Financial Accountant

Join Ofwats Finance Team as a Financial Accountant This is a Fixed Term Appointment running until 31st December 2027.
* Office

Location:

Birmingham (B5 4UA
) with hybrid working
* About Us We are Ofwat, the Water Services Regulation Authority, a non-ministerial government department responsible for regulating the water sector in England and Wales. The water sector is entering a new chapter. Following the Independent Water Commissions Final Report and subsequent White Paper - 'New Vision for Water', the UK government has set out a bold new direction - one that brings together expertise from across the sector to deliver better outcomes for customers and the environment.

Ofwat is working in collaboration with the government and other regulators to help establish a new body for England, combining our strengths with those of the Drinking Water Inspectorate, the Environment Agency, and Natural England. Were also continuing to engage with the Welsh Government to support future decisions for Wales. While these changes take shape, our mission remains the same: to hold water companies to account, drive performance, and ensure the sector delivers real value for customers, communities, and the environment.

If youre passionate about making a difference, this is a unique moment to join us and help shape the future of water, and together we can continue to make a positive impact.

The Role We are seeking a skilled and detail-oriented finance professional to join our team as a Financial Accountant . You'll play a vital part in ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and compliance of our financial reporting and operations. You will be responsible for preparing Ofwats financial statements and act as a key liaison with external auditors, facilitating a smooth audit process to ensure timely publication of the Annual Report and Accounts.

Additionally, you will prepare the Whole of Government Accounts (WGA) and contribute to the Main Estimate and Supplementary Estimate submissions. As a subject matter expert, you will provide technical accounting advice in line with International Financial Reporting Standards, (IFRS), the Financial Reporting Manual (FReM), and other relevant Government guidance documents. Your expertise will be crucial in managing the day-to-day operations of the accounts payable and accounts receivable functions, including oversight of the team and ensuring timely completion of reconciliations and statutory and transparency returns.

About You Below are some of the key essential experience, skills & knowledge required for this post:
Lead Criterion 1 :
Strong technical accounting knowledge, including IFRS and public sector reporting frameworks, with experience preparing statutory reporting and supporting audits. Lead Criterion 2:
Strong experience of ERP systems, preferably Oracle Fusion Cloud, including financial reporting, reconciliations, process improvement, system optimisation and the implementation of automated solutions to improve efficiency and strengthen financial controls. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex financial, operational and systems information, challenge constructively, and identify practical solutions. Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to translate technical accounting and systems information into clear, practical business solutions for a range of audiences.

Experience of coaching, mentoring and developing colleagues, including onboarding, knowledge sharing and building team capability within a collaborative and continuous improvement environment. Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or CIPFA) with significant post-qualification experience within financial accounting, audit and financial control. Why…