About the job

Job summary

We recognise the challenges that people with protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including ethnic minorities, people with a disability, and people with gender diverse identities.  

Do you enjoy collaborating with others to deliver effective results?

Are you studying to gain an accounting qualification and want a role where you can develop your current skills in accounting?

If you’re looking for an exciting and varied role this is the opportunity for you! We can’t wait to hear from you!

Job description

This role is at the heart of the Department for Transport’s financial accounts team. You will be assisting in the production of the financial statements for the DfT Core department. The DfT accounts are laid in Parliament each year and attract a high level of Parliamentary and media interest. The DFT accounts were included in HM Treasury’s best practice examples for 2021/22.

The post holder will support the preparation of the Core Department accounts at both interim (quarter 2 and 3) and at year-end, requiring detailed analysis to produce the main financial statements and notes to the accounts in accordance with guidance from HM Treasury.

Responsibilities

Support of DFT Account.

• Assist in the preparation of the quarterly Departmental Accounts, preparing detailed working papers as required to produce the main financial statements and notes to the accounts.
• Contribute to minimising the risk of a qualified audit opinion. You will support the completion of the NAO (National Audit Office) disclosure checklist, gathering clear and supportive information in line with accounting standards to deadline.
• Collaborate with contributors in Group Finance.
• Work flexibly to provide support across the Financial Accounting team. 

Balance sheet analysis.

• Prepare the quarterly balance sheet analysis of DfT Core.
• Provide the quarterly balance sheet analysis to the Finance Business Partners.
• Facilitate the quarterly balance sheet review meetings.
• Make adjustment to the DfT Core Financial system where appropriate.
• Spot and engage opportunities for improvements.
• Demonstrate an aptitude for financial systems.
• Be confident in using Microsoft Word and Excel. 

Working collaboratively with stakeholders

• Support other areas of the Financial Accounting & Control team as required by workflow priorities of the overall team.
• Engage effectively with key stakeholders in the wider finance community within DfT and external partner organisations.
• Work collaboratively in an integrated and interdependent way to improve financial capability and understanding across the organisation.

For more information, please see the attached Role Profile.

Person specification

About you

To be successful you will need to be someone who has experience of working within an accounting/auditing role. Using your knowledge and skills to effectively deliver high quality work against timelines.

You will have good communication and influencing skills and a proven track record of working together with customers and stakeholders to deliver results.

Additional Information 

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace, although requirements to attend other locations for official business, or carry out detached duty in another DfT workplace, will also count towards this level of attendance.  

Occasional travel to other DfT offices will be required to attend team events.

Benefits

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits. We offer generous annual leave, attractive pension options, flexible working, inclusive working environments and much more to support a healthy work/life balance.

Find out more about what it's like working at the Department for Transport.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

How to Apply  

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

After submission of the first stage of your application (personal details) you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Numerical test. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application (CV and Personal Statement).

If you are successful at both the application and Civil Service Numerical test you will be invited to an interview.

Please complete the online test as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the test and submission of the full application is 23:55 on 18th March 2024. If you fail to complete the online test and the CV and Personal Statement before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The test is administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.

You will be asked to provide a CV and Personal Statement (750 words). Please tailor your CV to suit the role. For your Personal Statement, please include, in detail, evidence of the following:

• Your experience of effectively communicating with and influencing stakeholders to deliver results
• Your experience working within finance accounting
• Your stage, to date, of progress within your chosen professional body

Within your personal statement please also provide details of which accounting related qualification you are currently studying towards.

The sift is due to take place 19th-21st March 2024.

Interviews are likely to be held from 8th April 2024.

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates. 

This interview could be conducted online via Teams or face to face at one of our offices. Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.  

You’re encouraged to become familiar with the role profile, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within. 

The Department for Transport alongside other Government Departments recruit using Success Profiles. This means for each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate in order to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity. 

For further information on Success Profiles visit our Careers website. 

Reasonable Adjustments 

As a Disability Confident Leader employer, DfT is committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. 

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional. 

If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. 

Document Accessibility

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email DRGComms@dft.gov.uk for assistance.

Further Information

For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.

Pre-employment Checking

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.

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) (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

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window). 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.