Details
Reference number
428338
Salary
£57,946 - £78,669
£57,946 - £68,205 (National Generalist)
£62,167 - £72,474 (National Qualified Accountant)
£63,075 - £74,005 (Inner London Generalist)
£68,041 - £78,669 (Inner London Qualified Accountant)
Civil servants applying on promotion will usually be appointed to the salary minimum or within 10% of existing salary. External recruits will start on the band minimum.
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP
Job grade
Grade 7
Fully Qualified or Partially Qualified Accountant
Contract type
Permanent
Business area
DWP - Finance
Type of role
Finance
Working pattern
Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time
Number of jobs available
2
Contents
* Location
* About the job
* Benefits
* Things you need to know
* Apply and further information
Location
Birmingham, Blackpool, Leeds, London, Manchester, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Sheffield
About the job
Job summary
Working towards sustainable futures. Championing diversity in the workplace. At the Department for Work and Pensions, it's all in a day's work. From HR to Finance, Policy to Communications, this is work that sustains and supports, where everyone's voice is heard, and our customers are at the heart of everything we do. For a career packed with possibility, a comprehensive benefits package, where we live by our values and have the opportunity to improve the lives of people across the UK, look no further.
Supporting people who need it most. That's our purpose. Start your own career today. Find out more and apply here.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is one of the largest departments in Whitehall, providing services and support to around 20 million people. It is responsible for delivering benefit payments worth over £300 billion a year and, to administer this system, we have a DEL budget of over £11 billion in 2025/26.
The Planning, Fiscal Events and Reporting (PFER) Team sits at the heart of the Department, bringing insight and challenge to all areas of DWP's work.
The team is responsible for securing funding to achieve the Department's strategic objectives, in particular by planning and delivering activity as part of major fiscal events such as the Budget and Spending Review. The team also has a key role in scrutinising how that money is being spent, ensuring that we live within our financial settlement whilst maximizing outcomes to our citizens.
It is a high-profile and exciting work area where team members routinely provide advice to DWP Ministers and the Executive Team on issues related to financial strategy and financial management.
The successful candidate will be joining a highly committed, supportive and sociable team with a proven track record of achievement and progression. You will be working with motivated and ambitious colleagues from a broad range of professional backgrounds.
Job description
As a key member of the PFER Team, you will provide strategic advice and analysis on financial impact, performance and risk to senior stakeholders and through this contribute to the strategic direction of the Department. You will maintain strong relationships with senior and wider stakeholders, including HMT, bringing insight and influence through effective communication.
The successful candidates will:
* Lead on the Department's efficiency strategy, delivering DWPs 2030 strategy. Develop and execute the appropriate monitoring, governance and escalation routes, ensuring DWPs financial strategy reflects the appropriate incentives. This includes leading on advice to Investment Committee, the Executive Team and Secretary of State.
* Lead on HM Treasury engagement on the Department's in-year DEL position. Negotiate any budget flexibilities with HMT through the Supplementary Estimates to address in-year and future year financial challenges.
* Lead on the development and costing of fiscal event (DEL) measures, and facilitate the appropriate governance and assurance of emerging proposals. Consider funding requirements in light of the wider Departmental finances, and conduct negotiations with HMT.
* Act as the Strategic Finance lead on the Department's pay and workforce strategy.
* Lead contact to one or multiple DG areas through the budget allocations process, providing expert support to FBPs and planning leads, ensuring a joined-up view of plans across the Department.
* Support the development of plans to reprioritise and increase efficiency across the department. Recent examples include the Efficiency and Savings Review and the Civil Service headcount cap. You will need to use your analytical and stakeholder management skills to contribute to the development of new ideas and proposals.
Postings
Posting will be made in merit order by location, this will be based on the geographical requirement at the time.
There are two roles available within the team and successful candidates will be posted to a specific role based on previous experience and skills.
You will be asked for your preferences for up to three locations, these will tell us where you would prefer to work if you are successful. Please do not select a location unless you are prepared to accept a role in that location. Selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit, on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles here.
