JOB DESCRIPTION
Business Area
NORTHERN IRELAND OFFICE
Role Title
Financial Accountant
Terms of Appointment
Permanent
Grade
SEO
Location
Northern Ireland or London
Erskine House, 20-32 Chichester St, Belfast BT1 4GF
or
1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ
Occasional travel between Belfast and London will be
required.
Vacancy Manager
Rebecca Best
Applications Invited From
External Candidates and Existing Civil Servants on
level transfer and promotion
New entrants to the Civil Service will be expected to join on the minimum of the pay
range.
Existing Civil Servants will have their salary calculated in accordance with the
Department’s pay on transfer / pay on promotion rules.
The national starting salary is £42,914. The London starting salary is £49,325. Your
salary will be dependent on your base location
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:https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/northern-ireland-office
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice.
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 NIO’s 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 NIO’s input into the whole of Government
Accounts (WGA) and provide support to the forecasting of the department’s 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 NIO’s 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 NIO’s 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 NIO’s 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:
1. Part qualified accountant CCAB, CIMA or equivalent.
2. Demonstrable experience of design and implementation of new financial
processes and controls.
3. 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.
4. Demonstrable experience of supporting the delivery of the annual accounts
production process.
Version 1/20 (HCS)
DESIRABLE CRITERIA:
1. Qualified with CCAB, CIMA or equivalent (ICAEW, ACCA, CIPFA, ICAS,
Chartered Accountants Ireland)
2. 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 don’t 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 don’t 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 (www.gov.uk)
The vetting charter - GOV.UK (www.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 rebecca.best@nio.gov.uk.
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 Commission’s
Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel a department has
breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles.
Please contact SSCL (Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@sscl.gse.gov.uk) 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:
http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitment/complaints/
https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/code/
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
MoJ-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com 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
everyone’s 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 NIO’s 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
Networks
The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide
advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be
expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of
minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities,
women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.
Support
● A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours
or job share.
● Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and
discounts on a range of goods and services.
● For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can
have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You
may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes,
including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on GOV.UK or
Childcare
Choices.
You
can
determine
your
eligibility
at
https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
● Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
● Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.
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. Should you feel that the recruitment
process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint
in the following order
● To Shared Service Connected Ltd (0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm)
or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com);
● To
Ministry
of
Justice
Resourcing
team
(resourcing-management-office@justice.gov.uk);
● To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)
As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to providing everyone with the
opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments
throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. We are able to
offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except
in a limited number of campaigns.
For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term
condition, please see our Disability Confident Scheme Frequently Asked Questions
webpage.
You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the
application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please
contact the SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team.
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 & 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.
Interview dates
Date(s) TBC
Closing Date:
9th March 2026, 23:55 hours.
Contact information
If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm)
or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com