Department for Education Hiring for ESFA Finance Associate Job at Manchester, England Full Time

181088

£29,363

£36,699 if fully qualified

Permanent

DFE – Operations Group

Accountancy
Finance

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

1

Coventry CV1 2WT, Manchester M1 2WD

The Department for Education (DfE) works to provide children’s services, education and skills training that ensures opportunity is equal for all, no matter background, family circumstances, or need. At our heart, we are the department for realising potential. We enable children and learners to thrive, by protecting the vulnerable and ensuring the delivery of excellent standards of education, training and care. This helps realise everyone’s potential – and that powers our economy, strengthens society and increases fairness.

We are a government department that works with 17 agencies and public bodies. Further information about the department can be found at www.education.gov.uk.

The Operational Finance and Estates Directorate is one half of the department’s finance function, along with the Strategic Finance Directorate. We ensure that DfE’s financial systems and operations run smoothly and support the financial reporting requirements of over £90 billion for the department and our Arms’ Length Bodies (ALBs).

Financial Reporting Division (FRD) over the Annual Reports, which are our principal transparency publications. They are prepared to high, internationally recognised standards and inform the public and education stakeholders about the performance and cost of the department, agencies and academies sector.

FRD are looking for a high-calibre finance professional with the necessary experience, skills and personal qualities for a HEO Financial Associate role. It is an important role within the team requiring the ability to work with colleagues across the Department gaining credibility and providing support and financial accounting advice. We will provide you with the opportunity for an interesting and worthwhile career and support you with training and development.

The post holders will partner and collaborate with a range of stakeholders, acting as the face of group accounting, helping to resolve accounting problems, to ensure the Annual Report and Accounts are free from material errors, and laid pre recess

HEO Financial Associate – Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA)

Responsibilities

Responsibilities will include:

• Supporting the SEO in preparation of the monthly and annual accounts, including the management of the month end process and carrying out analytical review of the financial results
• Supporting the SEO in managing an audit timetable ensuring that key delivery milestones are met. Liaising with the auditors, financial operations, business partners and the DfE contract management team to ensure all audit queries are answered effectively and efficiently.
• Ensuring that all the technical aspects of the accounts production process are consistent with Treasury guidance and specifically the requirements of the Financial Reporting Manual (FReM).
• Providing technical advice and guidance to a variety of stakeholders.
• Support the preparation of the Whole of Government Accounts.
• Supporting the SEOs in preparing the balance sheet reconciliations and resolving issues or queries.
• Working with Technical Accounting colleagues compiling disclosure notes.
• CCAB qualified or working towards qualification

Essential Criteria

Must be willing to start an accountancy qualification (ACA/ ACCA or equivalent) or be part qualified and willing to complete the qualification;

• Ability to work to tight deadlines;
• Ability to analyse large data sets using relevant tools, such as Excel, to inform evidence based decisions;
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and able to deliver a good standard of report writing;
• Good understanding of financial reporting requirements in a government setting;
• Ability to work on own initiative or as part of a team towards a common goal or objective;
• Good understanding of accounts consolidation and the production of statutory accounts.

Personal and professional development is one of our core values. We will provide you with the opportunity for an interesting and worthwhile career and support you with your development.

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

• Delivering at Pace
• Changing and Improving
• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together

Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department’s transfer / promotion policies.

As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK.

You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service. In addition, all staff receive the Queen’s Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days’ bank and public holidays.

We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.

As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.