About the job

Job summary

We are looking for a Finance Apprentice to join the Finance Office at House of Lords. This is an exciting position for someone who is keen to develop their career by studying towards a financial qualification, whilst gaining practical experience in multiple functions and teams including Financial Accounting and Finance Business Partnering.

This is an opportunity to work on a hybrid basis, with the opportunity to work from home between 1-2 days per week and spend the rest of the week on-site at Parliament! This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who enjoys variety within their work tasks, working flexibly across different teams and learning new skills within a supportive environment.

The successful candidate will be able to choose either the ACCA or CIMA pathway for the qualification part of the apprenticeship. You will complete your studies while working within the team, with support from experienced colleagues and an assigned mentor.

Job description

You’ll be accountable for –

• Assisting with the production of Annual Resource Accounts and Annual Reports
• Processing accruals and prepayments.
• Month-end and year-end control account reconciliations including bank reconciliations.
• Assisting with monitoring cash and where necessary requesting top-up funding
• Supporting the payments team to ensure payments are made by set deadlines.
• Supporting budget holders in the preparation of Medium-Term Financial Plans, including assisting with pay calculations and budget profiling.
• Working with budget holders and managers to obtain accurate in-year forecast outturns, challenging assumptions where appropriate and feeding into reports.
• Accounting for shared services provided by the House of Commons and the Parliamentary Digital Service.

 

If this sounds like something you would like to hear more about, please apply below.

Person specification

What we’re looking for

• Finance experience and technical Skills – Experience of operating in a financial environment, with an understanding of basic accounting and ability to explain clearly why they are needed; ability to proficiently use financial systems and Microsoft Office applications, in particular Excel.

• Time Management - Organisational and time management skills and ability to prioritise tasks to meet deadlines.  
• Accuracy and problem solving- Strong attention to detail and able to undertake tasks required to a high level of accuracy; the ability to identify problems and risks and propose solutions, seeking guidance and support from senior management, where appropriate.
• Communication skills - Clear and accurate oral, written, and online communications skills with the ability to present information concisely and adapt style appropriately for different audiences.
• Team Building - Ability to work as part of a team, demonstrating reliability, a flexible approach to work, and a high level of initiative. 

It would be even better if you had or are willing to learn…

• An understanding of the public sector financial framework as it applies in central government;
• Experience of Agresso Business World.

The job description provides full details about the role and what we are looking for.

Benefits

What you’ll get in return

• 30 days annual leave (increasing to 35 after one years’ service)
• Generous pension scheme
• Discounts from well-known brands and retailers
• Parliamentary health and wellbeing programme
• The opportunity to witness history in the making!

The work we do is vital to House of Lords, and you will be a pivotal member in the team strengthening the work of the House. The House of Lords is the second chamber of the UK parliament. It is independent from and complements the work of the House of Commons to:

• Make laws
• Check and challenge the actions of the government through questions and debates
• Investigate public policy and provide a forum of independent expertise

Things you need to know

Selection process details

Please complete your online application by 23.55pm on Sunday 14th January 2024.

If you require any reasonable adjustments during the application process, please contact hlrecruitment@parliament.uk.  

Job offers are standardly offered at the minimum of the salary range.

The House of Lords Administration is committed to increasing diversity and maintaining an inclusive workplace culture. We welcome applications from all candidates regardless of their age, caring responsibilities, disability, gender/sex, gender reassignment/trans status, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation and socio-economic status. The Administration will also consider flexible working arrangements and reasonable adjustments.

We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds. For this role we particularly welcome applications from groups which are currently underrepresented within the team, including applications from Black, Asian and ethnic minority candidates and candidates with disabilities.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). 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.