Senior Financial Accountant
Description
- Job grade: Senior Executive Officer
- Contract type: Permanent
- Business area: CH - Finance - Core Finance
- Type of role: Accountancy, Finance, Other
- Working pattern: Flexible working, Full-time, Compressed hours
- Number of jobs available: 2
Location
About the job
Job summary
Are you a qualified accountant with a passion for financial accounting and reporting?
Do you have experience of producing financial accounts with the confidence to make technical accounting judgements?
The roles will support the Chief Technical Accountant with the production and timely laying of the Companies House Annual Report and Accounts, alongside delivering high-quality monthly and year-end financial accounting. The role will cover key technical accounting areas, applying IFRS/IAS, FReM and Managing Public Money requirements. You will also support the external audit, maintain strong financial controls and work with stakeholders across Companies House to ensure accurate and timely financial reporting.
The role provides an opportunity to work closely with colleagues across Finance, including Finance Business Partners, Management Accounts, FP&A, Debt Management, as well as executive, operational, compliance and strategic teams across Companies House, to broaden your knowledge and experiences while ensuring our core financial accounting and Annual Report and Accounts (ARA) are robust and appropriately challenged.
Why choose Companies House?
At Companies House we take a proactive approach to wellbeing by promoting a welcoming culture, healthy work life balance and supporting colleagues to be their best in work because we know people are the key to our success.
Our benefits include:
- Flexible working with no core hours (between 6am and 8pm)
- 30 days annual leave
- 8 bank holidays & 1 privilege day
- Enrolment into the Civil Service Pension scheme, with an average employer contribution of 28%
Find out more about what a great place Companies House is to work.
Job description
Financial Accounting ensures that Companies House’s financial results are accurately reported in line with relevant accounting standards and government reporting requirements.
As a Senior Financial Accountant, you will manage key month-end and year-end activities, including journals, balance sheet reconciliations, financial controls and technical accounting matters. The role also contributes to the preparation of monthly Board reports.
A key part of the role will be supporting the Chief Technical Accountant with the production and timely laying of the Annual Report and Accounts, including the Agency Accounts and Trust Statement. You will help prepare financial statements and disclosures, working papers and audit evidence, while applying IFRS/IAS, FReM and Managing Public Money requirements.
In addition, the role plays a key part in ensuring the completeness and accuracy of financial data in line with NAO accounting requirements, supported by strong financial controls and robust evidence.
Specific responsibilities and day to day tasks include:
- Managing the monthly Financial Accounting timetable across relevant Companies House company codes, including journals, balance sheet reconciliations, reviews and delivery of monthly actuals in line with BIST and WGA reporting deadlines.
- Overseeing key financial accounting processes, including intangible assets and VAT, ensuring appropriate accounting treatment, robust reconciliations and supporting evidence.
- Preparing IFRS-compliant accounting models, reports and working papers for Late Filing Penalties and Powers and Sanctions penalty income, including supporting calculations, accounting judgements and financial reporting requirements.
- Supporting the Chief Technical Accountant with the production and timely laying of the Companies House Annual Report and Accounts (ARA), including preparing year-end accounting information, working papers, supporting schedules and audit evidence.
- Supporting the Chief Technical Accountant with drafting relevant financial statements and notes to the accounts, including supporting calculations and disclosures, and obtaining and assuring information from stakeholders.
- Interpreting and applying FReM, relevant IFRS requirements and Managing Public Money (MPM) to areas of responsibility, supporting technical accounting assessments and escalating complex or significant judgements to the Chief Technical Accountant.
- Managing the NAO external audit, including responding to audit queries and providing high-quality supporting evidence.
- Maintaining robust financial controls and audit trails, identifying risks and opportunities to improve financial accounting processes.
- Working collaboratively across Finance and the wider organisation to obtain, challenge and assure financial information required for monthly, statutory and wider government reporting, including Whole of Government Accounts (WGA) where required.
About the team
The Financial Accounting team sits within Finance & Commercial and is responsible for delivering high-quality financial accounting, statutory reporting and financial control across Companies House. We are a collaborative team working closely with colleagues across Finance and the wider organisation. Our work covers month-end and year-end reporting, production of the Annual Report and Accounts, external audit, technical accounting, fixed and intangible assets, leases, expected credit losses, revenue recognition and wider government reporting.
