Financial Accountant - Financial Control and Assurance

Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS); Manchester; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A government department in the UK is seeking a Financial Accountant to join their Financial Accounting and Control Team. The role involves planning and executing assurance activities, advising on accounting issues, and liaising with the National Audit Office. The ideal candidate will be a qualified financial accountant with strong communication skills and experience in audit processes. This position offers opportunities for growth within a small finance team.

Qualifications

• Qualified financial accountant with relevant certification.
• Proven experience in audit or assurance activities.
• Ability to explain complex ideas clearly to different audiences.

Responsibilities

• Assist in planning and design of the assurance framework.
• Lead assurance and testing activities across grants.
• Provide advice on complex technical accounting issues.
• Liaise with the National Audit Office for audits.

Skills

Excellent communicator

Teamwork

Analytical skills

Advanced Excel

Education

Qualified financial accountant (ICAEW, ACCA, CIPFA, ICAS, Chartered Accountants Ireland or CIMA)

Job description

Location

Manchester

Job summary

A Financial Accountant role is available in the Financial Accounting and Control team (FACT), working closely with the Grant, Risk, Assurance and Fraud team (GRAFT).

In addition to being DCMS’ financial accounting Centre of Excellence, the team leads in the production of the consolidated accounts of the DCMS Group and manages the National Lottery Distribution Fund (NLDF).

The team is the hub for all financial operational and control functions including treasury management, VAT, purchase to pay support and manages the relationship with DCMS’ shared services provider. The team also leads on the core accounts and audit, which includes carrying out assurance type work.

The DCMS Finance team (of which FACT is an integral part) is relatively small and this provides opportunities for development not always found in a bigger department. Finance is high on the agenda and provides the opportunity to influence the direction of the Department for the future.

Job description

We are recruiting a Financial Accountant to join the Financial Accounting and Control Team (FACT), your primary responsibilities are:

• Assist in the planning and design of the assurance framework for the department's multiple grant streams.
• Lead the execution of assurance and testing activities across the grants portfolio.
• Help to maintain the departmental expenses policy, and perform assurance and testing activities to ensure compliance with the policy across the department.
• Responsible for provision of advice (both internally and externally), on complex technical accounting (and budgeting) issues.
• Liaising with the National Audit Office and ensuring all necessary documentation is available for audit.
• Supporting the Financial Control team as necessary with month-end and year-end activity.
• Support the Counter Fraud team on fraud and error measurement exercises.
• You may be required to carry out additional duties according to business need.

Person specification

The ideal candidate would have following key skills and experience:

Essential requirements

• Qualified financial accountant (ICAEW, ACCA, CIPFA, ICAS, Chartered Accountants Ireland or CIMA).
• Be an excellent communicator, able to explain complex ideas both verbally and written at all levels.
• Proven ability to work as part of a team delivering at pace in a fast-moving environment.
• Experience in performing assurance, testing, or audit activities within a professional environment.
• Experience of preparing, or auditing, accounts in conformity with relevant accounting standards.
• Advanced knowledge of Excel.

Desirable Skills

• External audit background.
• Knowledge and experience of the FReM, Consolidated Budgeting Guidance (CBG), Managing Public Money and/or HM Treasury’s supply estimates manual.
• Knowledge and experience of assurance and/or counter fraud procedures.

Qualifications

Qualified financial accountant (ICAEW, ACCA, CIPFA, ICAS, Chartered Accountants Ireland or CIMA).

Behaviours

• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

• Accounting

For more information and to apply, please visit our website via the apply button below.