About the job

Job summary

HM Treasury

If you’re interested in making a difference to people’s lives, the Treasury can offer you an exciting opportunity to influence decision making that affects the whole of the UK. Working at the heart of government, we collaborate across government to promote responsible public spending and drive strong and sustainable economic growth.  

Our work ranges from protecting customers through the regulation of the financial sector, helping to reduce carbon emissions and creating a greener economy, to promoting British trade around the world and supporting people across the country on jobs, growth and more.  

HM Treasury is proud of a diverse and inclusive work environment, committed to fairness and the promotion of equality of opportunity for all. We know that having a range of experiences, ways of working and thinking makes us stronger and better at developing policy that reflects the needs of every community. We embrace different views and experiences and value the new perspective that people from a variety of circumstances bring to the work we do. We welcome applications from candidates who have not previously worked for the Civil Service, mid- and late-career changers with transferrable skills, people from all backgrounds and circumstances regardless of disability, gender, age ethnicity, LGBT+ identity and socio-economic status.  

We are part of the Darlington Economic Campus, a pioneering new cross-government hub which brings people together to play an active role in the most important issues of the day whilst working closer to the communities we serve. The campus provides the opportunity for people from all over the UK to help shape the future of the country, and our flexible working practices ensure you can collaborate effectively with our partners. It’s central government, made more accessible to you! 

Job description

About the Group

The Public Spending Group has a high-profile role in Government, setting the Government’s overall spending plans and ensuring they deliver value for money for the taxpayer. We are responsible for reporting to Parliament and the public on how taxpayers’ money is spent. We drive forward improved outcomes and efficiency in public services and enhance the value for money of decision-making through better evaluation, data and analysis.

We advise on overall government policy on public sector pay and pensions, the biggest single driver of public spending. We collaborate with and directly support departments to deliver the Government Finance Function strategy, building finance capability across government and developing the management information, tools and frameworks to better understand and ensure value for money.

About the Team

Government Financial Reporting (GFR) is a friendly and supportive team that sits within HM Treasury’s Public Spending Group and prides itself in developing professional technical expertise and working collaboratively with its wide range of partners. It leads on a number of critical finance ministry functions including:

• Developing financial reporting and management guidance and frameworks for central government and the wider UK public sector.
• Producing Whole of Government Accounts, the UK public sector’s annual consolidated IFRS financial statements.
• Producing major financial and statistical publications, including Public Expenditure Statistical Analysis and Country and Regional Analysis.
• Providing advice to government departments and HM Treasury Spending Teams (who manage the Treasury’s spending relationship with other government departments) on complex or novel transactions; and financial reporting and statistical classification requirements.
• Managing relationships with key independent external partners, including the National Audit Office, the Office for National Statistics, the Financial Reporting Advisory Board (FRAB), and a number of accounting standards bodies both in the UK and internationally.

GFR comprises around 30 members of staff and provides exposure to a wide range of colleagues across the Government Finance Function, as well as working on areas of emerging policy and risk management within government. We are a dynamic team, and we fully support learning, development and growth.

Key accountabilities of the role

The Head of Group Financial Reporting is an exciting, high profile role in the team. This role leads a team of 10 to produce Whole of Government Accounts (“WGA”), a complex, internationally recognised set of Group financial statements for the entire UK public sector. WGA consolidates the accounts of over 10,000 entities from a range of industries across the public sector, including central government, local government, and public corporations. The role involves leading a team of 10 to prepare and publish the annual WGA Group financial statements, lead strategic policy development for WGA, and support broader engagement on WGA with both internal and external partners.

Key accountabilities for this role include:

• Lead the delivery and publication of the annual Whole of Government Accounts, leading a team of 10 to plan and deliver in line with agreed timescales and to a high quality standard in line with key technical guidance such as the HM Treasury Financial Reporting Manual (FReM).
• Ensure technical accounting compliance and that a robust financial control framework is in place to assure delivery of the accounts.
• Lead the service of the annual external audit, working collaboratively with the National Audit Office to ensure the accounts are published on time.
• Lead a programme of improvements to financial processes, including using digital and data tools to drive efficiency, quality and insight across the team.
• Build effective relationships with key external partners including the National Audit Office, the HM Treasury Audit and Risk Committee, devolved administrations, accounting institutes and consolidated finance teams. Prepare and deliver briefing to senior officials for Parliamentary hearings.
• Lead strategic policy development and partner engagement for WGA, to ensure WGA meets the needs of users of the accounts and the benefits of WGA can be maximised.