It is an exciting time to join the team, with an evolving financial and regulatory landscape, increasing technical accounting requirements and significant finance system transformation ahead. The team is also focused on building capability and sharing knowledge, providing opportunities to develop technical accounting expertise and gain experience across a broad range of financial reporting activities.
We value teamwork, continuous improvement and professional development, and encourage colleagues to share knowledge, challenge existing processes and work together to deliver high-quality outcomes.
Please note:
- You will be based at either our Cardiff, Edinburgh or Belfast office where you will be expected to attend on a regular basis.
- Companies House cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign.
- Due to the nature of the role and team structure, this is a full time position and the successful candidate will be required to work a full time working week, however, we can consider applications from those looking to work compressed hours.
- Applicants who are are progressed from sift to interview will be required to provide evidence of the required qualifications in advance of the interview taking place.
Person specification
We're looking for a Senior Financial Accountant with:
- Extensive accounting experience.
- Strong technical knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
- Experience of producing financial accounts and making technical accounting judgements, and then explaining those judgements to others.
- Extensive experience working in a finance role within a finance function, gained in either the private sector, public sector, or within Audit and Assurance services.
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to network and build relationships at all levels.
- Customer service empathy and focus and people management skills.
- Strong Excel and presentation skills.
- Extensive experience working in a finance role within a finance function, gained in either the private sector, public sector, or within Audit and Assurance services.
- At least two years of post‑qualification experience, demonstrating the ability to apply professional accounting knowledge in a complex financial environment.
Qualifications
If invited to interview, you'll be required to provide evidence of the qualifications required in advance of your interview. Please note we are not able to accept part qualifications or applications from those with the intention to study. Successful candidates will need to provide evidence of their fully qualified chartered accountant (CCAB, CIMA , or equivalent) qualification in order to progress to interview.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
- Managing a Quality Service
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Application of accounting standards and financial reporting requirements to the preparation of statutory financial accounts, including financial statements and disclosures.
Benefits
We believe that our success is driven by the well-being and satisfaction of our team members at all levels of the organisation. At Companies House we’re committed to providing a comprehensive benefits package that goes beyond the ordinary, ensuring your career journey with us is not only fulfilling, but also rewarding. We pride ourselves on offering a quality work-life balance with our employee wellbeing being central to our working practices.
Head to Our benefits - Working for us - Recruitment (companieshouse.gov.uk) to find out more about the fantastic benefits package we have at Companies House.
We celebrate diversity...
As an equal opportunity employer, we celebrate diversity, being committed to ensuring we’re representative of the citizens we serve and creating an inclusive environment. Everyone in Companies House brings something different, and so will you. To fulfil our commitment to recruiting and attracting diverse talent we welcome applications from underrepresented groups. We also welcome applications from Welsh speakers.
We are proud to be a disability confident leader. Our recruitment process is fully inclusive and we can make adjustments as needed through our process. These could include having an interview buddy, extra time at interviews/assessments and receiving interview questions in advance, to name a few.
If you require any reasonable adjustments at application stage, or if you'd like to discuss any person-centred adjustments, please contact us by emailing [email protected].
Read our 'Applying under the Disability Confidence Scheme (DCS)' guide to find out how to successfully complete an application under the Disability Confidence Scheme (DCS).
Where will you be working?
You will be based at either our Cardiff, Edinburgh or Belfast office where you will be expected to attend on a regular basis. We are currently using a hybrid approach to the way we work which provides opportunities for you to be adaptable in the way you work so that you can achieve a healthy balance between your work and home life. The degree of choice you have will depend on your role and your day-to-day work activities. Your manager will agree regular patterns of attendance with you, however you may be required to make yourself available to attend the office more frequently when required to meet business needs. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.
Things you need to know
Artificial intelligence
Selection process details
Key dates (dates are indicative only and could be subject to change)
- Closing date - 22nd November 2026, at 23:55
- Sifting - w/c 23rd November 2026
- Interviews - w/c 30th November 2026, on Microsoft Teams
Communications will be electronic via email therefore it is important that you check your Civil Service Jobs account regularly, as well as your spam/junk email folder.
What will the process look like?
1. Application
In your application form we’d like you to:
- Tell us about your employment history, including any key responsibilities, achievements and qualifications relevant to the role. Please tell us in this section about your: Fully qualified chartered accountant: CCAB, CIMA, or equivalent qualification.
