Head of Financial Accounting

The Financial Control team lead on the production of the Department for Business and Trade's (DBT's) financial accounts, DBT's relationship with the National Audit Office (NAO) and providing advice on compliance with HM Treasury and Cabinet Office controls. The team is critical in embedding high quality financial accounting controls practices and processes in DBT, within and beyond the Finance team.

This is a high-profile role within the Finance directorate, and you will share your financial accounting expertise with stakeholders across the department. For example, discussions with finance business partners on existing or new complex operational activities, ensuring the financial accounting and budgeting implications are clearly understood.

The Head of Financial Accounting is an accounting expert with strong interpersonal relationships. They are able to translate and present complex financial information clearly. They provide valuable financial advice, challenge and support strategic insight, and provide financial accounting solutions to experts and senior stakeholders across the Department.

This Head of Financial Accounting role will oversee the Department's core accounts, leading a team of finance professionals and contributing to the work of the wider finance directorate. You will need to be self-starting, flexible and proactive to respond to complex and diverse financial management challenges and to provide an efficient and effective service to both DBT's finance team, the Group reporting team and other teams across DBT. You will be results-driven, adopt a collaborative style and have excellent attention to detail and the ability and communication skills to build good working relationships at all levels across the DBT family.

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

Responsibilities are varied, but will include:

• Building strong relationships with finance leads across the Department and supporting them in developing advice to senior officials covering financial matters including accounting and reporting issues, working across Finance as appropriate.


• Championing the importance of value for money and strong financial management, insight and stewardship of public funds, underpinned by effective planning, forecasting, risk management and internal controls.


• Leading on the production of financial information, including commissioning and collating information required for the preparation of the accounts.


• Playing a key role developing and maintaining the relationship with the National Audit Office, ensuring a good working relationship, excellent communications and delivery of on-time and accurate financial and other information.


• Playing an important role in the leadership of the Finance Function across DBT, helping build and develop financial capability and professionalism both inside the function and across DBT.


• Supporting the Financial Controller as a trusted advisor for Finance matters in DBT.


• Building a trusted relationship with the Finance member of the DBT Audit and Risk Assurance Committee, who leads on Financial Statements.


• Working alongside Finance colleagues in the department to ensure that best practice is implemented across the unit and ensuring that all known technical accounting issues are dealt with in a timely and planned manner.


• Building an in-depth knowledge of the areas of the Department for which you are responsible, understanding the financial and performance drivers, risks, opportunities, and issues.


• Supporting senior stakeholders to achieve the Department's target of pre-recess delivery of accounts, motivating, prioritising, and managing priorities, objectives, and expectations.


• Champion a culture of collaboration and improving financial capability and understanding across business areas.


• Lead and develop a team of finance professionals.