Assistant Financial Accountant

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is the Department for economic growth and supports businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities across the country. DBT's scope is unique, and you would be working for a team responsible for establishing the finance function and ensuring business continuity across all aspects of finance, including financial management, financial reporting, internal controls, financial governance, business processes and systems.

Financial Accounting, Reporting and Control Team (FARCT) lead on the production of DBT's financial accounts, DBT's relationship with the National Audit Office (NAO), HMRC and providing advice on compliance with HM Treasury and Cabinet Office controls. The team are critical in establishing and embedding high quality financial accounting controls practices and processes in DBT, within and beyond the Finance team.

FARCT plays a critical role within the Department's Finance and Business Services Directorate with responsibility for ensuring compliance with financial standards and best practice, delivery of statutory reporting, oversight of key financial controls, VAT compliance, cash management. It is a high-profile team which also provides advice on the accounting, budgetary and tax implications of new projects and programmes.

The position reports to the Senior Executive Officer (SEO) and will be expected to be flexible to take on varying roles in the team. You will be exposed to all aspects of the Department's financial accounting and reporting and are required to share your financial accounting expertise with stakeholders across the department.

FARCT is looking for an outstanding, self-driven and enthusiastic finance professional with the required experience, skills, and personal qualities. You will be a results-driven, collaborative player, with excellent attention to detail and with the ability and communication skills to build good working relationships at all levels across the DBT family.

DBT will provide you with the opportunity for a diverse, exciting, worthwhile career and support you with training and development.

Responsibilities of the team:

• Overall primary objective is to deliver the Annual Report and Accounts (ARA) and completion of the interim and final audit exercises each year.


• Financial Accounting and Reporting: Maintain the integrity of the Core Department's ledger, and assist in the production of the Departmental Group accounts, consolidating over 19 partner organisations with the Core Department. Provide expert accounting advice and information used to inform key decisions to wider finance teams within the Department's and partner organisations' stakeholder management.


Main duties include:

• Taking an active part in the month end accounts process including journal preparation - especially monthly VAT reconciliations, balance sheet reconciliations, accounts production and other general ledger activities.


• Engaging and working collaboratively with the wider finance community (including DBT's Partner Organisations) to mitigate accounting risks so that the Departmental Accounts are free of material errors.


• Engaging with the auditors (NAO) to ensure that the audit process runs smoothly. Work collaboratively to resolve Management Letter Points, especially those relating to VAT technical issues.


• Completing the NAO disclosure checklist, challenging where necessary, and escalating potential issues to senior managers or decision makers.


• Taking a leading role in ensuring that correct public sector VAT treatments are applied within each supply procured by the wider businesses.


• Taking a leading role in carrying out the monthly VAT reviews and undertaking any necessary corrective actions through adjustment journals.


• Providing technical support to the VAT lead with review and timely submission of the quarterly VAT returns to HMRC and undertaking any necessary corrective actions through relevant adjustment journals in a timely manner.


• Becoming an expert in the department's accounting systems used to prepare full accounts and associated notes using the relevant consolidation system tools, including EPM, CDM and Excel models.


• Identifying improvements to current processes and procedures, including engagement in projects to implement new systems.


• Working collaboratively in an integrated and interdependent way, to improve financial capability and understanding across the organisation.


• Supporting senior managers with making decisions on the accounts production process and other financial controls and risks.