Head of Unit Accountant

Hays PLC; Swansea; Hybrid; GBP 54,000 - 59,000; Full time

Job summary

DVLA is seeking a Head of Unit Accountant in Swansea to lead a team of finance professionals in a dynamic environment. The successful candidate will possess strong leadership and financial skills, work with senior stakeholders, and contribute to the strategic agenda of the Finance Directorate. This role offers a flexible working environment with numerous benefits and the opportunity to advance one's career.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Generous employer pension contributions

25 days holiday, increasing to 30 days

Best in class learning and development

Qualifications

• Fully qualified CCAB Accountant.
• Experience of leading a team.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship building skills.

Responsibilities

• Delivery of team and directorate objectives.
• Task management and mentoring within the unit.
• Building relationships with stakeholders.

Skills

Financial analysis

Financial modelling

Leadership

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Education

CCAB Accountant or equivalent

Job description

Head of Unit Accountant role - DVLA - Swansea

Are you a qualified accountant with varied accounting experience?

Do you have experience of leading a team and are looking for a senior leadership role?

If you've answered yes then we want to hear from you and show you our opportunities for an exciting and rewarding career in DVLA Finance Directorate.

Job description

DVLA Finance Directorate is a vibrant and dynamic place to work. We offer a new approach to finance, flexible working and the opportunity for you to grow and express yourself in a forward thinking team. We are looking for an experienced and qualified accountant that will join the wider Finance Directorate leadership team to lead a unit across the following disciplines:

• Business Partnering
• Financial Modelling
• Financial Planning and Analysis

You will be joining a fast-paced environment with a multifaceted workload where resilient individuals will thrive. The role provides consistent engagement with a variety of senior stakeholders including Head of Group and members of the DVLA Executive Team, providing excellent exposure to network, build strong working relationships and build upon your career.

Responsibilities

Your responsibilities will include but will not be limited to:

• Delivery of agreed individual, team, Unit, Group and Directorate objectives
• Undertaking leadership, task management and people management within Group including career development, support and mentoring staff
• Acting as senior Subject Matter Expert for relevant financial activities being mindful of the Agency's strategic agenda and the relevant accounting standards, legislation and best practice
• Building and maintaining working relationships with colleagues, customers and stakeholders in relation to business as usual and development programmes, ensuring due process is followed

For further information about the role please see the full advert and information pack - Civil Service Jobs - vacancy number 409709.

Additional Information

Applications will be accepted from full time/part time/job sharers. Full time roles at DVLA consist of 37 hours per week. Part time and/or flexible working may also be available subject to the needs of the business.

Person specification

You will be a fully qualified CCAB Accountant (or equivalent) with excellent knowledge and experience of financial accounting across the disciplines and experience of leading a team. You will have excellent leadership skills to successfully step into a senior management role with ease.

Strong interpersonal and relationship building skills are essential, including the ability to communicate effectively with all audiences, promoting collaborative working across the Agency. You can work calmly under pressure, remaining composed and showing resilience.

In addition, you will thrive prioritising a robust and varying workload and welcome autonomy to your role. You will have financial analysis experience and will possess business partnering and financial modelling skills.

Benefits

The advertised salary is inclusive of a base salary of £54,857 and an allowance of £4,000. Alongside your salary, DVLA contributes £15,892 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits.

Best in class learning and development tailored to your role

An environment with flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance

Generous employer contribution of 28.97%, depending on chosen pension scheme

25 days holiday, increasing by one day each year up to 30 days pro rata

A hybrid office/home based working model where staff will spend a minimum of 60% of their time in the office over a month, with flexibility dependent on balancing business and individual need.

How to Apply

For this role you will need to submit a CV with a personal statement of up to 750 words to our Recruitment partner at Hays.

Please note: Your CV shouldn't be too long, with an expectation of no more than 2 pages.

For your personal statement, please provide detailed evidence of your experience of the following essential criteria:

Evidence of financial analysis and business partnering skills

Evidence of financial modelling skills

Evidence of strong leadership, communication and influencing skills

Experience of stakeholder engagement, building and maintaining relationships

The sift is due to take place week commencing 23rd June 2025.

Interviews will be held on Friday 11th July 2025. This interview will be conducted on site at DVLA, Swansea.
Further details of which will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.

• We prioritise your well-being with a comprehensive range of benefits designed to support you both personally and professionally.
• We prioritise your well-being with a comprehensive range of benefits designed to support you both personally and professionally.
• We prioritise your well-being with a comprehensive range of benefits designed to support you both personally and professionally.
• We prioritise your well-being with a comprehensive range of benefits designed to support you both personally and professionally.
• We prioritise your well-being with a comprehensive range of benefits designed to support you both personally and professionally.
• We prioritise your well-being with a comprehensive range of benefits designed to support you both personally and professionally.