Job summary

The Insolvency Service is a leading Government agency which plays a crucial role in providing essential services to the public and to business. The work we do is important to the proper functioning of markets, the economy in general and support for thousands of people each year who are in financial difficulty.

Inclusive and diverse teams are important to us. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups underrepresented in our workforce. The Insolvency Service strives to ensure that the agency is a safe, inclusive, and welcoming place for everybody to bring their true self to work and to help the agency to achieve its diversity objectives. We have 9 active employee network groups available to join or become an ally, these include, Carers Network, Disability network group, Employee Assistance, Representatives, FACES Network Group, LGBT+, Mind Matters, Part Time Workers, The Shed - Men’s Network Group and Women’s Network Group.

We offer full-time, part-time, job share and flexible ways of working. We value capability, technical skills and experience and we place great emphasis on lifetime development to support our people. We encourage our employees to become more involved in areas they feel strongly about, whether it be for the benefit of the agency, though our Engagement network or in their own local communities via volunteering opportunities.

The Insolvency Service is a great place to work, learn and grow your career!

The Insolvency Services (“White Paper”) Account provides a statement of receipt and payments and analysis of fund balances realised from insolvencies and bankruptcies. These funds, net of statutory fees, are then distributed to creditors.

The role will be in support of the accurate production of this statutory account and maintenance of reconciliations and assurance processes.

All receipts and payments relating to insolvencies and bankruptcies are made from this account and supported by a case management system. You will work with colleagues from other parts of the agency to ensure the information held in systems reflects operational activity and can be reported accurately.

There is a close relationship with the agency’s own resource accounts and consequently you will work closely with colleagues who lead that activity. Your role is therefore critical to the successful delivery of the agency’s Annual Report and Accounts.

Job description

In this role you will; produce monthly draft financial statements, and notes to the accounts in line with HM Treasury direction for the Insolvency Services (“White Paper”) Account

Prepare and collate annual content for the non-financial narrative in the White Paper account, working with stakeholders as necessary.

Prepare account and cash reconciliatins, identify errors and recommend solutions to issues, ready for review. Work with stakeholders to solve problems, considering further training needs and identification of best practice.

Conduct monthly monitoring and take required action on unsettled disbursements. Liaise with finance business partners and Official Receiver teams as necessary.

Compliance reporting of erroneous transactions on management reports and in the case management system (“cash to case” reporting). Work with Treasury Management team in support of the agency’s working capital policy and development of cash movement understanding.

Lead on the response to National Audit Office audit queries and requests in a timely manner.

Provide analysis of cash movements as required, in support of cash surrenders and CFER actions.

Alongside your role, you will be committed to studying towards and completing a professional accountancy qualification. Exam fees and membership fee will be fully funded.

We will also consider applications from candidates who are part way through, or have completed their studies.

Responsibilities

Provide financial information from the case management system, working with its associated stakeholders, to support the production of the White Paper Account.

Carry out key reconciliations of the White Paper Account, understanding the impacts for key stakeholders including the Official Receiver and associated legislation, Treasury Management (cash) and HM Treasury.

Prepare the White Paper accounts in accordance with legislation and HM treasury directions and ensuring all evidence and information is available to support the external audit of the accounts.

Work closely with the rest of the Financial Accounting team to successfully produce the Agency’s Annual Report and Accounts on time and to quality standard, as well as ensuring that NAO Management Letter Points (MLPs) are addressed in a timely manner.

Person specification

You will have:

Strong technical and financial accounting skills and experience of applying them to outputs from case management systems.

Ability to learn and improve processes and work with colleagues to achieve common goals.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Strong understanding of account reconciliation and cash flows in complex financial regimes.

An ability to understand, interrogate and utilise reporting from case management systems with large volumes of transactions.

A highly organised individual; able to work independently, in a flexible way and respond to competing priorities and challenges.

Essential Criteria

Alongside your role, you will be committed to studying towards and completing the CIMA or a CCAB professional qualification within 36 months depending on current level. This will be a contractual obligation, and the cost of study courses plus exam fees and membership fee will be fully funded.

We will also consider candidates who are part way through their CIMA/CCAB studies.

You must already hold a Level 4 qualification in Finance or Accounting. Examples of this include a degree in Finance or Accounting, AAT Level 4, CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting (CIMA Cert BA). You must clearly state how you meet this requirement in your application.

Qualifications

You must already hold a Level 4 qualification in Finance or Accounting. Examples of this include a degree in Finance or Accounting, AAT Level 4, CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting (CIMA Cert BA). You must clearly state how you meet this requirement in your application.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

Making Effective Decisions

Managing a Quality Service

Changing and Improving

Working Together

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

Making Effective Decisions

Managing a Quality Service

Changing and Improving

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

Candidates will be provided with information that they then need to interpret and present their findings.