Job summary
As the Senior Financial Accountant - Assets Under Construction / Fixed Assets / Cash Management, the post holder will use their expertise and experience to manage and maintain the assets under construction function working as part of the wider fixed asset team.
Assets under construction is a highly complex function at UKHSA, with large volumes of transactions, high value items, and significant judgemental areas. It will involve working across finance, as well as closely with the wider business, and is subject to significant external scrutiny.
The applicant will need to have a good understanding of the requirements of a complex asset development process, as well as the ability to review the quality of data and applying best practice to develop an end-to-end process.
This role will offer an opportunity to make significant changes to the way assets under construction are managed within UKHSA, with the capacity to develop and change processes to ensure the efficacy of the fixed asset function.
Fixed assets forms a small team of around 5 people, working within a larger financial accounting function. UKHSA is fully supportive of flexible working
Main duties of the job
Fixed assets is an area of significant complexity and spend within UKHSA. UKHSA has a large number of sites, with 5 main scientific sites and a significant number of offices. These sites must meet rigorous health and safety standards, while facilities manage sometimes aging infrastructure. In addition, UKHSA has significant intangible requirements, with internally generated software being constantly reviewed and updated.
All this means that there is constant, complex construction work on both tangible and intangible and correspondingly complex work to manage the assets under construction process from an accounting perspective.
Current assets under construction processes are out-dated, time-consuming and inefficient. Significant changes are required and a new process needs to be designed and implemented.
About us
We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.
UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.
Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers
Job description
Job responsibilities
Post-holders in the business are often stretched and it will be essential to design a modern, tech-based process that both minimises the effort required by the business. It will also be essential to design and implement controls that ensure compliance with the new process.
There is a backlog in processing assets under construction into the ledger which will need to be managed alongside the development and implementation of new procedures.
UKHSAs accounts were disclaimed in 2021-22 and 2022-23. This means the organisation is under significant audit scrutiny.
While this is a challenging role, financial accounts is a close-knit team, and the environment is supportive. There will be plenty of opportunities to develop ideas alongside colleagues in a collaborative way, while still allowing independent working.
As the Senior Financial Accountant Assets Under Construction / Fixed Assets / Cash Management, you will be expected to:
- Develop an end-to-end process / policy for the business to ensure all assets from projects that are complete are capitalised accurately and efficiently
- Work with stakeholders across the business to obtain the relevant information and embed best practice more widely outside finance.
- Develop and support the implementation of financial procedures, strategies, policies and solutions to help the organisation and its leaders operate a best practice delivery of its financial controls in relation to assets under construction, but also fixed assets more generally as required.
- Ensure all processes and policies adhere to accounting standards
- Be responsible for overseeing the annual asset verification exercise and the revaluation exercises.
- Be a key contact for internal & external auditors in respect of all asset and cash management queries.
- Provision of guidance and interpretation of UKHSA financial policy in relation to fixed assets, including the continuous improvement of such policies as aligned to best practice.
- Provision of technical accounting advice in relation to the implementation both of changes to accounting standards relating to fixed assets, and existing standards where UKHSAs approach needs updating.
- Manage cash forecasting as required by the organisation.
- Manage the cashflows to ensure that HM Treasury, Government Banking Service and Department of Health and Social Care regulations are adhered to at all times.
- Use the UKHSA cash forecast model to prepare and submit the monthly returns to the Department of Health and Social Care relating to cash balances held.
- Lead on other cash management requirements.
- Act as system administrator and initial point of contact for all banking software.
- Work with relevant departmental heads to ensure a coherent approach is observed with all related work and UKHSA meets audit and International Financial Reporting standards
Selection ProcessThis vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your qualifications, knowledge and experience and / or skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria.
Stage 1: Application & Sift
You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the below listed 8 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:
- Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
- 1000 word Statement of Suitability.
This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.
Please be aware that you will be assessed on the below listed 8 essential criteria, rather than the full list on the job description document.
The Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.
Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on qualifications and technical experience.
Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered . If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview and assessment.
Please do not exceed 1000 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2: Interview (competency based)
You will be invited to a remote interview.
Knowledge, experience, skills and abilities will be tested at interview.
