Job Description

The Accountant to the Inquiry leads a small finance team (at the time of writing this comprises two Senior Executive Officers (SEO) plus an Executive Officer (EO) shared with other functions). The role reports to the inquiry’s SCS PB1 Programme, Finance and Commercial Delivery Manager.

Key Skills and Experience:

It is essential that the post holder is a qualified accountant.

The post holder must bring a rounded approach to financial management, grounded in robust professional practice and must have the breadth of experience and strategic grasp to lead the inquiry’s finance function as well as the practical skills required to be hands-on to achieve delivery.
Experience of enterprise resource planning finance systems, such as the Home Office METIS system, is extremely desirable.
 

Responsibilities

• Ensure effective in-year management of the budget, ensuring transactions are processed efficiently and effectively, accurate figures are on the HO finance system and forecasting is effective

• Manage internal and external financial reporting, including budget reports to the budget holder, inquiry Overview Board, Home Office, and public

• To support the inquiry in identifying future funding requirements, including in year, next year and through the whole life of the inquiry

• To enable the inquiry secretary to meet the terms of the management statement and financial delegation, including by ensure compliance with financial policies and processes and through assurance on compliance and management of financial risks

Additional responsibilities include the following:

• Respond to requests for ad hoc financial information from colleagues and the sponsor

• Develop financial awareness and capability within the inquiry

• Work collaboratively with commercial and other inquiry colleagues to deliver value for money in compliance with ‘Managing Public Money’ and Home Office processes

• Lead on financial liaison with the Home Office to ensure the inquiry is abreast of relevant developments and its requirements, and vice versa, and any issues are understood

• Share best practice in inquiry finance with the sponsor department and other inquiries

• Participate in inquiry corporate governance and other activities as appropriate

• Line manage the other members of the inquiry finance team

• Close the accounts at the end of the inquiry and provide formal reporting for public records/publication

• Directly carry out finance tasks including transactional tasks where this is necessary to get the job done and/or to coach other staff, in the context of a small team in a dynamic organisation

• Subject to capacity, fulfil the key responsibilities of the role for other Home Office-sponsored inquiries where this is required to achieve better value for money for the taxpayer

• Undertake other duties appropriate to the grade

Behaviours

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

• Working Together
• Making Effective Decisions
• Changing and Improving
• Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role

• An environment with flexible working options

• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity

• A Civil Service pension

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The post holder must bring a rounded approach to financial management, grounded in robust professional practice and must have the breadth of experience and strategic grasp to lead the inquiry’s finance function as well as the practical skills required to be hands-on to achieve delivery. Experience of enterprise resource planning finance systems, such as the Home Office METIS system, is extremely desirable.