- Write a personal statement of 750 words where you demonstrate how you meet the skills required for this role, providing examples to evidence your experience and level of skill. In your personal statement we are looking for evidence of the following:
- Extensive experience working in a finance role within a finance function, gained in either the private sector, public sector, or within Audit and Assurance services.
- Extensive accounting experience.
We’re committed to being diverse and inclusive, so please make your application anonymous by removing all identifying personal information (such as names and dates) from your employment history and personal statement.
You should aim to make use of the full wordcount in each section of your application and show how you meet the above criteria. Please give clear and specific examples of what you have done personally and the impact it has had.
Further guidance on how to write your personal statement can be found here.
2. Sift
Once the advert has closed we will sift applications - this involves reading through them all, please bear with us as this can take some time. The panel will look at all elements of your application for evidence of the sift criteria.
We may raise the score required if we receive a high number of applications. We may also choose to take through the highest performing candidates to the next stage. If, after the final stage is completed and roles are unfilled, we will proceed to invite lower scoring candidates to interview.
Also, if we receive a high volume of applications, we may carry out a pre-sift and will look at your application for evidence of: Extensive experience working in a finance role within a finance function, gained in either the private sector, public sector, or within Audit and Assurance services. Those applications which are successful at pre-sift stage will then progress to the main sift, where we'll read and score the rest of your application.
3. Interview
Successful candidates from the sift stage will be invited to attend a virtual interview, which will be conducted using Microsoft Teams.
You'll be required to provide evidence of the qualifications required in advance of your interview. Please note we are not able to accept part qualifications or applications from those with the intention to study. Successful candidates will need to provide evidence of their fully qualified chartered accountant (CCAB, CIMA , or equivalent) qualification
Companies House uses a blended interview technique, allowing us to find out more about you. We use the Success Profile framework and during the interview stage we will be assessing Behaviours, Technical Skills and Strengths.
The interview will include:
- Technical assessment - this will be in relation to accounting standards and will assess the Technical Skill: Application of accounting standards and financial reporting requirements to the preparation of statutory financial accounts, including financial statements and disclosures. Further details will be provided to candidates who are invited to interview.
- Main panel Q&A - after the technical assessment, we'll move onto the main Q&A section of the interview where candidates will be asked questions relating to:
- Behaviours: Seeing the Big Picture, Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Managing a Quality Service
- Strengths: Not shared in advance as we want to see your first, natural response
4 . Offer
Once all interviews have been completed, you will be notified of the outcome. Offers will be made in strict merit order. The lead criteria to distinguish between tied candidates will be the technical assessment, which is assessing the Technical Skill: Application of accounting standards and financial reporting requirements to the preparation of statutory financial accounts, including financial statements and disclosures.
A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles (of the same or lower grade). Subject to business need, if a suitable position opens during this time we may reach out to individuals in merit order.
Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of recruitment based on fair and open competition with decisions made on the basis of merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles.
Security
Successful candidates must pass a Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) check before they can be appointed.
BPSS is an entry level security check. It uses the Police National Computer (PNC) to make sure a candidate has no convictions. The check returns evidence of any current criminal record and un-spent convictions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
Sponsorship
Companies House cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. Companies House holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify. Should you apply for this role and require sponsorship, your application may be rejected, and any provisional offers of employment withdrawn.
Pre-Employment Checking
In line with Government guidance, successfully appointed candidates will need to provide documents for our Right to Work checks.
From June 2026, applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). Your personal details (name, National Insurance number, and date of birth) will be checked against the Civil Service Resourcing Extract 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.
If your details appear on this database, you will not be offered employment unless you can demonstrate exceptional circumstances. Companies House, acting on behalf of the vacancy holder, will inform you if your application is refused for this reason.
Please note: You are 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.
Nationality statement
As part of our recruitment process, it is essential for all candidates to independently verify their eligibility to work in the UK before applying. This includes a thorough check of your right to work to ensure compliance with UK employment laws, being mindful of the recent changes to going rates detailed on GOV.UK.
Please ensure you have the necessary documentation and permissions in place. Our team is dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce and encourages applicants from all backgrounds to apply. However, it is the candidate's responsibility to ensure they meet the UK's legal requirements to work.
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
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
Further information
[email protected]
Civil Service Commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road SW1A 2HQ
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