Senior Finance Adviser

About HM Treasury

If you’re interested in making a difference to people’s lives, the Treasury can offer you an exciting opportunity to influence decision making that affects the whole of the UK. Working at the heart of government, we collaborate across government to promote responsible public spending and drive strong and sustainable economic growth.  

Our work ranges from protecting customers through the regulation of the financial sector, helping to reduce carbon emissions and creating a greener economy, to promoting British trade around the world and supporting people across the country on jobs, growth and more.  

HM Treasury is proud of a diverse and inclusive work environment, committed to fairness and the promotion of equality of opportunity for all. We know that having a range of experiences, ways of working and thinking makes us stronger and better at developing policy that reflects the needs of every community. We embrace different views and experiences and value the new perspective that people from a variety of circumstances bring to the work we do. We welcome applications from candidates who have not previously worked for the Civil Service, mid- and late-career changers with transferrable skills, people from all backgrounds and circumstances regardless of disability, gender, age ethnicity, LGBT+ identity and socio-economic status.  

We are part of the Darlington Economic Campus, a pioneering new cross-government hub which brings people together to play an active role in the most important issues of the day whilst working closer to the communities we serve. The campus provides the opportunity for people from all over the UK to help shape the future of the country, and our flexible working practices ensure you can collaborate effectively with our partners. It’s central government, made more accessible to you! 

About the Group

Public Spending Group

The Public Spending Group has a high-profile role in Government, setting the Government’s overall spending plans and ensuring they deliver value for money for the taxpayer. We are responsible for reporting to Parliament and the public on how taxpayers’ money is spent. We drive forward improved outcomes and efficiency in public services and enhance the value for money of decision-making through better evaluation, data and analysis.

We advise on overall government policy on public sector pay and pensions, the biggest single driver of public spending. We collaborate with and directly support departments to deliver the Government Finance Function strategy, building finance capability across government and developing the management information, tools and frameworks to better understand and ensure value for money.

About the Team

Government Financial Reporting Team

Government Financial Reporting (GFR) is a friendly and encouraging team that sits within the Public Spending group and prides itself in developing professional technical expertise and working collaboratively with its wide range of partners. It leads on a number of critical finance ministry functions including:

• Developing guidance and maintaining the integrity of the key financial management and reporting frameworks, that underpin spending in central government. This covers financial reporting, departmental budgeting and the Supply Estimates process; the means by which government spending is authorised by Parliament.
• Producing major financial and statistical publications, including Public Expenditure Statistical Analysis and the Whole of Government Accounts, which consolidates the accounts of over 10,000 entities.
• Providing advice to government departments and Treasury Spending Teams (who manage the Treasury’s spending relationship with departments) on complex or novel transactions; particularly in respect of the financial reporting and statistical classification (e.g. whether they are on or off the Government’s balance sheet).
• Managing relationships with key independent external partners, including the National Audit Office, the Office for National Statistics, the Financial Reporting Advisory Board, and a number of accounting standards bodies both in the UK and internationally.

GFR comprises around 30 members of staff and provides exposure to a wide range of colleagues across the Government Finance Function, as well as working on areas of emerging policy and risk management within government. We are a dynamic team, and we fully support learning, development and growth.

About the Job 

If you want the opportunity to apply your technical knowledge while helping to influence and shape government policy, this is the role for you. As a Senior Finance Adviser in the Government Financial Reporting Team, you will apply your technical skills to helping to develop financial reporting policy for central government and shaping financial reporting policy for the wider public sector. You will engage directly with external partners – including other government departments, professional accountancy organisations, and the devolved administrations – on high profile financial reporting issues, helping to ensure that the UK government remains at the forefront of best practice in public sector financial reporting.