Candidate Drop-In Session 
 
We will be running a candidate drop-in session for this role to give you greater insight about the role as well as the chance to learn more about HM Treasury and the recruitment process. If you would like to join us, then use the appropriate link below to join the call at the right time. 

Monday 13th May at 2pm Join the meeting now

If you would like to speak to the hiring manager informally prior to the closing date for applications to find out more about the job, please contact Charlotte Goodrich Deputy Director for Government Financial Reporting on charlotte.goodrich@hmtreasury.gov.uk  

Person specification

About your Application

Your application will consist of a CV and a 1,000 word personal statement.

Your CV should consist of your career history, including any key achievements in each role. Your CV will not be scored, but instead will be used to provide further context on your personal statement, and support conversations at interview.

Your personal statement should demonstrate evidence of how you meet the criteria listed below:

• Strong technical finance skills, including extensive knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standards and financial statements
• Ability to organise and lead the delivery of a complex finance project/process
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with a proven track record in working confidently across teams to develop effective working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders
• Ability to provide leadership and support to individuals working in a technical and complex finance area

Required Qualifications

• Professional Accountancy Qualification (CCAB or equivalent)

These criteria have been identified as the essential skills or experience for the role, so it is important that you include evidence to demonstrate you have the skills or experience we are looking for. You should not include any personal identifying information within your CV or personal statement.

Please review the Candidate FAQ document that is attached to the advert for more guidance on how to complete your application form.

Candidate Guidance Support Session 
 
We will be running an overview of Success Profiles and the STAR approach; top tips for the application and interview process and an opportunity to ask general questions around our recruitment practices. If you would like to join us, then use the link below to join the call at the right time. 

Wednesday 15th May at 12:45pm: Click here to join the meeting

At interview stage, you will be assessed on the below criteria: 

• Technical Skills
• Strengths
• Behaviours:
  • Leadership
  • Changing and Improving
  • Working Together
  • Making Effective Decisions

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £64,160, HM Treasury contributes £17,323 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

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

Recruitment Timeline 

Closing date: Monday 27th May 2024 

Shortlisting: From 28th May 2024

Interviews:  w/c 17th June 2023

This timeline is indicative and may be subject to change. We will inform you if there is a substantial change to the recruitment timeline. 

If your contact details change at any time during the selection process, please ensure you update your Civil Service Jobs Profile. 

Please note that only applications submitted through Civil Service Jobs will be accepted.

Location-Based Reserve Lists 

You will be placed on a reserve list if your application is successful, but we cannot offer you a post immediately. Where more than one location has been advertised, candidates will be approached for roles in merit order according to the first preferred location stated on your application form. 

Please note that a place on the reserve list does not guarantee an offer. We would still encourage you to apply for other HM Treasury opportunities that you are interested in. If you are offered a role in your first preferred location and you decline the offer or you are unable to take up the post within a reasonable timeframe, you will be removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances. 

Eligibility Statement  

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role in the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government. Checks will be performed as part of pre-employment checks in line with this. Please refer to the Candidate FAQ document attached to the advert for more information. 

Individuals appointed to the Treasury Group will be subject to National Security Vetting. To allow for meaningful checks to be carried out applicants will normally need to have lived in the UK for at least 3 out of the past 5 years. A lack of UK residency in itself is not always a bar to security clearance but the Department will need to consider eligibility on a case by case basis using all information that can be obtained following a successful application. 

Everyone working with government assets must complete Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks.  

For many roles, security clearance is also required. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements of the role before they can be appointed. The level of security clearance required for this role is Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) 

Please read the Vetting Charter for information on what to expect during the vetting process and what will be expected from you.  

Many areas of your life may be explored during your vetting journey, and it is important that every individual, regardless of their background and experiences, should feel comfortable going through this personal process, whilst having confidence that it is fair, proportionate, and inclusive.  

These short videos address common concerns and preconceptions which applicants may have about national security vetting.  

If you have questions relating to security clearances, please contact HMTSecurityVetting@hmtreasury.gov.uk

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

Security

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. 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.