Financial Accountant

This role is available on a remote, hybrid, or office basis. Initially, all DBS employees' contracts are office-based at one of our two sites (Liverpool and Darlington). Employees can apply for remote or hybrid work from day one. If approved, the arrangement will start after six months for transfers from Home Office or after completing probation for new joiners. Requests will be considered based on business needs and role requirements. Informal hybrid working arrangements are also available from day one, subject to business needs and role requirements and will be discussed further following any job offer.

About the Department: DBS was established under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 on 1 December 2012, working from two sites, which are Liverpool and Darlington. We operate on behalf of government delivering Disclosure functions in England, Wales, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man, and Barring functions for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. We function within a framework of legal and regulatory requirements and that includes work with a range of external organisations including other government departments, regulators, and trade bodies. We provide a service that enables organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors to make better informed, safer recruitment and other decisions. We do this by providing information to enable them to determine whether individuals are unsuitable or unable to undertake certain work, particularly with occupations involving regular contact with vulnerable groups, including children.

Our Strategy: Our current Strategy sets out our purpose, vision, and the impacts we want to achieve. Our strategy was co-created with our staff and has been supported by insight from our various partners, and throughout, you will find our ambitions to be achieved. Everything that we do within DBS, from developing our strategic intent, to the day-to-day operational delivery of our services, is underpinned by constant considerations of safeguarding, quality, sustainability, value for money, and diversity and inclusion. Our strategic objectives aim to enhance our effectiveness, influence, and customer satisfaction while fostering a supportive environment for everyone.

Equality, Diversion, and Inclusion at DBS: DBS is committed to fostering an environment that values individual differences and ensures fair treatment to unlock the full potential of staff and better support customers. Equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are core to driving organisational success and we have developed specific equality objectives for DBS. Every decision and activity will be considered through an EDI lens, aiming to build an inclusive culture, improve policies and practices, gain external assurances, and become a leading voice of good practice in EDI.

Job description: As a Financial Accountant your role will be to support the Senior Financial Accountant in maintaining a robust controls-based environment, delivering on all matters of statutory and regulatory reporting. To assist with all Financial Accounts activities; including but not limited to any centralised requisitioning, journals and reconciliations, stewardship and compliance reviews, as well as wider business training and support.

• Assist with and actively contribute towards a culture of high performance, strong engagement and a commitment to continuous improvement.
• Maintain financial controls for all financial areas, ensuring the accuracy, integrity, consistency & quality of the DBS general ledger.
• Assist in the preparation of accurate and timely information to support all required reporting, including management information, external and internal audit, as well as regulatory and stakeholder returns including Home Office consolidation submissions, Freedom Of Information (FOI) requests and Parliamentary Question (PQ) responses.
• Work closely with the Management Accountants to ensure the timely completion of accurate management information and reporting.
• Proactively identify and recommend process and system improvements from both an efficiency and financial control perspective.
• Support the successful implementation of the departments systems and procedures, both IT and non-IT based.
• Deputise for the Senior Financial Accountant when required.
• Undertake additional duties appropriate to the role and/or grade.

Person specification:

• Proven ability to build effective relationships with colleagues across the organisation and other stakeholders.
• Excellent attention to detail, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work flexibly and respond positively to changing business needs.
• Must be able to work independently in researching and putting forward solutions to technical accounting queries.
• Experience of the preparation and audit of financial statements.
• Knowledge of latest accounting standards.
• Experience of control account reconciliations.
• Experience of finance systems, processes and control environments.
• Must be actively studying and progressing towards becoming a member of a CCAB accounting body or CIMA.
• Sound knowledge of MS Excel.

• Experience of Fixed asset accounting including reconciliation and maintenance of the Fixed asset register.
• Intercompany/group transaction experience and reconciliation.
• Knowledge / experience of government accounting and reporting.

Behaviours: We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Changing and Improving
• Developing Self and Others
• Managing a Quality Service

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form: Working Together.