Ministry of housing, communities and local government
Projects and Systems Accountant
Job Description
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Salary
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Type of role
Corporate Finance
Finance
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Contents
Location
About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
Apply and further information
Location
About the job
Job summary
As a key member of our finance team, reporting to the Financial Controller, you will have exposure to the whole organisation, providing information and analysis for strategic and operational decision making, informing options appraisals and undertaking financial modelling. In addition to this you will work with the finance team to understand the implications of financial systems changes and co-ordinate with digital colleagues on systems testing.
The Planning Inspectorate has a long and proud history in ensuring a fair planning system for England. The work we do has a significant impact on people’s lives, the communities where they live and the economy.
We want our colleagues to be able to work more flexibly and more collaboratively, exploring new and innovative ways to improve the way we provide services.
For further information on the Planning Inspectorate, please see the information pack attached. You can also view our careers page at Civil Service Careers
Job description
As a fully qualified accountant holding full membership of a CCAB body or CIMA, you will be a pro-active problem solver with professional curiosity, along with the ability to build effective relationships around the business and understand operational issues and requirements. You will grasp what the financial implications of a project are and understand the information requirements of managers to enable a sound decision to be made, developing models and processes to enable appropriate analysis and reports to be produced for senior audiences.
On a typical day you may work with operational teams to devise an appropriate fee structure to ensure the full recovery of cost. You may put together a costed set of options, presenting it to senior managers, clearly setting out what decisions need to be made. Or you may work with the finance team to review proposed changes to the financial system by our parent department, understand how it will affect the team’s operations and liaise with appropriate internal and external contacts to ensure any changes occur with the minimum of disruption.
For full information on the role and assessment process please refer to the candidate pack attached.
Office Attendance
This role is contractually based at Temple Quay House, Bristol which is currently out of use due to undergoing refurbishment work. In the interim, we have the use of alternative office space in very close proximity to Bristol Temple Meads railway station. We recognise and value the mutual benefits of hybrid working and have a flexible approach to in person attendance, which can vary dependent on the requirements of individual business units – the details of which can be discussed with candidates if invited to attend an interview.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
- Full professional qualification in accountancy CCAB or CIMA with current membership of a professional body.
- Experience of building financial models in a financial modelling role that required understanding of financial and accounting concepts or project finance within public sector/civil service.
- Positive approach, with strong analytical and interpretive skills and the ability to think through a problem, applying a logical, methodology to develop a solution even under time pressure.
- Excellent project management skills.
- Vigilance and sustained attention to detail.
- Ability to quickly assimilate and apply new techniques and knowledge.
- Strong relationship/stakeholder management skills with the ability to persuade, influence and motivate others to engage actively in good financial management.
- Describe complex technical issues in a clear non-technical way and utilize excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Desirable Criteria
- Working with SAP and outsourced shared service centres.
- Implementation of new accounting systems.
Qualifications
Memberships
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Changing and Improving
- Communicating and Influencing
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Delivering at Pace
Benefits
- Flexible working options, including flexi-time, part-time, compressed hours and home working if suitable for the role.
- A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity.
- 25 days annual leave increasing by 1 day per year up to 30 days after 5 years, plus 1 privilege day to mark the King’s birthday. In addition to the normal bank holidays.
- Generous family friendly policies.
- Fast and modern IT kit which utilises Windows 10 and Microsoft 365, enabling seamless working from home and collaboration across teams.
For full information see our Benefits information pack.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application
We are partnering with Prospectus Recruitment Agency on this vacancy, please apply via their website: Project and Systems Accountant – Prospectus Recruitment Agency
A CV: The CV section is an opportunity for you to detail your career history. It should outline the jobs you have done, the length of time you were employed within each role and a brief description of your role, responsibilities and duties which demonstrate relevance to the role you are applying for against the essential criteria.
We will assess your application on the evidence you have provided against the Essential Criteria and experience detailed in the Person Specification in the candidate pack.
All shortlisted candidates will be advised of the outcome shortly afterwards.
Interview:
If you are shortlisted,
- You will be asked to attend an interview to have a more in-depth discussion about your experience and suitability for the role
- Interviews will be a blend of behaviour, strength and experience questions
- You wil need to prepare and deliver a presentation
Candidates who are successful at shortlist stage will be sent full assessment requirements with their interview invitations.
Other Information:
Shortlist Date: w/c 10th February 2025
Interview Date: w/c 24th February 2025
Interviews are currently being completed remotely using Microsoft Teams. We would like to reassure candidates that the virtual interview will not be recorded (or retained) within the Planning Inspectorate, other than usual interview protocol and in line with the Civil Service jobs Privacy notice.
We encourage all candidates to make themselves familiar with the role and what we will be assessing you against which is detailed in the Person Specification.
The Planning Inspectorate is committed to finding the right person for the job. We recruit using Success Profiles and consider the criteria you will need to demonstrate to be successful for the role, by doing this we are pushing up performance, diversifying our workforce and creating an inclusive culture.
ID and Documents
If specific qualifications/memberships are essential for the role and you are successful, you will be asked to provide accurate scanned or photographed images of the qualifications/memberships that you listed on your application prior to your start date.
We must check that any successful candidates are allowed to work for the Civil Service before we employ them. If successful, you will be asked to do a right to work check using identity document validation technology (IDVT) through the services of an Identity Service Provider (IDSP), Civil Service Jobs. If we are unable to confirm your right to work and through the IDVT we will need to do a manual right to work check using original documents with you in person.
Visa Sponsorship
The Planning Inspectorate cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates, we do not hold a Visa sponsorship licence.
Disability Confident Interview scheme
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. We run a Disability Confident Interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria for the job.
To be considered for an interview under the scheme you must:
- have a disability defined by the Equality Act 2010
- provide evidence in your application that you meet the minimum criteria in the job description
- meet all of the qualifications, skills or experience defined as essential
While we will endeavour to provide you with all the appropriate information, you are the expert on your specific requirements so if you require any adjustments, you should consider the information provided about the assessment process in the candidate pack and then:
- Complete the “Assistance required” 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. The earlier and more clearly you tell us what you need and why you need it, the more likely we are to be able to accommodate you in a timely fashion.
All Planning Inspectorate colleagues must meet the baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window). This is a series of basic security checks to confirm identity and employment history.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
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) (opens in a new window)
- 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 (opens in a new window)
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Recruitment team
Further information
If you are not satisfied with the response, you receive you should then contact, Head of HR, via the Recruitment Team (PINS.Recruitment@planninginspectorate.gov.uk).
If you are still not satisfied with the response you receive from the Planning Inspectorate, you can contact the Office of the Civil Service Commission. https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/recruitment-complaints/