Newly Qualified Accountant - Government Finance Function
HM Treasury
Apply before 11:55 pm on Tuesday 29th October 2024
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About the job
Job summary
If you are a talented and ambitious newly qualified accountant looking for an exciting opportunity to progress your career, the Government Finance Function (GFF) is looking for people like you!
The GFF is a far-reaching, diverse community that brings together finance professionals throughout government with a wide range of different roles and specialisms to get involved in and where everyone benefits from shared resources, development opportunities, expertise, and values.
We do that in lots of different ways: through strategy work, complex financial analysis, and budget-planning. Newly qualified accountants work at the heart of government, working to reduce public debt, building strategies for the UK’s future, dealing with complex accounts and unique transactions, and crunching numbers to achieve the most cost-efficient outcome.
As a qualified accountant, you will analyse complex financial data, identify trends and provide strategic financial insight to support the organisation.
Newly qualified accountants in the Government Finance Function deal with big budgets, in big ways. Everything’s rooted in real life. There are people behind our numbers. And we use our skills every day to achieve good and worthwhile outcomes, helping the public and bringing about positive change in society.
We are recruiting on behalf of several government organisations who are looking for dynamic and ambitious newly qualified accountants to support their work. You will not only join a government organisation, but you will also join a professional community of over 10,000 finance professionals across the whole of government.
This is an opportunity to progress your financial career in a supportive and professional community, where the work you do has a clear impact on communities across the UK and delivers for the UK internationally.
Roles available include:
Finance Business Partner: As a Finance Business Partner, you will provide strategic financial insight and analysis to support decision-making across your organisation
Strategic Financial Advisor: In this role, your key responsibilities will include offering strategic financial advice about budgeting, planning, and helping stakeholders navigate complex financial decisions.
Financial Accounting and Reporting: Your focus in this role will be delivering core financial controls and providing technical accounting advice. You will play a critical part in maintaining the integrity of the organisation’s financial statements.
Management Accounts: In this role, you will be responsible for producing detailed financial reports and adding value to the numbers by providing insight and analysis, enabling you to support business decisions through accurate financial data.
Job description
As a newly qualified accountant in the Government Finance Function, you will have the opportunity to work on exciting projects, to make sure that taxpayer money is always spent effectively and meaningfully. And we do that in lots of different ways: through strategy work, complex financial analysis, and budget-planning. Newly qualified accountants work at the heart of government, working to reduce public debt, building strategies for the UK’s future, dealing with complex accounts and unique transactions, and crunching numbers to achieve the most cost-efficient outcome.
You will be an excellent communicator who is confident explaining complex financial concepts clearly to key stakeholders, providing technical accounting advice, ensuring that finance is at the heart of government decision-making. Because that’s how we achieve better outcomes for communities right across the UK.
As a qualified accountant, you will analyse complex financial data, identify trends and provide strategic financial insight to support the organisation. Newly qualified accountants in the Government Finance Function deal with big budgets, in big ways. Everything’s rooted in real life. There are people behind our numbers. And we use our skills every day to achieve good and worthwhile outcomes, helping the public and bringing about positive change in society.
To find out more about the Government Finance Function and the roles on offer, check out our careers website: www.financecareers.civilservice.gov.uk
Candidate Drop-in Sessions
We will be running two online Candidate Drop-in Sessions.
These are opportunities for you to meet representatives of the GFF Resourcing team and the finance teams at the hiring departments and to ask any questions you may have.
Monday 14th October – 1-1:45pm – Click here to join
Tuesday 22nd October – 5-5:45pm – Click here to join
Candidate Support Sessions
We will also be running two online Candidate Support Sessions. These will focus on the application process with the GFF Resourcing team sharing tips and insights on what makes a good application.
Thursday 17th October – 1-1:45pm – Click here to join
Wednesday 23rd October – 5-5:45pm – Click here to join
Person specification
We are looking for candidates who can demonstrate the following criteria in the suitability statement, within the application form:
Essential Criteria
Finance Qualified with CCAB or CIMA.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, to effectively interact with key stakeholders, with the ability to explain complex financial concepts in a clear and concise manner.
Ability to analyse, manage and present complex financial data, identify trends and provide valuable insights to support decision-making.
Desirable Criteria
Application of professional accountancy standards within a complex organisation.
If you have a passion for finance and want to use your skills to drive real change, please apply to be part of our new cohort of newly qualified accountants. Roles available include Finance Business Partner, Strategic Financial Advisor, Financial Accounting and Reporting, and Management Accounts.
Other roles that a suitable candidate may be looking for are Chartered Accountant or Assistant Finance Manager.
