Interim Financial Accountant

Background: The UK Space Agency: 

The UK Space Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) and provides technical advice on the government’s space strategy, supporting the UK space sector to deliver the government’s vision. 

Space is a part of everyday life. Satellites underpin our national economy, from agriculture and banking to aviation and shipping, and support our national security. Space science provides critical data to understand and address global challenges such as climate change, while missions to explore our solar system unite nations and advance humanity’s horizons. 

We support a thriving space sector in the UK, which generates an annual income of £16.5 billion and employs 47,000 people across the country. 

Through our portfolio of programmes and projects, we encourage the development of national space capabilities and are an early-stage investor in space research and development.  We also promote the UK space sector’s interests and achievements; make connections to join up industry and academia; and represent the UK in international space programmes. 

We have a powerful global voice, partnering with institutions across the world, including the European Space Agency. 

More information about the Agency is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-space-agency 

To discover more please watch this film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbZZ-o0IkVU

Our Inclusive Environment

We have an inclusive culture to make UK Space Agency a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it will help us be more innovative and make better decisions.

We offer first-class flexible working benefits, excellent employee well-being support and a great pension. We are fortunate to have a range of excellent staff networks and are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We will support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive.

We actively welcome applications from anyone who shares our commitment to inclusion.

The Role

The UK Space Agency’s finance team has an exciting opportunity for an experienced financial accountant to meet the requirements of the growing Agency and UK Space industry.

We are a diverse organisation, with the UK Space Agency finance team working at the heart of the organisation, supporting senior leadership by enabling decision making and safeguarding public funds.

Key responsibilities

The post holder will work collaboratively to provide financial assurance and support across the Agency, sitting in the Financial Accounts team.

Financial Accountant

The Financial Accountant role will work with the team to ensure that financial records are accurate, aligned to current accounting principles and assist with the production of the annual report and accounts detailing the Agency’s annual expenditure of £648m (2022/23). Duties will include, but are not limited to:

• Reporting to the Head of Financial Reporting, manage the delivery of interim and year end Annual Accounts (financial year April – March) and accompanying disclosure notes to the financial statements.
• Keep up to date with the developments in accounting standards, advising on correct accounting treatments and implementing new accounting standards.
• Prepare monthly accounts packs for review, liaising with the Head of Financial Planning and Performance to ensure the integrity of accounts (including oversight of corrective journals where required).
• Ensure monthly accruals submitted by management accounts are supported by appropriate evidence for the Agency’s strategic programmes.
• A lead contact for external auditors, managing daily liaison during audit site visits in January, and May/June.
• The main point of contact for BEIS Group accounts consolidation in January and April/May ensuring Agency’s financial position is reported accurately on the departmental reporting tool (Enterprise Performance Management), including leading on the intra group transaction eliminations.
• Working with the Head of Financial Reporting, draft the annual Governance Statement ensuring sufficient supporting evidence is collated during the year.
• Reporting to the Head of Financial Reporting, lead on the completion of the Assurance Map for finance led activities, using an array of assurance techniques to test the effectiveness and compliance of internal controls.
• Review, update and develop the Agency’s financial policies and procedures to ensure they meet the requirements of a developing organisation.
• Lead on the continuous improvement and best practice on financial management within the Agency, with specific reference to governance and management of fraud controls
• Assist the Head of Financial Reporting with the implementation of internal audit recommendations and report on progress made against agreed actions.
• Chair the internal Finance Processes Network, organising regular meetings to drive continuous improvement, best practice and consistent ways of working.
• Line management responsibility (1x HEO Finance Officer)

UK Space Agency Generic Responsibilities (This is a requirement of all posts)

• Ensure compliance with statutory and legal provisions as set out in the UK Space Agency’s policies and procedures. In relation to: Financial Regulations, Equal Opportunities and Diversity, Health and Safety, Civil Service Code, Data Protection & the Official Secrets Act.
• Comply with the behaviours and standard requisites as relevant to your post as detailed in your job description, person specification and take responsibility for continuing self-development, participating in training and development activities as required or requested by your line manager.
• Attend meetings as required some of which may be outside normal working hours

The above mentioned tasks and responsibilities are neither inclusive nor exhaustive. The post holder may be called upon to carry out such other appropriate duties as may be required by the Chief Executive and/or senior officer(s) within the grading level of the post and the competence of the post holder.

Essential

• Significant experience of working in a finance team.
• Highly numerate individual with strong analytical skills
• Good knowledge of Excel
• Excellent written skills and an ability to explain complex financial information to non-finance audience
• Ability to communicate across all levels
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills to influence senior management as well as senior programme leads or technical experts
• Ability to work on own initiative and under pressure with competing demands to tight deadlines
• Ability to work proactively to anticipate issues and develop options/solutions in order to prevent escalation
• Proven interpersonal skills with an ability to work within own team as well as with colleagues in other parts of the organisation
• Willingness to learn and provide support within the wider finance team
• CCAB qualified / part qualified / qualified by experience
• Experience in the preparation of statutory accounts, and a good technical accounting knowledge

Desirable

• Experience of working in a public sector organisation and knowledge of accounting standards
• Demonstrable experience of using management information to support and improve overall operational delivery
• Experience/knowledge of Oracle financial system, Purchasing Module and General Ledger Module or advanced knowledge of other accounting systems
• Experience of working within a central government department
• Previous experience of line management responsibilities

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

• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Please provide evidence of relevant financial accounting experience to support your application and CV, identifying strengths and experiences that make you suitable for this position.

UK Space Agency offers a competitive mix of benefits including:

A culture of flexible working, such as job sharing, homeworking and compressed hours.

Automatic enrolment into the Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.

An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities, which all staff are actively encouraged to pursue.

Access to a range of retail, travel, and lifestyle employee discounts.

A generous maternity/paternity and adoption leave package.

This job role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is an informal, non-contractual and voluntary arrangement, blending a balance of attendance in the workplace (your permanent duty station which is based on business assessment of where the work is best done) and working from home, or elsewhere, as a personal choice (if the role is suitable for this).  If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.

The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest. 

Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

You must seek approval from your substantive manager before applying for any non-permanent vacancy, this includes applying for a new post during an existing temporary posting.  Please note that if applying for a temporary post within UK Space Agency or elsewhere on promotion, successful appointment will not automatically result in a permanent promotion – you will revert to your current substantive grade at the end of the Fixed Term or Loan period (unless funding has been approved to make the post permanent).

Job contact :

• Name : Samantha Mann
• Email : samantha.mann@ukspaceagency.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : uksarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk