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- Tasks: Lead financial reporting and ensure compliance with statutory accounts in a dynamic public sector environment.
- Company: Join the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, shaping financial governance.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and the chance to influence senior leaders.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth and to drive continuous improvement in financial processes.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on financial governance and reporting in a complex organisation.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in financial accounting and a CCAB, CIMA or equivalent qualification.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 70000 £ per year.
Location: London, Manchester
About the job
Job summary
Do you thrive on leading complex statutory accounts and exercising professional judgement on high‑profile, technically challenging accounting issues? Are you motivated by providing assurance at the highest level, influencing senior leaders, and shaping financial governance across a large and complex public sector organisation? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for a Head of Financial Reporting to join our team at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and we would love to hear from you!
This role offers a significant opportunity for an experienced financial reporting professional to provide senior functional leadership for financial accounting and reporting across the department. The postholder will lead the Financial Reporting function, take strategic ownership of statutory accounts and external financial reporting, and ensure the department meets the highest standards of compliance, quality and professional judgement.
The role operates at a senior level across the organisation, working closely with Directors, Senior Responsible Owners, Arm’s Length Bodies, HM Treasury and the National Audit Office. The role is central to providing assurance over complex financial reporting risks and delivering the Annual Report and Accounts, Whole of Government Accounts and other statutory and parliamentary reporting requirements. The postholder will exercise significant professional judgement on complex and novel accounting matters and will play a key role in strengthening financial governance, capability, and continuous improvement across the department.
You will champion best practice, continuous improvement and build capability within your immediate team and beyond, as well as developing a network of contacts and collaborating, sharing best practice and supporting the development of the financial reporting capability across the department.
Job description
As the Head of Financial Reporting you will be responsible for:
- Functional leadership and statutory reporting
- Providing senior functional leadership for Financial Accounting and Reporting across the department.
- Taking end‑to‑end ownership of the production, quality assurance and delivery of the Annual Report and Accounts.
- Leading delivery of external financial reporting obligations, including Whole of Government Accounts returns.
- Ensuring compliance with FReM, IFRS, Managing Public Money, and Consolidated Budgeting Guidance.
- Supporting ALBs where needed on technical Financial Accounting matters.
Technical expertise and professional judgement
- Acting as a recognised technical authority on complex and novel accounting issues.
- Leading and documenting significant accounting judgements.
- Providing advice to senior leaders and Audit Committee.
Audit, risk and assurance
- Owning the relationship with the National Audit Office and HMRC.
- Managing audit risks and issues to resolution.
- Embedding strong control, assurance and audit‑ready processes.
Leadership and capability building
- Leading and developing the Financial Reporting team.
- Building technical and professional capability across finance.
Stakeholder engagement and influence
- Engaging senior stakeholders across the department and government.
- Explaining complex accounting matters clearly to non‑finance audiences.
Change and continuous improvement
- Driving improvement and modernisation in reporting processes and systems.
- Supporting wider finance transformation.
Corporate Contribution
Contributing to the wider work of the department by supporting the SCS Deputy Director of Finance in leading the Finance Profession within the department.
Person specification
- Extensive experience in financial accounting and statutory reporting.
- Strong knowledge of IFRS and FReM.
- Experience leading delivery of public sector accounts.
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
Qualifications:
- CCAB, CIMA or equivalent professional accountancy qualification.
For more information and to apply, please visit our website via the apply button below.
Head of Financial Reporting employer: Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
Contact Detail:
Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Financial Reporting
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the finance sector, especially those who have experience with public sector roles. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings or even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical knowledge. Be ready to discuss complex accounting issues and how you've tackled them in the past. We want to see your professional judgement in action!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! Think of examples where you've led a team or influenced senior stakeholders. Highlighting these experiences will demonstrate your capability to take on the Head of Financial Reporting role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Financial Reporting
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the specific skills and experiences that match the Head of Financial Reporting role. Highlight your extensive experience in financial accounting and statutory reporting, and don’t forget to mention your knowledge of IFRS and FReM!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re the perfect fit for this role. Talk about your leadership experience and how you've influenced senior leaders in previous roles. Make it personal and engaging!
Showcase Your Technical Expertise: Since this role involves complex accounting issues, be sure to highlight your technical expertise. Discuss any significant accounting judgements you've made and how you've managed audit risks. This will show us you’re ready for the challenges ahead!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
✨Know Your Numbers
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of IFRS and FReM. Be prepared to discuss how these standards apply to the role and share examples from your past experience where you've successfully navigated complex accounting issues.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Head of Financial Reporting, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to lead a team effectively. Think of specific instances where you've built capability within your team or influenced senior stakeholders, and be ready to share those stories during the interview.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect to face questions that test your technical expertise. Review common accounting challenges in the public sector and prepare to explain your approach to resolving them. This will show your professional judgement and problem-solving skills.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Since stakeholder engagement is key, think about how you can communicate complex financial matters to non-finance audiences. Prepare examples of how you've successfully engaged with senior leaders or external bodies like the National Audit Office in the past.