Finance Systems Manager - Aptitude

UK Export Finance; Greater London; On-site; GBP 62,000; Full time

Job summary

A government financial agency in Greater London is seeking a skilled professional to manage financial systems projects and contribute to significant changes in accounting policies. The role involves collaborating with various stakeholders, ensuring compliance and quality assurance over financial data, and leading system implementations. Candidates should possess strong experience in finance systems management and data migration. The position offers a salary of £61,250 with additional pension benefits.

Benefits

Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension

Flexible working options

Learning and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience managing finance systems environments.
• Good working knowledge of Aptitude to D365 integration.
• Experience in running teams and achieving defined outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead financial systems and data-related projects.
• Collaborate with department heads to meet reporting requirements.
• Ensure compliance with relevant financial standards.
• Train and support finance team members.

Skills

Software implementation management

Data migration experience

Knowledge of Aptitude to D365 integration

Strong leadership abilities

Education

Finance related degree

Tools

Aptitude

D365

Job description

Overview

The Financial Control Division (FCD) is a friendly, dynamic, and fast‑paced team working at the heart of UK Export Finance. We are responsible for ensuring that effective financial control processes are in place. We coordinate the Department's estimates, budgets and forecasting processes. We produce accurate and reliable monthly management accounts, annual accounts, and other published financial information. We manage the UKEF bank accounts, purchase ledger, fixed asset registers and the general ledger. We advise on accounting treatments, own the UKEF accounting policies and are working with others across the organisation and beyond to implement large‑scale changes in our accounting policy, systems, and processes to operationalise IFRS 9 and IFRS 17. Our friendly and collaborative team is growing to support a larger number of UK Exporters. Not only has the demand for UK Export Finance products significantly increased since the pandemic, but the business is operating in a more uncertain market than it has seen in a long time meaning activity on claims and recoveries is also increasing. It is therefore an exciting time to join us as we support a business that is at the heart of delivering government export and trade policy to build the UK economy back stronger. We are also in a unique period of transition as we prepare to implement IFRS 9 and IFRS 17 accounting standards that will affect how we account for nearly all our front‑line business. This will offer the successful applicant a once‑in‑a‑lifetime opportunity to experience, and indeed, help shape and contribute to this fundamental shift that involves implementing wide‑reaching new processes and significant new systems, including a new general ledger and a calculation Engine. In recent years, UKEF has expanded both in terms of the number of products offered and of volume and the total value of transactions. In addition, UKEF is preparing to implement significant changes to its reporting policies and processes because of the implementation of two new reporting standards (IFRS 17 and IFRS 9). To support these changes, the IT infrastructure used to record and manage UKEF business is due to undergo large‑scale change and expansion over the next few years with the implementation of new systems and the automation of more processes.

Responsibilities

• Interfaces and associated reconciliations
• Answering complex queries from stakeholders/end users (which may one day include the wider business)
• Managing the SAAS contract
• Collaborating with department heads to understand their specific reporting requirements
• Leading on financial systems and data‑related projects, including implementations
• Reviewing systems performance and identifying system issues
• Designing and implementing system controls to provide quality assurance over financial data
• Implementing, reviewing, and maintaining Aptitude, policies, and procedures, ensuring compliance with relevant standards
• Building effective relationships with external vendors and developers, providing constructive feedback on defects and testing, highlighting possible product development to further systems' functionality
• Aiding in the design, testing and implementation of new reports, systems functionality user interfaces and accompanying user guides
• Train and support finance and non‑finance team members in the use of Aptitude and related procedures
• Prepare system reconciliations
• Work with Finance and other Business teams to resolve data processing discrepancies in a timely manner
• Act as a subject matter expert in delivering Finance requirements on new projects
• Complete any testing and new process development with training to handover to Finance teams on completion of projects
• Ensure Finance Process documentation remains up to date for any changes
• Liaise with auditors preparing systems‑related supports for the audit

This list is not exhaustive, and you may be required to carry out additional duties according to business needs.

Technical Skills and Experience

• Can you describe your involvement in a software implementation (ideally a finance or actuarial system) or data migration that you have managed or led?

Behaviours and Assessment

• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Leadership

Application Process and Essential Criteria

All applications will be sifted against our essential criteria outlined in the personal specification. Statement of suitability – you should fully articulate in 500 words how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the person specification within the Information Pack. Technical Question – 250 words – Can you describe your involvement in a software implementation (ideally a finance or actuarial system) or data migration that you have managed or led? For the initial sift your application will be evaluated against: 1. Experience – Application and Statement of Suitability 2. Technical – Question – Can you describe your involvement in a software implementation (ideally a finance or actuarial system) or data migration that you have managed or led? In the event of a high volume of applications, an initial sift will be carried out on the following: Technical – Question – Can you describe your involvement in a software implementation (ideally a finance or actuarial system) or data migration that you have managed or led? Essential criteria, as listed in the person specification: Previously managed finance systems environments and ran or participated in finance systems upgrades and/or implementations (A, I, P) Good working knowledge of Aptitude to D365 integration and reconciliation (A, I) Previous experience in data migration and customer master management (I) Experience in running teams and motivating them to achieve defined outcomes (I)

Security and Vetting

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window). See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in a new window) checks.

Nationality Requirements

• UK nationals
• Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre‑settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre‑settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• Individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. 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). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £61,250, UK Export Finance contributes £17,744 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. Learning and development tailored to your role An environment with flexible working options A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%