Resource Accounts Finance Lead
HM Revenue and Customs
Apply before 11:55 pm on Thursday 3rd October 2024
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About the job
Job summary
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As part of Financial Accounting and Internal Tax, the Resource Accounting and Change Optimisation team play a crucial role in providing both Financial and Management information across all areas of HMRC, accounting for over £39.7bn of Resource expenditure in 2023-24, of which £33.3bn is demand-led, Annually Managed Expenditure.
The Department’s Resource Accounts are produced on a consolidated basis to include the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) and are prepared in accordance with HM Treasury guidelines and International Accounting Standards (as they apply to Government departments). These consolidated Resource Accounts report the income, expenditure and financial position of HMRC, and are prepared annually to meet statutory requirements, being laid before Parliament to an agreed timetable.
This is an exciting opportunity for a studying/newly AAT qualified (Level 3) or qualified Accountant looking for a first role at this level, or for an experienced Accountant who is looking to broaden their knowledge and experience of Government Accounting. The Financial Accounting and Internal Tax (FAIT) area within HMRC employs over 100 finance professionals performing a wide breadth of accounting activities. So, there is ample opportunity to move into varying roles in the future and for promotion either within FAIT or wider in HMRC.
A hybrid working pattern is in place, with team members currently spending a minimum of 60% of their available working time in the Worthing office.
Job description
As an experienced Level 3 AAT qualified accounting technician or part qualified accountant you will work with the Policy and Estimates Lead or Technical Change Delivery Lead and a small team to:
- Produce statutory accounts and Financial Statements to agreed HM Treasury guidance and accounting standards to agreed timetables.
- Oversee the audit by National Audit Office for your team.
- Work alongside key stakeholders both within HMRC and OGDs to ensure that controls, risks and issues are governed effectively.
- Work with key stakeholders to ensure that any recommendations from NAO auditors are dealt with in a timely and effective manner.
- Provide timely and helpful professional advice on complex accounting issues.
- Ensure that all regulatory and statutory requirements are met and HMRC policies and procedures are adhered to.
- Maintain a detailed overview of account production processes and data flows relevant to the Resource accounts and monitor any areas of risk identified.
- Work alongside and assist other Senior Financial Accountants helping to resolve problems and covering workloads when required.
- Oversee effective management and operation of designated processes which contribute to controls and assurance such as reconciliations and journals.
- There will be a requirement to undertake line management of a small team.
- Work closely with Knowledge, Analysis and Intelligence and other business area colleagues to support and assure the processes by which estimated and actual values are settled.
Person specification
The main responsibility of the role is to support the G6, G7 Lead and Grade 7 accountants and to lead and motivate finance profession colleagues to meet the team objectives:
- Produce Statutory Accounts and Financial Statements to agreed HM Treasury timetables and to the quality expected by the NAO auditors.
- Work alongside key stakeholders both internal and external to HMRC to ensure that controls, risks and issues are governed effectively.
- Develop, implement and produce business readiness documentation to support the introduction of new Accounting Standards and continuous improvement for existing standards.
- Work with key stakeholders to ensure that any recommendations from NAO auditors are dealt with in a timely and effective manner, applying interpretive and constructive thought to weigh up the best course of action.
- Provide timely and helpful professional advice on complex accounting issues, especially where the introduction of new concepts will require innovative responses, such as the implementation of new legislation and regulations, changes in policy, and departmental practice.
- Ensure that all regulatory and statutory requirements are met and HMRC policies and procedures are adhered to.
- Maintain a detailed overview of account production processes and data flows relevant to the Resource accounts, monitoring any areas of risk identified.
- Representing HMRC or supporting other Senior Financial Accountants, building strong interpersonal relationships to achieve co-operation to resolve problems and develop mutually acceptable solutions, covering the workload of others when required.
- Oversee effective management and operation of designated processes which contribute to controls and assurance such as reconciliations and journals.
- Work closely with Knowledge, Analysis and Intelligence and other business area colleagues to support and assure the processes by which estimated and actual values are determined.
Essential Criteria:
Qualified Association of Accounting Technicians (at Level 3 or above).
Or
Part Qualified Accountant (with the expectation of full qualification being achieved within two years of appointment date) or Fully Qualified Accountant:
Through one of the following six bodies:
- Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
- Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
- Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA)
- Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)
- Chartered Accountants Ireland (CAI)
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS)
And
- Must be able to demonstrate advanced Excel skills and an ability to use complex formulae within large datasets.
- Experience in leadership, management and organisation.
- Sound and broad communication, report writing and analytical skills.
- Experience of accounts preparation and dealing with auditors.
- Experience of using modern accounting IT systems.
- Working knowledge of accounting standards.
- Ability to communicate technical concepts clearly and concisely.
Desirable Criteria:
- Public sector finance experience.
- Project Management experience.
Qualifications
Or
Part Qualified Accountant (with the expectation of full qualification being achieved within two years of appointment date) or Fully Qualified Accountant:
Through one of the following six bodies:
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA)
Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)
Chartered Accountants Ireland (CAI)
Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS)
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Ability to communicate complex technical accounting issues to non accountants.
- Ability to demonstrate an understanding of the importance of controls within a financial environment.
- Ability to demonstrate how to undertake an effective reconciliation between ledger and third party data.
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 provide the following:
- A name-blind CV including your job history and previous experiences.
- A 750-word personal statement.
Your Personal Statement should be used to provide in depth evidence of how you meet the essential criteria with examples given.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Sift
In the event of a high number of applications an initial sift will be carried out based on the CV against the Essential Criteria.
A further full sift will take into account both the CV and Personal Statement against the Essential Criteria.
We may also raise the score required at any stage of the process if we receive a high number of applications.
Interview
During the panel interview, you will be asked strength based questions and Technical questions.
This is an example of a strengths-based question:
“It is often said that the customer's needs should come first. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?”
There is no expectation or requirement for you to prepare for the strengths-based questions in advance of the interview, though you may find it helpful to spend some time reflecting on what you enjoy doing and what you do well.
The Technical presentation will be on:
- Ability to communicate complex technical accounting issues to non accountants.
- Ability to demonstrate an understanding of the importance of controls within a financial environment.
- Ability to demonstrate how to undertake an effective reconciliation between ledger and third party data.
Interviews will take place face to face. 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: ubsrecruitmentexcellence@hmrc.gov.uk – Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example – ‘Please re-open my application – 370435 & vacancy closing date 03/10/2024’.
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, a single merit list will be created, and you will only be considered for posts in locations you have expressed a preference for. Appointments will be made in strict merit order in line with the set number of roles in each location.
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 Excellence Team via ubsrecruitmentexcellence@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.
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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 : Matthew Calladine
- Email : matthew.calladine@hmrc.gov.uk
- Telephone : 03000526493
Recruitment team
- Email : ubsrecruitmentexcellence@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.
