Accountant

This contract with our government client is for an Accountant for 4 months based in Newcastle 50% Hybrid. The pay rate to candidate is £550 Per day Umbrella Rate.  

This critical role will sit across the three teams within the Agency’s Finance Directorate, reporting to the Assistant Director – Finance Transformation. The Finance directorate is in the process of implementing a new finance system which will require input from the Business as Usual teams on top of their day to day activities. This role will “float” across the three areas (Strategic Finance and Business Partnering, Transaction Services, Financial Reporting) to enable team members to focus on the future, for short periods of time, whilst some of their day to day tasks are covered.  

The key focus of the role is to support the Business as Usual Finance team to enable them to devote time to the transformation project without compromising on the Agency’s day to day requirements from its Finance Teams. This could mean covering of a senior manager in the Transaction services team, to ensure the daily payment runs are processed properly, or helping the Investments accounting team with running the monthly ECL models.  

Key accountabilities and responsibilities  

This exciting and challenging role sits at the heart of the Agency’s Finance function and responsibilities could include:  

• Contributing to the management of the accounts payable function  

• Contributing to the management of the accounts receivable function  

• Contributing towards the Agency’s budgeting, forecasting planning and cash management processes, working cross functionally to influence stakeholders.  

• Contributing towards the preparation of monthly, quarterly and annual financial accounting information for inclusion in annual accounts and quarterly consolidation returns to the Agency’s sponsor department, including all required disclosures under IFRS.  

• Contributing towards the organization, co-ordination and preparation of both the Annual Report and Financial Statement elements of the annual year end statutory reporting to be laid in Parliament. This requires significant planning and crucial communication with both the Department and the National Audit Office to meet tight deadlines as set out by Treasury.  

• Contributing to the monthly review of in year forecasts through challenge sessions, providing analysis and insight,  

• Contributing to the key fiscal events (Spending Reviews) ensuring business cases are underpinned by robust financial models and assumptions, including the necessary level of resource to underpin delivery plans.  

• Contributing to the grant in aid processes, including draw down of funds, cash management and reporting.  

• Establish and maintain strong and effective relationships across Finance Directorate (particularly with Finance Business Partners and the Financial Reporting and Accounts Team) to ensure smooth flow of management information.

Prospective applicants will need to:  

• be CCAB qualified;  

• have considerable experience of working in a finance or finance adjacent role in a large and or complex organization;  

• demonstrate strong analytical skills, an eye for detail and the ability to find a way through complex problems;  

• be comfortable operating at pace and in ambiguity.  

Prospective applications should ideally:  

• have a good understanding of the complexities of Government budgeting and accounting rules;  

Excellent analytical and communication skills will be required as well as a “can do” attitude to cover whatever is required. An ability to build and maintain effective and collaborative working relationships across the Agency is also essential.