Large Business Advisory Accountant
HM Revenue and Customs
Apply before 11:55 pm on Wednesday 13th November 2024
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Job summary
We are running an information session via Teams on Friday 8th November at 3-3.30pm for this role. It will be a great opportunity to hear from the vacancy holder and team members about the roles advertised and the application process. Please email mark.parker1@hmrc.gov.uk to request an invite to the webinar.
Discover a career in your hands at HMRC. Whether you're seeking purpose, growth, or a workplace that gives you a true sense of belonging, hear from some of our employees as they share their story about what it’s really like to work at HMRC.
Visit our YouTube channel to watch the full series and come and discover your potential.
Have you got strong financial accounting experience from working in practice or industry?
Are you able to bring commercial knowledge of large corporates and able to apply accounting standards to complex transactions?
Would the idea of working with the UK’s largest businesses excite and challenge you, whilst making a difference to the nation’s finances?
If the answer to all 3 is yes, we can potentially offer you an opportunity with a role that has real impact on government tax policy decisions and makes a huge difference to the nation’s finances. We also offer hybrid working, actual flexitime and genuine work-life balance alongside fascinating technical work.
We currently have a team of 30 Advisory Accountants who have previously worked in varied roles in practice or industry, including audit and financial accounting positions.
Large and complex businesses play a pivotal role in the UK economy. They are broadly defined as having an annual turnover of more than £200 million or £2 billion in assets. Our team are based within our Large Business (LB) Directorate which forms part of HMRC’s Customer Compliance Group and is responsible for around 2,000 of the UK’s largest businesses.
We use our technical and commercial knowledge in a range of exciting and challenging work on high-profile complex accounting issues. We pride ourselves on undertaking CPD and share best practice both within the team and with customers.
We are expanding and looking for 3 advisory accountants to join our growing team (2 roles based in Croydon/Stratford and 1 role based in Bristol).
New Entrants to the Civil Service will join on the salary entry point stated, transferees from OGD need to read the guidance on how their pay will be calculated.
Job description
As an LB Advisory Accountant, your role will include the following:
- Provide accounting advice for complex accountancy issues involving our LB customers - analysing relevant customer facts, accounting frameworks and, where appropriate, challenge customers’ accounting analyses.
- Meet with customers and work with other specialists to form a view and assess the impact of the accounting treatment for tax. You will utilise the appropriate accounting frameworks, accounting standards and company law, and apply your commercial experience to identify risks and substantiate your advice.
- Use your commercial competence to support risk activities, including reviewing financial documents and commercial and accounting information.
- Communicate effectively both orally and in writing to a broad range of audiences (including Big 4, multinational corporate groups, senior HMRC officers and tribunals), with the ability to explain complex issues to both accountants and non-accountants in a simple and articulate way.
- Support litigation, acting as an expert witness, case accountant or witness of fact and be proactive in assisting others involved in litigation. You will prepare and review professional reports with both factual and opinion evidence, attend case conferences, meetings and court; acting with professionalism, integrity and independence.
- Develop and provide quality accountancy training to accountancy and tax professionals, offering follow-up support to delegates.
- Coach and mentor colleagues.
- Share knowledge and standard methodology, using innovative methods and digital tools.
- Actively and visibly role model leadership with energy and enthusiasm.
- For the 2 roles based in Croydon/Stratford, the work will have a strong emphasis on financial services.
Person specification
This role requires strong financial accounting experience gained and consolidated in either practice, industry, public sector or private sector, dealing with a range of stakeholders. This should be demonstrated by:
- Experience of working on complex technical financial accounting matters, including:
- Analysing and interpreting financial records;
- Preparing or reviewing financial documents; and
- Considering the appropriate accounting treatment of a variety of specific transactions.
- A clear understanding of accounting principles and the application of GAAP in the UK;
- Strong communication skills, including delivery of reports or briefings to senior stakeholders; and
- Commercial knowledge and an understanding of how businesses operate including accounting systems.
Essential Criteria:
Full and complete qualification from, and continuing membership of, one of the following professional accounting bodies:
- The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)
- The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS)
- Chartered Accountants Ireland (CAI)
- The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
- The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
- The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA)
Part qualified accountants are not eligible to apply for these posts.
Please confirm which body you are a full member of within your CV.
You will be required to show evidence of your qualification and membership at interview.
Desirable Criteria:
It will be advantageous for a candidate to have experience in large corporates (particularly financial services for London posts). Please demonstrate any relevant experience in your application.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable adjustments to participate in the job application or interview process.
Qualifications
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS)
Chartered Accountants Ireland (CAI)
The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA)
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Making Effective Decisions
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- An accountancy based technical test (to include both a presentation and a written output) – unless you have an exemption. Details of the exemption are mentioned at the bottom of the selection process.
Benefits
HMRC operates both Flexible and Hybrid Working policies, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments. We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, considering our operational and customer service needs.