Key accountabilities for this role include:

• Maintain and improve the quality of the Government Financial Reporting Manual (the FReM), and support to deliver the commitments from the Government Financial Reporting Review
• Lead on specific policy areas to help improve the quality of financial reporting across the public sector. You will have responsibility for leading the process, liaison with interested parties and implementation.
• Deliver the adaptation and implementation of new accounting standards in the public sector, working with the Financial Reporting Advisory Board to ensure that accounting standards are appropriate and tailored to the public sector context
• Provide support and advice to organisations across government on the implementation of changes to the FReM and financial reporting requirements
• Deliver thematic reviews on key financial reporting areas, carrying out deep dives of high profile subject areas to support continual improvement in financial reporting
• Manage and strengthen relationships with key partners within the Treasury, across government, and in the accountancy profession. Work collaboratively with key partners to drive improvements in financial reporting in central government annual reports and accounts.

Knowledge of wider public sector financial frameworks (e.g. Financial Reporting Manual, Managing Public Money, the Consolidated Budgeting guidance etc.) would be desirable.

Candidate Drop-In Session 
 
We will be running a candidate drop-in session for this role to give you greater insight about the role as well as the chance to learn more about HM Treasury and the recruitment process. If you would like to join us, then use the appropriate link below to join the call at the right time. 

Thursday 21st December 2023 14:00 -14:30 Click here to join the meeting

If you would like to speak to the hiring manager informally prior to the closing date for applications to find out more about the job, please contact louise.armstrong@hmtreasury.gov.uk 

We are looking for the below skills, experience and behaviours and we will ask you to demonstrate these in your application form. Please review the Candidate FAQ document that is attached to the advert for guidance on how to complete your application form.  

1. Strong technical knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standards or the International Public Sector Accounting Standards [Technical Skill]
2. The ability to weigh up incomplete and/or conflicting evidence, and strategic considerations, to reach sound judgements on complex issues [Making Effective Decisions]
3. Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with a proven track record in working confidently across teams to develop effective working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders [Working Together]
4. Ability to lead short and long term projects in parallel, working through others where needed to ensure that targets are met [Delivering at Pace]

The lead criterion is: Technical Skill– Strong technical knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standards or the International Public Sector Accounting Standards

If we receive large volumes of applications, we will conduct an initial sift on the lead criterion only

Required Qualifications

Professional Accountancy Qualification (CCAB or equivalent)

Part-qualified candidates will be considered if they can demonstrate relevant experience and the intention to become fully qualified.

Candidate Guidance Support Session 
 
We will be running an overview of Success Profiles and the STAR approach; top tips for the application and interview process and an opportunity to ask general questions around our recruitment practices. If you would like to join us, then use the link below to join the call at the right time. 

Tuesday 12th December 2023 17:00 – 17:45 Click here to join the meeting

Tuesday 19th December 2023 12:00 – 12:45 Click here to join the meeting

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

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

• Strong technical knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standards or the International Public Sector Accounting Standards

• 25 days’ annual leave (rising to 30 after 5 years), plus 8 public holidays and the King’s birthday (unless you have a legacy arrangement as an existing Civil Servant)

• Flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours)

• Generous parental and adoption leave package

• Onsite restaurant and coffee bar. The London office also offers a gym, showers and prayer room

• Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme, season ticket advances and payroll giving

• Access to a retail discounts and cashback site

• A Rental Deposit Advance Scheme to help meet the total costs of deposits for privately rented homes

• A range of active staff networks, based around interests (e.g. analysts, music society, sports and social club) and diversity (e.g. women in the Treasury, ethnic minority network, LGBT* network, faith and belief network).

Flexible working arrangements:   HM Treasury views flexible working as essential in enabling us to recruit and retain talented people, ensuring that they are able to enjoy a long-lasting career with us. All employees have the right to apply for flexible working and there are a range of options available including; working from home, compressed hours and job sharing.

HM Treasury operates an office based working approach across all Treasury sites – Darlington, London, and Norwich, with the expectation of achieving 50% attendance in the office as a minimum requirement, along with the flexibility of working remotely. This blended working approach allows you to work collaboratively, meet stakeholders face to face, support others and promotes a healthy work life balance (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review. All our offices have been recently modernised and designed to collaborate and connect with colleagues as well as desk and quiet space to allow a range of ways to work.

Job contact :

• Name : Louise Armstrong
• Email : louise.armstrong@hmtreasury.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : hrrecruitment@hmtreasury.gov.uk