Dependent on your position on the merit list, if none of your location preferences remain at the point we make a job offer, DWP may offer you a role at an alternative advertised location. If we are unable to offer you a role in any of your preferred locations, and you are unable to accept a role at an alternative advertised location, we will add you to the reserve list if one is being held.
Please note that we have approval to fill up to one role in the London location.
Please note that for candidates requesting to work in Newcastle, this role will be based at Benton Park View from September 2025, and then at 1 Pilgrim Place in Newcastle city centre by the end of 2027.
Places for Growth and Social Mobility
As part of the Places for Growth Programme, we are committed to delivering a more geographically diverse Civil and Public Service that will better serve the public and ministers.
As part of this initiative, we are continuously reviewing how we recruitinto each location.
Visas
For these vacancies, we strongly recommend that applicants consult with an immigration specialist or qualified advisor to assess their eligibility for Visa Sponsorship before deciding to apply. Please note that while we consider sponsorship requests in accordance with current DWP guidance and Home Office policy, sponsorship cannot be guaranteed.
Hybrid Working
These roles may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in their DWP office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and your office will be your contractual place of work. The number of days that anyone will be able to work at home will be determined primarily by business need but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account. If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working, including whether a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for you, will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.
Person specification
A strong candidate for this role should be able to demonstrate the following Essential Criteria.
* (Lead Criteria) A strong track record of delivering challenging projects at pace, prioritising longer-term work alongside shorter-term asks. The ability to deliver through others and maintain professional standards in the face of pressure.
* Excellent inter-personal, communication, relationship-building and influencing skills. The professional and personal credibility to operate as a leader and adviser, generating confidence in senior stakeholders.
* Highly effective analytical and reasoning skills. Sound working knowledge of the key principles of financial management. Strong strategic thinking skills, particularly in a financial and budget setting environment.
* Proven ability to communicate complex financial information to a non-financial audience, including through the production of high-quality financial reports and briefings.
This role is open to CCAB / CIMA qualified accountants or part-qualified accountants who are still studying. Please note the higher rate of pay is only available upon full qualification.
Qualifications
Eligibility criteria for qualified accountants:
You must hold a full chartered level professional qualification awarded by a UK-recognised accountancy body: CIMA, ICAEW, ACCA, CIPFA, ICAS or Chartered Accountants Ireland. Your membership of one of these institutes must be up to date and live on the day you submit your application. If you are invited to interview, you will be asked to provide evidence of both your qualification status and your membership being current on the date you applied. Please note that membership of AAT or other technician level qualifications does not satisfy the qualification criteria for this role. If you are unsure whether you meet the qualification criteria, you should confirm with our recruitment team before proceeding with your application. If you hold a chartered level accountancy qualification with an overseas body, you will not be eligible to apply for this role. However, most of the UK-recognised accountancy bodies operate reciprocal agreements and pathways programmes which allow people with overseas qualifications to apply for membership. We would recommend pursuing this if you are interested in a career in UK government finance. You would then be eligible to apply for our future vacancies, once your membership became active.
Eligibility criteria for part-qualified accountants:
You must be studying for a qualification with a UK-recognised accountancy body: CIMA, ICAEW, ACCA, CIPFA, ICAS or Chartered Accountants Ireland. You must have passed (or been awarded an exemption from) a minimum of 8 exams so far, and your last exam sitting must have been within 12 months from the date you submit your application. Your student membership of your institute must be up to date and live on the day you submit your application. If you are invited to interview, you will be asked to provide evidence of both your exam passes/exemptions to date and your membership being current on the date you applied for the role. Please note that membership of AAT or other technician level qualifications does not satisfy the part-qualification criteria for this role. If you are unsure whether you meet the part-qualification criteria, you should confirm with our recruitment team before proceeding with your application. If you are successful in applying for the role, you will be expected to complete your studies and become a fully qualified accountant within a reasonable timeframe. If, ultimately, you do not achieve full qualification with your institute, you may in future be moved into a different role that does not require a professional finance qualification.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Delivering at Pace
* Communicating and Influencing
* Seeing the Big Picture
* Making Effective Decisions
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
* Witten Exercise to test Financial Skills
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £57,946, Department for Work and Pensions contributes £16,786 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
DWP have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:
* Working patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
* Generous annual leave – at least 23 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (pro–rata for part time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave.
* Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme.
* Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly).
* Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 year's continuous service.
* Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes.
* An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Women's Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.
Personal Statement
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a Personal Statement of no more than 1000 words as well as a basic CV consisting of your job history and skills. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
The sift panel will use your Personal Statement and CV to assess your skills and experience against the Essential Criteria listed for this position. You will be provided with one overall score when you receive your sift outcome result.
In the event of a high level of applications, we reserve the right to conduct the application sift based on a single Lead Criteria, as indicated in the Person Specification section. Candidates who pass the initial sift will be progressed to full sift.
DWP may consider increasing the overall pass mark at sift or application stage in order to manage applications and outcomes.
Interview stage:
If you have been successful in the sift stage, you will be invited to an online interview via Teams. You will need to produce evidence of ID at the video interview.
The interview will follow a blended approach, consisting of two components:
Written Assessment – You will begin with a written exercise designed to evaluate your technical skills.
Behavioural and Strength-Based Interview – In the second part, you will be assessed against the behaviours outlined in the job advertisement, alongside strength-based questions.
Further information will be provided to those who are invited to interview.
Timeline
Application sift is planned to be carried out W/C: 13th October 2025.
Interviews are planned to be carried out from the W/C: 27th October 2025.
Please be advised that the above dates are indicative only and are subject to change.
All candidates invited to interview will be asked to provide proof of qualification (where applicable) AND current membership before attending an interview, as well as ID Documentation.
Plagiarism
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Further Information
At the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.
Find out more about working for DWP on the DWP Careers Hub.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.
If you are placed on a reserve list but we cannot immediately offer you a post, please note:
* If you are later offered the role you applied for, in a location you have expressed a preference for, and you decline the offer or are unable to take up the post within a reasonable timeframe you will be withdrawn from the campaign and removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances (e.g. a contractual Part Time Working Pattern cannot be accommodated in the initial role offered or in cases of serious ill health).
* If DWP makes an offer of an alternative role or location to that which you originally applied for, and you decline that offer, you will be able to remain on the reserve list.
Disability Confident Scheme
If high application volumes are received, the benchmark for candidates to proceed to the next stage may be raised. In line with our commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS), we aim to advance all candidates applying under the DCS who meet the minimum standard. However, we may only progress those candidates who best meet the required standards.
Reasonable Adjustments
We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should contact the Government Recruitment Service via as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the "Reasonable Adjustments" section in the "Additional requirements" page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a Language Service Professional.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Integrity, plagiarism, Civil Service Principles and the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles.
Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words.
Examples of plagiarism can include:
* Presenting the work, ideas and experience of others as your own
* Copying content or answers from an online or published source that is not your own
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Disclosure and Barring Service and Internal Fraud Database Checks
To process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service or Disclosure Scotland on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre- stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment. A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check will be carried out.
Important
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
Before applying for this vacancy, current employees of DWP should check whether a successful application would result in changes to their terms & conditions of employment, e.g. mobility, pay, allowances. If you are a current employee and are successful you must be able to be released from your current post within four weeks.
Those on protected TUPE/ COSoP terms and conditions applying on promotion or voluntary permanent level move will adopt DWP's Terms and Conditions and this may have a different impact on pay and allowances. Please review this prior to acceptance of a role.
Civil Servants that would transfer into DWP from other government organisations, following successful application, will assume DWP's terms & conditions of employment current on the day they are posted, unless DWP has stated otherwise in writing. Accepting a post will be taken to mean acceptance of revised terms & conditions.
Civil Servants applying on promotion will usually be appointed to the salary minimum or within 10% of existing salary.
Any move to DWP from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may, however, be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at the Childcare Choices Website.
Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
* UK nationals
* nationals of the Republic of Ireland
* nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
* nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
* nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
* individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
* Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles .
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .
Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
* Name : Martijn Breden
* Email :
Recruitment team
* Email :
Further information
Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact DWP by email: HR..GOV.UK.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission. Click here to visit the Civil Service Commission.