We offer a generous leave allowance, starting at 25 days and increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days.
- Pension - We make contributions to our colleagues’ Alpha pension equal to at least 28.97% of their salary.
- Family friendly policies.
- Personal support.
- Coaching and development.
To find out more about HMRC benefits and find out what it’s really like to work for HMRC hear from our insiders or visit Thinking of joining the Civil Service
Things you need to know
Selection process details
How to Apply
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a name blind CV.
Guidance for completing your CV:
Your CV will be tailored to the role advertised, detailing your relevant employment history:
- Dates in role (MM/YY – MM/YY).
- Employer.
- Job Title.
- A description of your responsibilities and relevant achievements detailing the ‘what you did’ and ‘how you did it’. Align this directly to the role requirements in Person Specification section.
- Detail any key achievements and the impact your work has had, tailor this to showcase how your experience aligns with the advertised role and essential criteria.
- Qualifications: List all relevant qualifications required for the role as outlined in the job advert and essential criteria.
Tips for Applying
- Be clear, concise, and ensure information is easily digestible.
- Emphasise transferable skills and measurable impacts.
- Align directly to role requirements, making sure you talk about the ‘what you did’ and the ‘how you did it’.
- Carefully review before submitting.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Sift
The sift will be carried out against the CV, with the successful candidates being invited to interview.
We may also raise the score required at any stage of the process if we receive a high number of applications.
Interview
Candidates successful at sift will be invited to a preliminary technical interview which involves an accountancy based technical test (to include both a presentation and a written output) – unless you have an exemption. Details of the exemption are mentioned at the bottom of the selection process.
Successful candidates will then be invited to a final interview where you will be asked behaviour-based questions and questions about your experience to explore in detail what you are capable of.
Technical test exemption:
You may be eligible for an exemption from sitting a technical test as part of the interview process for this post if you demonstrate you fulfil one of the following criteria:
1) You are a current member of the Advisory and Forensic Accountants Profession and previously passed the technical test at Grade 7 level or any AFA Profession technical test post 1st January 2024.
2) You were, within the last 3 years (from the closing date of the advert you are applying for) a member of the Advisory and Forensic Accountants Profession and previously passed the technical test at Grade 7 level or any AFA Profession technical test post 1st January 2024.
3) You successfully passed the Grade 7 technical test in the last 3 years as part of a previous HMRC Advisory and Forensic Accountants recruitment campaign or the SO Talent Programme. You should submit proof that you previously passed the technical test, this may be in the form of written interview feedback you received or confirmation information from Civil Service Jobs.
If you are seeking an exemption under criteria 2 or 3 above, you are also required to demonstrate that 20 hours of accountancy-related CPD has been undertaken on an annual basis (since you left the AFA Profession, or since you passed the technical test).
If you pass sift, and believe you have a technical test exemption, you will be asked to send the details to a central mailbox at that time.
We reserve the right to raise the score required at any stage of the process in order to manage numbers.
Interviews will take place via video link. Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
Eligibility
Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake with your eligibility form, please contact us via: unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk – Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example – ‘Please re-open my application – 376082 & vacancy closing date 13/11/2024’.
To check that you are eligible to apply for this role, please review the eligibility information before submitting your application.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles – if this applies to you, we’ll let you know via your Civil Service Jobs account.
Merit List
After interview, merit lists will be created for each location advertised within the vacancy. If you are successful at interview, you will be placed on the merit list for any locations you have expressed an interest for. Appointments from each merit list will be made in strict merit order.
Criminal Record Check
Applications received from candidates with a criminal record are considered fairly in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice and the Recruitment of ex-offenders Policy.
Reasonable Adjustments
We want to make sure no one is put at a disadvantage during our recruitment process. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
- Contact the UBS Recruitment team via unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Important information for existing HMRC contractual homeworkers:
This role may be suitable for existing HMRC employees who are contractual homeworkers. Occasional attendance to the office will be required where there is a business need. Please consider the advertised office locations for this role when applying and only select locations from the ‘location preferences’ section that you can travel to.
Terms and Conditions
Customer facing roles in HMRC require the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English and/or Welsh where required. Where this is an essential requirement, this will be tested as part of the selection process.
HMRC has a presence in every region of the UK. For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations.
The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. The evidence you provide in your application must relate to your own experiences.
Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant application(s) will be withdrawn from the process.
Recording of interviews is prohibited unless explicit agreement is sought in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulations.
Questions relating to an individual application must be emailed as detailed later in this advert.
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.
New entrants will join on the minimum of the pay band.
If you experience accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
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 : Ting Patrick
- Email : ting.patrick@hmrc.gov.uk
- Telephone : 03000564806
Recruitment team
- Email : unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk
Further information
In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly via ubsrecruitmentcomplaints@hmrc.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their website.