Interviews will be held in January 2025. Please note, these dates are subject to change.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Location
This role is being offered as hybrid working based at either our Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool or London offices. We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month).
Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport link and benefit from benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).
Eligibility Criteria
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
Security Clearance Level Requirement
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Post-holders in the business are often stretched and it will be essential to design a modern, tech-based process that both minimises the effort required by the business. It will also be essential to design and implement controls that ensure compliance with the new process.
There is a backlog in processing assets under construction into the ledger which will need to be managed alongside the development and implementation of new procedures.
UKHSAs accounts were disclaimed in 2021-22 and 2022-23. This means the organisation is under significant audit scrutiny.
While this is a challenging role, financial accounts is a close-knit team, and the environment is supportive. There will be plenty of opportunities to develop ideas alongside colleagues in a collaborative way, while still allowing independent working.
As the Senior Financial Accountant Assets Under Construction / Fixed Assets / Cash Management, you will be expected to:
- Develop an end-to-end process / policy for the business to ensure all assets from projects that are complete are capitalised accurately and efficiently
- Work with stakeholders across the business to obtain the relevant information and embed best practice more widely outside finance.
- Develop and support the implementation of financial procedures, strategies, policies and solutions to help the organisation and its leaders operate a best practice delivery of its financial controls in relation to assets under construction, but also fixed assets more generally as required.
- Ensure all processes and policies adhere to accounting standards
- Be responsible for overseeing the annual asset verification exercise and the revaluation exercises.
- Be a key contact for internal & external auditors in respect of all asset and cash management queries.
- Provision of guidance and interpretation of UKHSA financial policy in relation to fixed assets, including the continuous improvement of such policies as aligned to best practice.
- Provision of technical accounting advice in relation to the implementation both of changes to accounting standards relating to fixed assets, and existing standards where UKHSAs approach needs updating.
- Manage cash forecasting as required by the organisation.
- Manage the cashflows to ensure that HM Treasury, Government Banking Service and Department of Health and Social Care regulations are adhered to at all times.
- Use the UKHSA cash forecast model to prepare and submit the monthly returns to the Department of Health and Social Care relating to cash balances held.
- Lead on other cash management requirements.
- Act as system administrator and initial point of contact for all banking software.
- Work with relevant departmental heads to ensure a coherent approach is observed with all related work and UKHSA meets audit and International Financial Reporting standards
Selection ProcessThis vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your qualifications, knowledge and experience and / or skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria.
Stage 1: Application & Sift
You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the below listed 8 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:
- Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
- 1000 word Statement of Suitability.
This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.
Please be aware that you will be assessed on the below listed 8 essential criteria, rather than the full list on the job description document.
The Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.
Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on qualifications and technical experience.
Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered . If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview and assessment.
Please do not exceed 1000 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2: Interview (competency based)
You will be invited to a remote interview.
Knowledge, experience, skills and abilities will be tested at interview.
Interviews will be held in January 2025. Please note, these dates are subject to change.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Location
This role is being offered as hybrid working based at either our Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool or London offices. We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month).
Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport link and benefit from benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).
Eligibility Criteria
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
Security Clearance Level Requirement
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard.
Person Specification
Essential Criteria
Essential
- CCAB Qualified (or finalist)
- A good understanding of the relevant financial reporting standards to assess the effects on non-current assets
- Technical experience of managing non-current assets for a large and complex organisation
- Proficient with financial reporting software and interrogating data.
- Ability to analyse and be judgmental while using own initiative to act appropriately in all situations.
- Ability to communicate effectively and clearly with financial and non-financial internal staff at all levels of seniority across the organisation to advise and support where necessary
- Ability to prioritise and manage a high-volume workload with timely decision making
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices
Person Specification
Essential Criteria
Essential
- CCAB Qualified (or finalist)
- A good understanding of the relevant financial reporting standards to assess the effects on non-current assets
- Technical experience of managing non-current assets for a large and complex organisation
- Proficient with financial reporting software and interrogating data.
- Ability to analyse and be judgmental while using own initiative to act appropriately in all situations.
- Ability to communicate effectively and clearly with financial and non-financial internal staff at all levels of seniority across the organisation to advise and support where necessary
- Ability to prioritise and manage a high-volume workload with timely decision making
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
