accounting risks, working to mitigate these risks so that the Departmental Accounts are free of material errors

• Engaging with the external auditors, the National Audit Office (NAO), to ensure that the audit process runs efficiently.

Skills and Experience

Personal Specification

You will be a driven, collaborative colleague, with good attention to detail, the experience of working to tight reporting timelines and the ability and communication skills to build strong working relationships at all levels across the BEIS family. You will be passionate about great public services and delivering on the BEIS objectives.