Financial Accountant

BACKGROUND

The Northern Ireland Office supports the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in promoting the best interests of Northern Ireland. We make sure that Northern Ireland interests are represented within the UK Government and that UK government responsibilities are fully and effectively represented in Northern Ireland. We are the centre of expertise on Northern Ireland issues across Government. The Northern Ireland Office employs around 170 staff, with offices in Belfast and London.

As a small Department, we adopt a flexible project‑based approach to ensure that we have the right people, with the right skills, in the right place to support the delivery of our key objectives. Due to our structure and size, we are able to offer extensive exposure to Ministers and the opportunity to work on a far wider portfolio of policy and responsibilities than might be the case in a larger department.

Our key priorities are set out in our Operational Delivery plan and include: supporting greater inclusion, tolerance and openness in Northern Ireland; contributing to a safer Northern Ireland, where terrorist and paramilitary groups are less able to cause harm to communities; ensuring that governance in Northern Ireland is responsive, transparent and able to deliver effective public service; addressing the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland.

The Northern Ireland Office is seeking to recruit a Financial Accountant to sit within the Financial Accounts and Reporting team. The Finance Accounts and Reporting Team lead on all statutory financial requirements within the NIO, and support a number of the NIOs Arms Length Bodies (ALBs). Additionally the Finance team are leading a transformation programme to better deliver our finances and maximise value to the business.

This transformation will put finance at the heart of business decision making, driving greater understanding, control and value for money across the organisation. This role will support the transformation through the review, design and implementation of new financial systems, processes and controls supporting statutory requirements and that ability for the business to draw upon accurate financial data to facilitate decision making.

The role will be responsible for the key element of the Financial Account processes reporting to the Head of Financial Reporting and Accounting. The successful candidate will take on key responsibilities as part of the production of the annual reports and accounts, support the provision of financial schedules to support year end audit. The role will lead on the NIOs input into the whole of Government Accounts (WGA) and provide support to the forecasting of the departments cash position and managing it within budgetary limits, oversight of VAT and providing wider financial support & advice across the organisation.

The post is based within the Corporate Operations Group in the Northern Ireland Office, a high performing and responsive team that provides high standards of corporate services to support the delivery of the NIOs objectives and deliver Ministerial priorities.

• Support the production of financial statements including notes to the accounts, commissioning and collating information required for the accounts
• Lead elements of HMT and Cabinet Office reporting, while providing support to the accounts team for key functions including banking, and VAT
• Lead the production of the NIOs Whole of Government Accounts (WGA) submission
• Support the Head of the Financial Accounts Team on the relationship with National Audit Office and external auditors during external audit of the ARA, ensuring a good working relationship, excellent communication and delivery of on‑time and accurate financial and other information
• Liaise with colleagues throughout the department to obtain audit evidence, including review to ensure the quality and ease of use of the evidence provided to the NAO
• Providing technical accounting advice, acting as subject matter expert on the Financial Reporting Manual (FReM), Managing Public Money, Consolidated Budgeting Guidance and Cabinet Office spending controls
• Support the NIOs relationship with Account
  
  NI, the provider of the NIO accounting system
• Supporting the continuous improvement of business and financial control processes and helping build and develop financial capability and professionalism both inside the function and across the business

• Part qualified accountant CCAB, CIMA or equivalent
• Demonstrable experience of design and implementation of new financial processes and controls
• Experience of building positive and effective working relationships across a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, and having a credible impact with senior colleagues
• Demonstrable experience of supporting the delivery of the annual accounts production process

• Qualified with CCAB, CIMA or equivalent (ICAEW, ACCA, CIPFA, ICAS, Chartered Accountants Ireland)
• Strong written and…