Job Description

We support the Accounting Officer in performing her responsibilities set out in Managing Public Money and as part of the Government Finance Function we put finance at the heart of decision making within the Department. The Finance Team operates a co-Finance Director Model and this deputy director post reports to the Operational Finance Director.
They are the technical experts in government accounting, provide advice to stakeholders at all levels, work closely with the Audit Committee, and take a lead in ensuring the performance and controls at our shared service provider and fit fur purpose.

Key Responsibilities

• Leading the financial accounting, reporting and systems function, creating a strong cultural identity and cohesion, empowering staff, promoting accountability and the autonomy to deliver internal and external objectives
• Taking accountability for:
  • Timely laying of unqualified annual report and accounts, meeting high quality standards
  • Reports to Audit Committee and other key stakeholders on the key features of the financial accounts and status of key issues and risks in the production of the financial accounts
  • Providing management assurance to the Accounting Officer / Permanent Secretary that key financial controls have operated effectively and that the annual report & accounts meet the necessary reporting standards
• Provide the Accounting Officer and the Finance Directors with advice and guidance on Managing Public Money
• Work with other government departments to produce the Whole of Government Accounts
• Engage with the Department’s shared service provider (UKSBS) to maintain the accuracy and integrity of its financial records
• Providing advice and guidance to Senior Stakeholders across the Department and its Partner Organizations on all aspects of Financial Accounting as a recognized expert
• Collaborate with the wider finance community to mitigate accounting risks, working to mitigate these risks so that the Departmental Accounts are free of material errors
• Maintain, develop and improve the Department’s financial systems, processes and reports
• Maintain, control and quality assure data quality on the finance systems
• Support the implementation of shared services as part of the Matrix cluster of government departments
• Deputies for the Operational Finance Director when required and work collaboratively with the other deputy directors and directors to champion, support and develop the finance function more widely

Benefits

• A culture of flexible working, such as job sharing, homeworking and compressed hours.
• Automatic enrolment into the Civil Service Pension Scheme, with an average employer contribution of 27%.
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.
• An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities, which all staff are actively encouraged to pursue.
• Access to a range of retail, travel and lifestyle employee discounts.
• A hybrid office/home based working model where staff will spend a norm of 40-60% of their time in the office (minimum of 40%) over a month with flex dependent on balancing business and individual need.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong technical accounting skills with experience of International Financial Reporting Standards
• Excellent presentational and inter-personal skills
• Ability to lead a significant portfolio, leading, motivating and developing a diverse team to deliver an effective and efficient service, with a strong track record of building capability and developing people in a fast paced and challenging environment
• Ability to build and maintain successful relationships, balancing the demands of a wide range of competing senior stakeholders
• High level of confidence and resilience, with an ability to work autonomously and to manage ambiguity and challenge
• A full accountancy qualification (CCAB, CIMA or equivalent).