Assistant Director, Financial Control

Location

Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, London, Manchester

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is a UK government agency that promotes competitive markets and tackles unfair behaviour. We help people, businesses and the UK economy by ensuring fair competition, especially as society grapples with the power of large technology firms. We are committed to a flexible, respectful and inclusive workforce and welcome applications from under‑represented groups.

The Assistant Director, Financial Control is a key leadership role within the CMA’s finance team. It provides senior technical leadership for Financial Accounts, ensuring robust statutory reporting, compliance with accounting standards and effective financial controls.

• Collaborate with the Assistant Finance Director (Strategic Finance) and other Grade 6 leaders to support the Director of Finance, Risk and Business Reporting.
• Integrate financial accounting with business reporting, risk management and performance frameworks to support evidence‑based decision making.
• Own delivery of Resource Accounts & Trust Statement; manage relationship with the National Audit Office (NAO) on financial audit.
• Provide authoritative assurance to the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC) and Board on complex accounting matters including digital markets competition regime levy, IFRS 16, asset revaluations and TCFD disclosures.
• Lead Business Process and Systems Improvement (BPSI) work streams for financial systems improvements and ensure quality of the Financial Accounts team.

• Demonstrable experience of leading the production of statutory accounts in a large and complex organisation in accordance with Financial Reporting Standards, including direct ownership of the audit process through to clearance and sign‑off.
• Deep technical accounting expertise with the ability to provide clear, authoritative advice to Accounting Officers and senior governance forums.
• Substantial experience communicating and working at a senior level providing financial assurance to Audit and Risk Assurance Committees and Accounting Officers, including managing internal and external audit relationships and closing audit findings.
• Significant experience leading and developing finance professionals and a related function, with accountability for transactional finance operations and delivery of system or process improvements that strengthen financial control and governance.
• Experience of developing and owning Accounting Policies for complex organisations.

• Central government finance experience, including application of IFRS within the Financial Reporting Manual (FReM) context, adherence to Managing Public Money and working within HM Treasury’s budgeting frameworks.

CCAB qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent).

• Leadership
• Managing a Quality Service
• Changing and Improving
• Working Together

• Financial Reporting and Management Information
• Government Finance Frameworks
• Financial Controls and Governance
• Process Improvement and Programme Delivery