Job description BACKGROUND The Northern Ireland Office supports the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in promoting the best interests of Northern Ireland. We make sure that Northern Ireland interests are represented within the UK Government and that UK government responsibilities are fully and effectively represented in Northern Ireland. We are the centre of expertise on Northern Ireland issues across Government. The Northern Ireland Office employs around 170 staff, with offices in Belfast and London. As a small Department, we adopt a flexible project-based approach to ensure that we have the right people, with the right skills, in the right place to support the delivery of our key objectives. Due to our structure and size, we are able to offer extensive exposure to Ministers and the opportunity to work on a far wider portfolio of policy and responsibilities than might be the case in a larger department. This creates an interesting and stimulating work environment. Our key priorities are set out in our Operational Delivery plan and include: Supporting greater inclusion, tolerance and openness in Northern Ireland Contributing to a safer Northern Ireland, where terrorist and paramilitary groups are less able to cause harm to communities Ensuring that governance in Northern Ireland is responsive, transparent and able to deliver effective public service. Addressing the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland For more information about what we do: Visit: ABOUT THE ROLE: The Northern Ireland Office is seeking to recruit a Financial Accountant to sit within the Financial Accounts and Reporting team. The Finance Accounts and Reporting Team lead on all statutory financial requirements within the NIO, and support a number of the NIOs Arms Lengths Bodies (ALBs). Additionally the Finance team are leading a transformation programme to better deliver our finances and maximise value to the business. This transformation will put finance at the heart of business decision making, driving greater understanding, control and value for money across the organisation. This role will support the transformation through the review, design and implementation of new financial systems, processes and controls supporting statutory requirements and that ability for the business to draw upon accurate financial data to facilitate decision making. The role will be responsible for the key element of the Financial Account processes reporting to the Head of Financial Reporting and Accounting. The successful candidate will take on key responsibilities as part of the production of the annual reports and accounts, support the provision of financial schedules to support year end audit. The role will lead on the NIOs input into the whole of Government Accounts (WGA) and provide support to the forecasting of the departments cash position and managing it within budgetary limits, oversight of VAT and providing wider financial support & advice across the organisation. The post is based within the Corporate Operations Group in the Northern Ireland Office, a high performing and responsive team that provides high standards of corporate services to support the delivery of the NIOs objectives and deliver Ministerial priorities. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The main responsibilities of the role include but are not limited to Support the production of financial statements including notes to the accounts, commissioning and collating information required for the accounts Lead elements of HMT and Cabinet Office reporting, while providing support to the accounts team for key functions including banking, and VAT. Lead the production of the NIOs Whole of Government Accounts (WGA) submission. Support the Head of the Financial Accounts Team on the relationship with National Audit Office and external auditors during external audit of the ARA, ensuring a good working relationship, excellent communication and delivery of on-time and accurate financial and other information Liaising with colleagues throughout the department to obtain audit evidence, including review to ensure the quality and ease of use of the evidence provided to the NAO Providing technical accounting advice, acting as subject matter expert on the Financial Reporting Manual (FReM), Managing Public Money, Consolidated Budgeting Guidance and Cabinet Office spending controls Support the NIOs relationship with AccountNI, the provider of the NIO accounting system. Supporting the continuous improvement of business and financial control processes and helping build and develop financial capability and professionalism both inside the function and across the business. ESSENTIAL CRITERIA: The post holder will need to demonstrate the following in their application and at interview Part qualified accountant CCAB, CIMA or equivalent. Demonstrable experience of design and implementation of new financial processes and controls. Experience of building positive and effective working relationships across a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, and having a credible impact with senior colleagues. Demonstrable experience of supporting the delivery of the annual accounts production process. Version 1/20 (HCS) DESIRABLE CRITERIA: Qualified with CCAB, CIMA or equivalent (ICAEW, ACCA, CIPFA, ICAS, Chartered Accountants Ireland) Strong written and verbal communication skills, able to comprehend complex technical information and distil it into a format that is widely understandable. BEHAVIOURS: We will assess you against the following Success Profiles behaviours at the SEO level during the application sift and interview process : Managing a quality service Making effective decisions Delivering at pace Communicating and influencing EXPERIENCE: Please provide a work history and statement of suitability no longer than 750 words outlining how you meet the essential and desirable criteria. Both will be used in order to assess any demonstrable experience, career history and achievements that are relevant to the role. Your statement of suitability needs to set out evidence of how your experience meets the requirements set out above. Your layout is entirely your preference; you may choose narrative, bullets, etc. One narrative example may cover the requirements needed. You dont have to explain the whole process, just what you have done and the skills and experience you have used. Share with us what makes you suited to this role and why. What you can do, the skills you have that are transferable and the life experience or passion you have that are linked to this role. If you dont have work-based examples then give examples from school/college, clubs, volunteering or other activities you have been involved in. You will also be asked to complete a work history with details of your education, professional qualifications, previous skills and full employment history. Your will not be formally assessed so please put the main evidence of your skills into your personal statement. Your will be used to add context to your personal statement. More information on behaviours and success profiles can be found here. Please note that in the event of a large number of applications being received we may run the initial sift on the lead Behaviour Managing a quality service. INTERVIEW: You will be assessed against the same behaviours at the interview stage and will be asked to provide examples of how you have demonstrated the behaviours. It may help to use one or more examples of a piece of work you have completed or a situation you have been in and use the WHO or STAR model to explain: WHO- What it was? How you approached the work/situation? What the Outcomes were, what did you achieve? or STAR- What was the Situation? What were the Tasks? What Action did you take? What were the Results of your actions? OFFER Once all interviews have been completed, you will be notified of the outcome by email. Offers will be made in strict merit order to the highest scoring candidate first. The successful candidate will be notified of a start date following successful security checks. Additional information received after the closing date will not be considered. Failure to provide sufficient information in support of an application prior to the closing date will not be considered as grounds for an appeal if an applicant is not shortlisted for interview. SECURITY CLEARANCE: This role requires National Security Vetting given the access to sensitive information afforded by the job role. You can find more information by reviewing the information held in the following links: United Kingdom Security Vetting: Applicant - GOV.UK ( The vetting charter - GOV.UK ( In addition, there is a minimum UK residency requirement set by the Cabinet Office which is dependent on the security level required for the role. This role requires SC and to be eligible to apply for this role you should have been present in the UK continuously for the past 5 years Neither Detached Duty terms nor relocation costs will apply to this post. Further Information: Further information about the post may be obtained from the Head of Financial Accounting and Reporting via email to. All applications for employment are considered strictly on the basis of merit. This job description should not be taken as constituting conditions of employment. Please note that due to the high interest in NIO opportunities, feedback cannot be given if you are unsuccessful at the sift stage. Feedback is available on request if unsuccessful following the interview. COMPLAINTS: The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commissions Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles. Please contact SSCL () in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: RESERVE LISTS: In the event that the advertised post following interview, identifies more appointable applicants than available posts, we may hold applicant details on a merit/reserve list for a period of 12 months from which further future appointments can be made. Candidates placed on a reserve list will be informed of this. Those candidates who do not wish to remain on the reserve list should contact to be removed from the reserve list. Additional Information Working Arrangements & Further Information The NIO offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different NIO sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity. Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyones circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review. Flexible working hours The NIO offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. NIO welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the NIOs Flexible Working policy. Benefits: Access to learning and development A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity A Civil Service pension 25 days annual leave, increasing to 30 days after five years service. Public Holidays Season Ticket Advance