Public Sector Resourcing Hiring for FINANCIAL ASSISTANT Job at Remote Full Time

We have an exciting opportunity available for those with a passion for all things Finance!

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) are looking for someone to join their team, on a remote basis.

WHO YOU ARE:

• The right candidate will develop and maintain good working relations with external and internal auditors, and with staff in the devolved offices.
• You will support the day to day external audit process at interim and final audit stage and provide assurance that audit expectations are being met by improving financial management and capability across the business.
• You will ensure the FSA’s policies and guidance are in keeping with external rules, e.g. PAYE and VAT, ensuring compliance.
• You will also be responsible for maintaining up to date guidance and decision tools for the business.
• You will lead on the monthly Assurance process, ensuring emerging risks are address and resolved promptly.
• You will ensure management information reporting requirements are met through continuous review and development of current systems and processes, ensuring Accounting are leading on relevant technological developments.

As a Financial Assistant your main responsibilities would be:

Interim and Year End Accounts Management

• Develop effective relationships across the FSA to support co-ordination of accounts preparation and audit to ensure laying within the Treasury’s Faster Closing Timetable.
• Work with stakeholders across the business to co-ordinate actions and responses so as to provide assurance to auditors.

Improving Financial Capability

• Work with a range of business users including Finance Business Partners and managers to identify, influence and implement financial data and system reporting to meet their requirements and to accurately report against Key Performance Indicators.
• Provide input and quality assurance in relation to business processes, identifying where IT systems may provide efficiency and / or improvements.
• Improve Management Information to drive action and decision with the objective of delivering improved compliance and more effective system of internal controls
• Contribute to the change process within Finance, Corporate Services and the wider agency initiatives to promote effective financial management and improve Value for Money.
• Produce a set of Key Performance Indicators on a monthly basis to measure performance and drive action.

Monthly Management Accounts

• Support peers at month end to ensure postings completed accurately, in line with the month end timetable to allow for reliable SOFP.
• Manage the monthly Assurance process, making sure emerging risks are identified and discussed and follow up actions are communicated and escalated as necessary.
• Produce management Information to allow tracking and resolution of ageing Trade Payables, and GPC transactions.

Chart of Accounts

• Manage the Agency’s Chart of Accounts, ensuring it is up to date and available to all.
• Ensure the Chart of Accounts is matched across Finance systems.

Whole of Government Accounts (WGA)

• Reconciliations and agreement with OGDs of transactions and balances in line with annual timetable.

Other

• Support Management Accountants in Systems Management and Reporting
• Maintain awareness of up to date financial accounting reporting requirements including IFRS and Annual Report and Accounts disclosures.
• Provide advice relating to Government Accounting, Consolidated Budgeting Guidance and the principles of Managing Public Money.
• Observe the Agency’s Equal Opportunities Policies and Procedures with regards to all aspects of work.
• Maintain confidentiality of the Agency’s internal communications, records and commercially sensitive information and adhere to the rules relating to information security, Data Protection and Freedom of Information Acts.
• Observe and adhere to the Agency’s Health & Safety Policies and Procedures with regards to all aspects of work.

You’ll have relevant experience in:

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:

• Experience of collation and presentation of financial information to auditors
• Excellent knowledge of Excel functions and Microsoft Office 365 tools
• Experience of Oracle accounting system or similar
• Knowledge of Government Accounting including classification of expenditure, the principles of Managing Public Money and Consolidated Budgeting Guidance.

DESIRABLE CRITERIA:

• Experience of managing internal control systems, and developing action plans to address weaknesses

In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following: this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.