Estates Accountant in Birmingham

The Insolvency Service is a leading Government agency which plays a crucial role in providing essential services to the public and to business. The work we do is important to the proper functioning of markets, the economy in general and support for thousands of people each year who are in financial difficulty.

Inclusive and diverse teams are important to us. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups underrepresented in our workforce. The Insolvency Service strives to ensure that the agency is a safe, inclusive, and welcoming place for everybody to bring their true self to work and to help the agency to achieve its diversity objectives.

We have 9 active employee network groups available to join or become an ally, these include: Carers Network, Disability network group, Employee Assistance, Representatives, FACES Network Group, LGBT, Mind Matters, Part Time Workers, The Shed Men’s Network Group and Women’s Network Group. We offer full-time, part-time, job share and flexible ways of working. We value capability, technical skills and experience and we place great emphasis on lifetime development to support our people.

The Insolvency Services (“White Paper”) Account provides a statement of receipt and payments and analysis of fund balances realised from insolvencies and bankruptcies. These funds, net of statutory fees, are then distributed to creditors. The role will be in support of the accurate production of this statutory account and maintenance of reconciliations and assurance processes.

All receipts and payments relating to insolvencies and bankruptcies are made from this account and supported by a case management system. You will work with colleagues from other parts of the agency to ensure the information held in systems reflects operational activity and can be reported accurately. There is a close relationship with the agency’s own resource accounts and consequently you will work closely with colleagues who lead that activity. Your role is therefore critical to the successful delivery of the agency’s Annual Report and Accounts.

The successful candidate will:

• Produce monthly draft financial statements, and notes to the accounts in line with HM Treasury direction for the Insolvency Services (“White Paper”) Account.
• Prepare and collate annual content for the non-financial narrative in the White Paper account, working with stakeholders as necessary.
• Prepare account and cash reconciliations, identify errors and recommend solutions to issues, ready for review.
• Work with stakeholders to solve problems, considering further training needs and identification of best practice.
• Conduct monthly monitoring and take required action on unsettled disbursements.
• Liaise with finance business partners and Official Receiver teams as necessary.
• Compliance reporting of erroneous transactions on management reports and in the case management system (“cash to case” reporting).
• Work with Treasury Management team in support of the agency’s working capital policy and development of cash movement understanding.
• Lead on the response to National Audit Office audit queries and requests in a timely manner.
• Provide analysis of cash movements as required, in support of cash surrenders and CFER actions.

Alongside your role, you will be committed to studying towards and completing a professional accountancy qualification. Exam fees and membership fee will be fully funded. We will also consider applications from candidates who are part way through, or have completed their studies.

Responsibilities:

• Provide financial information from the case management system, working with its associated stakeholders, to support the production of the White Paper Account.
• Carry out key reconciliations of the White Paper Account, understanding the impacts for key stakeholders including the Official Receiver and associated legislation, Treasury Management (cash) and HM Treasury.
• Prepare the White Paper accounts in accordance with legislation and HM treasury directions and ensuring all evidence and information is available to support the external audit of the accounts.
• Work closely with the rest of the Financial Accounting team to successfully produce the Agency’s Annual Report and Accounts on time and to quality standard, as well as ensuring that NAO Management Letter Points (MLPs) are addressed in a timely manner.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme.