Financial Accountant

Position: Financial Accountant (Permanent)
Financial Accountant

Location:

London or Cheltenham
Salary:
Cheltenham: £45,331 or £46,739 (dependent on experience)
Flexible working: due to its sensitive nature this role is office-based and home-working will not be possible. We value a good work-life balance and offer part-time (minimum 4 days), compressed hours, and flexibility around start and finish times. Full time hours are up to 37 hours, depending on location.
MI5 keeps the country safe from serious threats like terrorism and attempts by states to harm the UK, its people and way of life. We carry out investigations by obtaining, analysing and assessing intelligence, and then work with a range of partners, including MI6 and GCHQ to disrupt these threats. Through our protective security arm, we provide advice and guidance to government, businesses and other organisations about how to keep themselves safe.

A role in MI5 means you’ll do unique and challenging work in a supportive and encouraging environment, making a real difference to UK national security.
Our finance teams are vital to this mission. They keep our spending on track and make sure everyone has the financial insight they need to do their best work.
The Financial Accountant role is diverse, with opportunities across several office-based teams. As part of the recruitment process, we’ll get to know you and assess which area best reflects your strengths and interests.
Financial Analysis
One area you could join is Financial Analysis. This team provides key insights that guide decision-making across the organisation. As a Financial Accountant here, you’ll be responsible for key month-end activities and ensuring reports are accurate. You’ll keep our financial systems reliable by maintaining strong controls, and you’ll use management reports to provide insightful analysis for senior managers. You’ll manage all month-end activity, approve journals, support budget profiling and produce forecasts.

You’ll explain significant changes in forecasts or actuals where needed, produce management reports and build collaborative relationships with stakeholders, while leading your own small team.
Financial Accounting and Reporting
Or you could join our Financial Accounting and Reporting team. They handle the summary, analysis and reporting of financial transactions made by the agencies. In this area, you’ll interpret data and carry out analysis that gives senior managers the assurance they need, ensuring the right information reaches the right people. You’ll gather supporting information in line with accounting standards, query and challenge data, and ensure everything is documented clearly for audit purposes.

You’ll analyse monthly balance sheet reconciliations, interpret financial data for the annual report and accounts, complete the NAO disclosure checklist and escalate potential issues when needed. In all you do, you’ll always communicate clearly when explaining how data aligns with standards and maintain strong controls to keep information accurate.
Financial Operations
Finally, there’s Financial Operations. This team manages accounts payable, accounts receivable, expenses and cash management services. As a Financial Accountant in this team, you’ll develop a detailed understanding of financial objectives, transactions and business areas, and you’ll bring structure to delivery. You’ll also ensure operations can respond to different needs while following standard guidelines and frameworks. You’ll promote a culture of excellent customer service, manage internal controls, monitor performance against agreed targets and become a trusted expert in your area.

You’ll advise business units on financial processes, support transaction-processing services, assess the impact of changes, maintain the integrity of data in the finance system and oversee audit requests, working closely with clients to spot opportunities for improvement.

To apply , you must be part-qualified in ACCA, CIMA or equivalent, with demonstrable experience in a similar role in the public sector. Ideally, you’ll also have some supervisory experience. You’re organised, positive, and eager to keep learning. You enjoy working with others, value…