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About the job
Job summary
We recognise the challenges that people with protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including ethnic minorities, people with a disability, and people with gender diverse identities.
Do you have experience of accounting in a complex environment and the delivery of government accounts?
Can you use your leadership skills and superb interpersonal skills to build positive, productive relationships?
Do you enjoy delivering in a complex financial and senior management environment?
If so, we would love to hear from you!
This is a fantastic opportunity to lead a diverse team responsible for the Department for Transports Annual Report & Accounts which consolidate the Department and its Arms Length Bodies, whilst working closely with a wide range of stakeholders across the department, the Government Finance Function, National Audit Office and HM Treasury.
Job description
DFT finance and accounting functions are well-regarded across government, and we have a track record of laying the Accounts before the summer recess with a clean audit opinion.
You will lead the Departments Financial Accounts team and deliver the Departments annual financial statements which report total spending of over £20bn and assets of more than £600bn. The Departments group accounts are one of the most complex in government, consolidating the Core department with 19 arms length bodies including major companies responsible for infrastructure assets such as Network Rail, National Highways and HS2 Ltd, in addition to our agencies and other public bodies. The group accounts apply a number of advanced accounting requirements, including financial instruments, defined benefit pensions and fixed asset valuations. These accounts are laid in Parliament and their publication attracts significant interest. The role would suit an individual with a background of leading an accounts or audit team, who is now looking to step up to apply this experience in a complex and fast-paced accounting environment.
Due to the breadth of work carried out by the role holder, it is unlikely to experience two days the same.
Responsibilities
Include, but not limited to:
Delivery of DfT Group financial accounts
- You will lead the team responsible for delivering the DfT Group Financial Statements, consolidating the Core department with our 19 arms length bodies. You will lead and project manage the production of the group accounts and identify and mange down risks to successful delivery. You will ensure the Department achieves a clean audit certificate and that the Annual Report & Accounts are laid in Parliament before the summer recess.
- You will have a strong track record in the delivery of financial accounts, applying IFRS and FREM accounting requirements. The Departments accounts are some of the most complex in central government, applying advanced accounting standards such as IAS 19 (Pensions) and IFRS 9 (Financial instruments) and with a number of complex balance sheet valuations. You will have a good understanding of group consolidation, including intragroup eliminations and accounting harmonisation adjustments.
Leading and managing the financial accounts team
- You will lead the DFT financial accounts team a diverse team of 10-12 staff. Your team will include a number of fully qualified financial accountants, part-qualified accountants, and more junior colleagues at an early stage of professional qualification.
- You will directly line manage 3-4 Grade 7 staff, who in turn will manage more junior members of the financial accounts team.
Developing and managing key stakeholder relationships
- You will lead DFTs relationship with National Audit Offices financial audit team, ensuring the department meets the deliverables and standards expected of us by NAO.
- You will lead the Accounts teams relationships with other divisions in DFT Group Finance, the wider DFT business, and Accounts teams in our arms length bodies.
Finance advisory work
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Working with other specialists across Group Finance, you will support colleagues with understanding the accounting and financial impacts of business proposals, applying IFRS and FREM accounting standards, Consolidated Budgeting Guidance and Managing Public Money guidance to actual business scenarios and providing sound financial advice to key stakeholders.
Other Group Finance responsibilities
- You will be a key member of the Estimates working group responsible for delivering technical aspects of the Main Estimate and Supplementary Estimate.
- You will oversee the Departments responses to Parliamentary Questions and FOIs relating to financial accounting and departmental spending.
For further information, please see the attached Role Profile.
Additional information
Some travel between DFT locations may be necessary based on business need. We would expect this to be necessary no more than approximately once a month.
A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace, although requirements to attend other locations for official business, or carry out detached duty in another DfT workplace, will also count towards this level of attendance.
Person specification
You will come to us with experience of accounting in a complex environment and the delivery of government accounts.
We are looking for a credible, authentic leader, with the ability to engage and motivate those around you and lead an inclusive culture.
There will be a lot of interaction with a range of different stakeholders, senior management and colleagues across the organisation. We will look to you to confidentially handle these interactions, using your strong stakeholder management skills to engage with a diverse range of people. You will have excellent verbal, written and presentation skills, with the ability to explain complex financial issues to non-specialist audiences.
You are proactive with a strong record of delivery. You have fantastic planning and organisational skills, often coordinating conflicting priorities delivering to deadlines.
Qualifications
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Technical skills
We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
Benefits
Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits. We offer generous annual leave, attractive pension options, flexible working, inclusive working environments and much more to support a healthy work/life balance.
Find out more about what it’s like working at the Department for Transport
Things you need to know
Selection process details
How to Apply
When considering applying please look at how your experience relates to the role. Please tailor your CV to match the role and its responsibilities and within your Personal Statement (750 word limit) please provide detailed evidence of your experience of the following:
- Accounting in a complex environment and the delivery of government Accounts
- Leading and managing a team, driving performance and engagement at all levels
- Strong collaboration, stakeholder and relationship management skills
The sift is due to take place from Monday 11th December 2023.
Interviews are likely to be held from Wednesday 3rd January 2024.
We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.
The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment will include:
- an interview and presentation
This interview will be conducted either online via Teams or face to face at one of our offices. Further details of the interview arrangements and presentation will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.
Youre encouraged to become familiar with the role profile, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within.
The Department for Transport alongside other Government Departments recruit using Success Profiles. This means for each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate in order to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.
For further information on Success Profiles visit our Careers website.
Reasonable Adjustments
As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
Complete the Assistance required section in the Additional requirements page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if youre deaf, a Language Service Professional.
If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Document Accessibility
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.
This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email DRGComms@dft.gov.uk for assistance.
Further Information
For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.
Pre-employment Checking
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicants details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
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Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Robert Hart
- Email : Robert.hart@dft.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website Here
