accountant London, England
Job description
Details
Reference number
Salary
Job grade
Contract type
Business area
Type of role
Finance
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
Apply and further information
Location
About the job
Job summary
#DSIT
The responsibilities for the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology for 2023 are as follows:
- Positioning the UK at the forefront of global scientific and technological advancement
- Driving innovations that change lives and sustain economic growth
- Delivering talent programmes, physical and digital infrastructure and regulation to support our economy, security and public services
- R&D funding
For 2023, our priorities are:
- Optimise public R&D investment to support areas of relative UK strength and increase the level of private R&D to make our economy the most innovative in the world.
- Promote a diverse research and innovation system that connects discovery to new companies, growth and jobs – including by delivering world-class physical and digital infrastructure (such as gigabit broadband), making the UK the best place to start and grow a technology business and developing and attracting top talent.
- Put our public services – including the NHS and schools – at the forefront of innovation, championing new ways of working and the development of in-house STEM capability to improve outcomes for people.
- Strengthen international collaboration on science and technology in line with the Integrated Review, and ensure our researchers are able to continue to work with leading scientists in Europe and around the world.
- Deliver key legislative and regulatory reforms to drive competition and promote innovation, including the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill, the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill and our pro-innovation approach to regulating AI.
- Pass the remaining stages of the reformed Online Safety Bill to keep British people, especially children, safe online.
Our Inclusive Environment
We are building an inclusive culture to make the Department 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.
DSIT Financial Accounts, Controls & Systems team are looking for an outstanding finance professional with the required experience, skills and personal qualities to lead the Financial Accounting team for the Core Department. The Financial Accounting team maintain the integrity of the Department’s ledger, working with Financial Reporting team to ensure that the Department group accounts are prepared and provide accounting advice to the Department.
It is an excellent opportunity to play an important and active role in the production of the Departmental group accounts and build positive relationships within the Department and its shared services. We will provide you with the opportunity for a diverse, exciting, and worthwhile career. We will support you with training and development.
We offer all 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, growing by 1 day for each year of service up to 30 days leave entitlement.
The successful post holder will be able to deliver at pace, whilst working together with the Financial Reporting team, Finance Business Partners, UK SBS, the National Audit Office and other key members of the Department, acting as the face of Financial Accounting. They will make effective decisions in providing sound advice on the application of International Accounting Standards (as interpreted by HM Treasury), to ensure the Core Department's financial records are free from errors and the annual accounts are laid pre-parliamentary recess.
About the team
DSIT Financial Accounts, Controls & Systems, which is a central team within the Finance Directorate that support the Core Department and its Partner Organisations: Financial Accounting, Financial Reporting, and Financial Controls and Assurance.
You will have the opportunity to work at pace and stretch yourself and will have ample opportunity to grow your skills. We strongly support our people’s career development and offer leadership development opportunities, as well as mentoring programmes, networking and peer-to peer learning.
We are an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and promote equality of opportunity, to enable us to reflect the communities that we serve.
We do not tolerate any form of discrimination and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status.
We pride ourselves on being an open and encouraging workplace.
We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided with reasonable adjustments, including accommodation, to enable them to participate in the job application process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.
The DSIT Finance & Portfolio Diversity & Inclusion team is award winning. We offer flexible working arrangements and pride ourselves on crafting an open, engaging and encouraging environment where we look after each other’s wellbeing and can all feel truly part of the team.
Job description
Key responsibilities will include:
- Engaging with the department shared service provider, UKSBS, to maintain the accuracy and integrity of its financial records;
- Engaging effectively with the Finance & Portfolio team, the Department and external Partner Organisations within the Group;
- Providing financial accounting advice and guidance to a variety of partners around the Department;
- 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;
- Compilation of the quarterly financial accounts;
- Production of the core Department Resource Accounts
- Production of the Statement of Parliamentary Supply;
- Completion of the Whole of Government Accounts;
- Handle the sign-off of control accounts checks with UKSBS;
- Implement any financial accounting NAO and GIAA recommendations;
- Develop and contribute to the DSIT control frameworks;
- Team Resource planning and capability development
Person specification
You will be a result driven, collaborative team leader, with good attention to detail and the ability to communication skills to build good working relationships at all levels across the DSIT family. You will be passionate about great public services and delivering on the DSIT objectives.
We have a track record in the Department for providing opportunities and support for future progression to finance leadership roles, so we encourage applications from results-oriented finance professionals.
These roles can also act as a springboard into other roles within DSIT and also our partner organisations.
Job Related Professional Skills:
Essential criteria
- Fully qualified accountant (ACCA, ACA, CIPFA or CIMA)
- Significant experience of International Financial reporting standard
- Strong technical accounting skills
- Excellent Excel Skills
- Excellent presentation skills
Desirable criteria
- Leadership and Management qualification
- Preparation of audit of Central Government/ Public Sector set of account
Qualifications
Memberships
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Making Effective Decisions
- Working Together
- Developing Self and Others
- Delivering at Pace
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Double entry - Double entry accounting question
Benefits
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology offers a competitive mix of benefits including:
- 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.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement and a number of behavioural statements.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Please use your personal statement (in no more than 750 words) to provide examples of your skills and experiences that match with the required key responsibilities described for the role.
Applications will be sifted on behavioural statements, CV, and personal statement.
In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the lead behaviour: Leadership
Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
At interview, candidates will be assessed on behaviours, strengths and technical elements.
Interviewees will be asked to deliver a presentation; further details will be provided nearer the time.
Sift and interview dates
Expected Timeline subject to change
Sift dates: w/c 07/08/2023
Interview dates: w/c 14/08/2023
Interview Location: MS Teams.
Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.
Further Information
Reasonable Adjustment
We are proud to be a disability confident leader and we welcome applications from disabled candidates and candidates with long-term conditions.
We fully support adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we encourage candidates to discuss their adjustment needs by emailing the job contact which can be found under the contact point for applicants section.
We do not have an exhaustive list of adjustments that we support but just some examples include additional time to complete your application form, behaviour questions up to 72 hours prior to interview and having extra time at interview.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
A location based reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.
Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
Any move to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
DSIT does not normally offer full home working (i.e. working at home); but we do offer a variety of flexible working options (including occasionally working from home).
DSIT cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. DSIT holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service /Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.
However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing [email protected] stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email [email protected]
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Apply and further information
