Financial Reporting and Budgeting Accountant in City of London

Location

This post can be based in London (1 Horse Guards Road), Norwich (Rosebery Court) or Darlington (Feethams House).

About the job

Job summary

Working at HM Treasury puts you at the heart of government, making a difference to the UK economy and ultimately to people’s lives right across the UK.

Jobs at the Treasury are fast-paced, fun and can offer unparalleled perspective – not least the opportunity to advise Ministers on the decisions which directly determine the UK’s prosperity. Deep in our DNA is a commitment to empowering our people: maximising individual and collective impact, with interesting work no matter your role or seniority.

Day-to-day you could be supporting Ministers to decide the right level of a specific tax or line of government spending; helping maintain the stability of financial markets; analysing the long-term trends impacting the future of the economy; or enabling this work as part of our vital corporate functions.

We are a high-performing department and proud to have outstanding staff from a wide range of backgrounds. We are also a friendly, inclusive and sociable workplace that prides itself on fostering great team spirit. Our two largest offices are 1 Horse Guards Road in London, opposite St James’ Park, and the Darlington Economic Campus, which also contains eight other departments. We work seamlessly across all our sites, including Norwich, Birmingham and Leeds, as one Treasury.

We are both a 1,000-year-old institution and dynamic, forward-looking economics and finance ministry, with a strong direction set by our organisational strategy, the Future Treasury Vision. The 21st century offers huge opportunities and poses new challenges for the UK. Working at the Treasury is your chance to help the country chart the right course.

Job description

ABOUT THE TEAM

This role is unique in that it is shared across Strategic Finance and Financial Reporting, giving the post holder a broad view of HM Treasury’s finances and the unique ability to contribute to both financial management and external financial reporting. Strategic Finance supports the department to plan, monitor and manage its budgets by providing financial analysis, management information and advice to help colleagues make well-informed decisions. Financial Reporting is responsible for producing HM Treasury Group’s annual report and accounts and supporting high-quality financial accounting across the Group.
You will work closely with colleagues across both teams, as well as with finance and policy teams across HM Treasury, its arm’s-length bodies and external auditors. The role offers a strong mix of technical accounting, budgeting, financial systems, analysis and stakeholder management, allowing you to develop a rounded understanding of departmental finance.

HM Treasury Finance is made up of approximately 50 staff based across London, Norwich and Darlington sites. Finance is high on the agenda and provides the opportunity to influence the direction of the Department for the future. We are part of the wider Government Finance Function (GFF), which represents and supports around 10,000 members of the finance community across the civil service.

ABOUT THE JOB

This is a varied and fast-paced financial accounting role shared between Strategic Finance and Financial Reporting. It offers the opportunity to support both the department’s annual financial reporting responsibilities and its in-year financial reporting and budgetary management, giving the post holder a broad understanding of how HM Treasury manages, monitors and reports its finances. The breadth of the role provides a unique opportunity to gain experience across different aspects of financial reporting and forecasting in a fast-paced central government environment.

The annual report and accounts is central to financial accountability in the public sector. You will support the production of the department’s annual report and accounts, including consolidation of its arm’s-length bodies and liaison with external auditors. You will also play a key role in the ongoing management and maintenance of the Group’s consolidation system, ensuring it is embedded effectively into business-as-usual reporting and remains robust and fit for purpose.

Alongside this, you will support the Strategic Finance team with in-year reporting and multi-year budgetary management. This will include supporting the preparation of management information and forecasts for a range of stakeholders, advising budget holders on the setting and management of Annually Managed Expenditure (AME) budgets, and contributing to wider strategic finance activities, including the Estimates process through which Parliament approves departmental budgets, and Spending Reviews.

The key accountabilities are:

1. Support the interim and year-end preparation of HM Treasury Group’s annual report and accounts, including determining and applying accounting policies and valuation techniques to deliver accurate and high-quality financial reporting. Coordinating evidence and responses to resolve audit queries from the National Audit Office.
2. Support effective budgetary management of Annually Managed Expenditure (AME) by monitoring budgets and forecasts through monthly management accounts for the consolidated Group, and providing financial information and advice to budget holders to support decision-making.
3. Support the management and maintenance of the Group’s Oracle consolidation system and associated processes and controls for both HM Treasury Group’s annual report and accounts and Whole of Government Accounts submission. Also providing support for and review of arms length body consolidation returns.
4. Prepare and maintain high-quality financial and budgetary information for the departmental group, including regular reporting to central teams and support for budgetary processes, while identifying opportunities to strengthen controls and improve reporting processes and systems.
5. Build effective relationships with Strategic Finance, Financial Reporting, Spending Team, policy teams and finance colleagues in arm’s-length bodies, providing accounting and budgetary advice and supporting colleagues to understand financial information and requirements.
6. Support wider financial control and reporting activity, including quarterly VAT returns, central finance data returns and ad-hoc work to improve accounting models, systems, balance sheet management, processes and controls.

Qualifications

Fully Qualified Accountant with a recognised CCAB body

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Changing and Improving

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