BEIS Careers – Financial Reporting

About the job

Location

Birmingham, Cardiff, Darlington, Edinburgh, London, Salford

Job Summary

About the job

Our Mission

At BEIS, we are leading the UK’s recovery from coronavirus and are building a stronger, greener country. Our varied work makes a real difference to people across the UK and internationally. This is a fantastic opportunity to become part of the BEIS team and our exciting mission!

We lead on the UK’s commitments to tackle climate change and drive green economic growth. We support businesses to create jobs and increase opportunity in regions across the UK. We also encourage investment and innovation to make the UK a science superpower producing research that will improve lives.

Our Inclusive Environment

We are building an inclusive culture to make BEIS a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it will help us be more innovative and make better decisions.

We offer first-class flexible working benefits, excellent employee well-being support and a great pension. We are fortunate to have a range of excellent staff networks and are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We will support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive.

We actively welcome applications from anyone who shares our commitment to inclusion. We will fully support candidates with a disability or long-term condition who require adjustments in our recruitment process.

Job Description

BEIS Financial Reporting team are looking for an outstanding finance professional with the required experience, skills and personal qualities for an Assistant Head of Financial Reporting (Grade 7). The Financial Reporting team are responsible for production of the Departmental Group accounts, consolidating over 40 partner organisations with the Core Department. The Financial Reporting team also provide expert accounting advice to wider finance teams within the Department, providing information used to inform key decisions.

It is a great opportunity to play an important and active role in the production of the Departmental group accounts and build positive strong relationships with partner organisations and partnering with a variety of different teams. Line management responsibilities include both qualified accountants and non-qualified accountants. Strong leadership skills will be important to the role, as well as mentoring and coaching others within the team. We will provide you with the opportunity for a diverse, exciting, and worthwhile career. We promote training and development opportunities for everyone.

You will be entitled to the benefits of working for the civil service including flexible working and the option to join the civil service pension scheme. Along with 25 days annual leave, growing by 1 day for each year of service up to 30 days leave entitlement.

The successful post holder will be able to deliver at pace, whilst working together with Financial Reporting team, partner organisations and the National Audit Office (NAO). They will make effective decisions in providing sound advice on the application of International Accounting Standards (as interpreted by HM Treasury), to ensure the Group Department’s financial records are free from errors and the annual accounts are laid pre parliamentary recess.

Personal Specification

A driven, collaborative colleague, with good attention to detail, the experience of working to tight timelines and the ability and communication skills to build strong working relationships at all levels across the BEIS family.

Passionate about great public services and delivering on the BEIS objectives.

About The Team

BEIS Financial Reporting & Systems, which is a central team within the Finance & Portfolio team is comprised of three teams that support the Core Department and it’s Partner Organisations: Financial Accounting, Financial Reporting, and Business Insight Competency Centre (BICC).

You will have the opportunity to work at pace and stretch yourself and will have ample opportunity to grow your skills. We strongly support our people’s career development and offer leadership development opportunities, as well as mentoring programmes, networking and peer-to peer learning.

We are an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and promote equality of opportunity, to enable us to reflect the communities that we serve.

We do not tolerate any form of discrimination and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided with reasonable adjustments, including accommodation, to enable them to participate in the job application process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

The BEIS Finance & Portfolio Diversity & Inclusion team is award winning. We offer flexible working arrangements and pride ourselves on crafting an open, engaging and encouraging environment where we look after each other’s wellbeing and can all feel truly part of the team.

Please contact us to request and advise us of additional support required.

Person specification

These Will Include

Expert accounting advice under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS);

Consolidation of over 40 partner organisations into the departmental group accounts;

Ensuring that all the technical aspects of the accounts production process are consistent with HM Treasury guidance and specifically the requirements of the Financial Reporting Manual (FReM);

Where appropriate, collaborate closely with HM Treasury colleagues on technical issues and cross Whitehall accountancy issues;

Lead the team in providing audit evidence to the external auditors (National Audit Office);

Engaging with the external auditors, the National Audit Office (NAO), to ensure that the audit process runs efficiently and effectively.

Preparing accounts and financial statements for BEIS minor bodies

Skills

Skills & Experience

• Fully qualified accountant (ACCA, ACA, CIPFA or CIMA)
• Strong problem solver
• Effective communication skills
• Strong technical accounting skills
• Excellent Excel skills
• Excellent Leadership and project management skills
• Good Presentation skills
• Ability to work collaboratively with several teams.

Experience

International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)

Preparing financial statements in a complex organisation, within government or outside of government

Experience of external audit cycles in Central Government / public sector set of accounts or private sector organisation.

To Be Assessed

Technical skills

Accountancy – Double entry question at interview

Qualifications

Qualified accountant

Memberships

ICAEW/CIMA/ACCA/CIPFA/ICAS

Behaviours

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions
• Developing Self and Others

Technical Skills

We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Accountancy – Double Entry

Benefits

BEIS offers a competitive mix of benefits including:

A culture of flexible working, such as job sharing, homeworking and compressed hours.

Automatic enrolment into the

A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.

An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities, which all staff are actively encouraged to pursue.

Access to a range of retail, travel and lifestyle employee discounts.

A hybrid office/home based working model where staff will spend a norm of 40-60% of their time in the office (minimum of 40%) over a month with flex dependent on balancing business and individual need (from September 2021, depending on how the public health guidance evolves).

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement and a number of behavioural statements.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Please use your personal statement (in no more than 500 words) to demonstrate your motivation, suitability, previous experience, and how you meet the skills and experience required in this role.

Candidates will be sifted on behavioural statements, CV, and personal statement.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behavioural statement (Leadership). Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

The interview will consist of behaviour, technical and strength-based questions.

Interviewees will be asked to deliver a presentation; further details will be provided nearer the time.

Expected Timeline subject to change

Sift dates: w/c 31/10/2023

Interview dates: w/c 07/11/2023

Interview will be held using Microsoft Teams.

Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via [email protected] 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.

Further Information

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Any move to Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

BEIS does not normally offer full home working (i.e. working at home); but we do offer a variety of flexible working options (including occasionally working from home).

Please note that BEIS does not hold a licence to sponsor visa applications.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service /Disclosure Scotland on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email

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.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

People working with government assets must complete

Nationality Requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

Working for the Civil Service

The

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s

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.

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job Contact

• Name : Jennifer Lou
• Email : [email protected]

Recruitment team :

• Email : [email protected]

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment principles, and wish to make a complaint, then you should contact in the first instance [email protected]. If you are not satisfied with the response that youreceive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: Click