Qualifications
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Ability to communicate financial terminology to stakeholders from a non-finance background
Benefits
Life in the Government Finance Function is all about balance. It’s about having challenge in your remit and enjoying a culture of care. It’s about having flexibility in your hours, and ambition in your goals. It’s about feeling the value of your ideas, and the sense of purpose in what we can all achieve together. And it’s about being part of a big community, without ever feeling like just a number. Here are some of the top reasons why joining us is a great idea:
- Civil Service defined benefit pension scheme – with an average employer contribution of up to 27%
- Training and professional development opportunities and dedicated time to focus on them
- Generous annual leave package of 25 days’ leave, in addition to Bank Holidays
- Parent and carer leave
- Employee Assistance programme
Flexible working opportunities
The Government Finance Function views flexible working as essential in enabling us to recruit and retain talented people, ensuring that they can enjoy a long-lasting career with us. All members of our community have the right to apply for flexible working and there are a range of options available including part-time and compressed hours. Additionally, we operate flexitime systems, allowing employees the flexibility to adjust their working patterns throughout the week which is subject to operational needs and line management approval.
In the Government Finance Function we have an incredibly broad remit; our work touches every citizen of the country. So, it’s important members of our GFF community come from the widest possible range of backgrounds, bringing us the widest possible range of perspectives and ways of thinking. We are committed to ensuring that all staff can realise their potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.
There is an office based working approach across all sites and along with the rest of the Civil Service, there is an expectation of a minimum of 60% attendance in the office, along with working remotely. This blended working approach allows you to work collaboratively, meet stakeholders face to face, support others and promotes a healthy work life balance (please be aware that these roles can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
As part of your application you will need to:
- Upload a CV as part of your application on the Upload Documents page which will appear once you’ve started your application. Your CV should not exceed two pages of A4 and should not include any personal details. We ask that you do not include your name, address, social media information, phone number or photo.
- Upload your certificate showing that you are a fully qualified member of either CCAB or CIMA. This also needs to be done on the Upload Document page once you have started your application. Please upload this as a separate document to your CV. You will be required to upload this after your CV.
- Complete the 500-word statement of suitability explains how your skills and experience align to the essential criteria for this role. This will be prompted in the Personal Statement section of the application.
Essential Criteria
- Finance Qualified with CCAB or CIMA.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, to effectively interact with key stakeholders, with the ability to explain complex financial concepts in a clear and concise manner.
- Ability to analyse, manage and present complex financial data, identify trends and provide valuable insights to support decision-making.
Desirable Criteria
- Application of professional accountancy standards within a complex organisation.
Recruitment Timeline
Closing date: 29th October 2024
Shortlisting: w/c 11th & 18th November 2024
Interviews: w/c 2nd & 9th December 2024
This timeline is indicative and may be subject to change. We will inform you if there is a substantial change to the recruitment timeline.
If your contact details change at any time during the selection process, please ensure you update your Civil Service Jobs Profile.
Please note that only applications submitted through Civil Service Jobs will be accepted.
Location-Based Reserve Lists
You will be placed on a reserve list if your application is successful, but we cannot offer you a post immediately. Where more than one location has been advertised, candidates will be approached for roles in merit order according to the first preferred location stated on your application form.
Please note that a place on the reserve list does not guarantee an offer. We would still encourage you to apply for other Government Finance Function opportunities that you are interested in. If you are offered a role in your first preferred location and you decline the offer or you are unable to take up the post within a reasonable timeframe, you will be removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances.
Eligibility Statement
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role in the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government. Checks will be performed as part of pre-employment checks in line with this. Please refer to the Candidate FAQ document attached to the advert for more information.
Everyone working with government assets must complete Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks. Additionally, individuals appointed will be subject to National Security Vetting. All candidates will be required to have Security Check (SC) clearance before starting in the role. Some roles will require candidates to go through Developed Vetting (DV) once they start in the role.
To allow for meaningful checks to be carried out, applicants will need to have lived in the UK for at least 5 out of the past 10 years. In exceptional circumstances, a lack of residency would not be a bar to security clearance however the Department will need to consider eligibility on a case by case basis once the advert closing date has passed.
Please read the Vetting Charter for information on what to expect during the vetting process and what will be expected from you. Many areas of your life may be explored during your vetting journey, and it is important that every individual, regardless of their background and experiences, should feel comfortable going through this personal process, whilst having confidence that it is fair, proportionate, and inclusive.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Patrick Tobin
- Email : People@HMTreasury.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : People@HMTreasury.gov.uk
Further information
If you are not satisfied after GFF investigation, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at info@csc.gov.uk or in writing to:
Civil Service Commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road SW1A 2HQ
