Financial Accountant & Finance Manager ( 2X Posts)
Job Description
JOB SUMMARY
Financial Accountant
You will be able to apply your existing finance abilities and get a better understanding of Scottish Government and Transport Scotland financial accounting and reporting, all while learning about how our work supports transport services, initiatives, infrastructure, and policies. A flexible approach is a vital component of the role, as is the ability to react swiftly to change and collaborate with colleagues from throughout the organisation.
Producing timely and accurate financial information for management reporting, consolidation, and external publishing, including a vital part in the TS Annual Report and Accounts, as well as other business publications.
Ensure that all financial transactions comply with applicable accounting and financial regulations, such as the Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM), Finance Reporting Manual (FReM), IFRS, HMRC legislation, and other relevant requirements.
Ownership of balance sheet maintenance and reconciliation, as well as providing current guidance to the team and others on technical accounting principles and treatment in areas such as trunk road valuations, VAT, other fixed assets, and lease treatments.
Developing and maintaining strong and secure financial processes and controls, as well as providing relevant guidance and support to the agency and other stakeholders.
Managing and supporting a small team, motivating them to be completely engaged in their job, encouraging growth and development, and meeting their overall well-being needs.
Deputise for the Senior Financial Accountant as needed.
Finance Manager
You will be responsible for professional accounting, budgeting, and overall financial management for Transport Scotland. The team raises understanding of the drivers of financial success to date, as well as accurate forecasting and outcome reporting, and provides expert financial guidance to help achieve objectives within available resources.
Supporting the provision of professional accounting, budgeting, and other financial stewardship advice within Transport Scotland, increasing financial awareness, and reviewing the robustness of financial controls within your given position.
Collaborating with colleagues throughout the agency to raise knowledge of financial performance factors in order to assist goal achievement within available resources, while also providing constructive feedback to enable sound decision-making.
Robust analysis and assessment of future revenue and spending predictions, as well as regular updates and data accuracy for financial plans to support corporate and Scottish Government budgeting, value for money decision-making, risk management, and financial planning.
Supporting stakeholders by participating in the budgeting process and contributing to the creation of relevant papers and guidance for Transport Scotland.
Assist the Finance Business Partner as needed.
Job Description
- Producing timely and accurate financial information for management reporting, consolidation, and external publishing, including a vital part in the TS Annual Report and Accounts, as well as other business publications.
- Ensure that all financial transactions comply with applicable accounting and financial regulations, such as the Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM), Finance Reporting Manual (FReM), IFRS, HMRC legislation, and other relevant requirements.
- Ownership of balance sheet management and reconciliation, as well as providing timely assistance to the team and others on technical accounting principles and treatment in areas such as Trunk Roads values, VAT, other fixed assets, and lease treatments.
- Developing and maintaining strong and secure financial processes and controls, as well as providing relevant guidance and support to the agency and other stakeholders.
- Managing and supporting a small team, motivating them to be completely engaged in their job, encouraging growth and development, and meeting their overall well-being needs.
- Deputise for the Senior Financial Accountant as needed.
Person Specification
Essential Qualification
The successful candidate should hold a full CCAB (or equivalent) qualification and maintain current CPD. Exceptional candidates may be considered in the latter phases of their professional tests.
Essential Criteria
- Experience working in a financial setting, as well as the ability to collect, analyse, and interrogate financial data to assist decision making while maintaining high levels of accuracy and compliance.
- Excellent written and verbal communication abilities, including the ability to accurately explain financial facts and establish excellent working relationships.
- Improved analytical skills by using a number of tools, including Excel, to generate informed options, provide evidence-based recommendations, and support educated decisions.
- Self-motivated individual capable of prioritising workloads and adapting swiftly to change in order to fulfil deadlines.
Benefits
Along with your £45,449 pay, the Scottish Government contributes £12,271 towards your membership in the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Discover what perks a Civil Service Pension gives.
- Learning and growth based on your role
- An setting that offers flexible working opportunities
- A culture that promotes inclusiveness and diversity.
- A civil service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%.
Things you should know
Details about the selection process.
Minimum time in post.
Unless you are promoted to a higher Band or Grade, you will be required to stay in your current position for at least three years.
You must discuss your plan to apply with your present line manager to ensure that release dates are agreed upon.
Location
This position is based in either Glasgow or Edinburgh, with hybrid working in accordance with current Transport Scotland policy. You will be expected to be in the office twice a week, pro rata.
The position is full-time, however employees with alternative work schedules are encouraged to apply, and we will consider proposed schedules in light of the business requirements for this position.
Additional Information
To apply, please complete the application and include evidence-based examples of your knowledge/skills (300 words). Remember, your replies should be clear, succinct, and reflect the steps you took. To answer to each requirement, consider using the STAR(R) technique.
Sponsorship Information
Changes to legislation regarding Skilled Worker Visa Sponsorship went into effect on April 4, 2024. If you believe you may require Visa Sponsorship, you should read the official Home Office instructions before applying to ensure your eligibility.
Any applicants who are not qualified for sponsorship will be withdrawn at either the application stage or the moment of offer, as would any provisional employment offer.
Important Information about Interviews
Interviews may be performed virtually or remotely. All applicants must have an appropriate place to complete the virtual interview via MS Teams, as well as sufficient Wi-Fi/Broadband capacity to carry both audio and video feeds during the interview.
For further information on this position, please contact Hiring Manager Mary Fitzgerald via email at Mary.Fitgerald@transport.gov.scot.
The Scottish Government is a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we want to help you achieve your full potential regardless of the form of assessment used. If you need any changes to our recruitment procedure, please let us know at scottishgovernmentrecruitment@gov.scot.
As part of the recruiting process, the Scottish Government and other public organisations collect and process personal information about job seekers and candidates for public jobs.
Personal information provided during the recruiting process will be made available to the Scottish Government and our supplementary data processors.
Feedback will only be supplied if you participate in an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must go through a criminal background check.
Successful candidates must complete security standards before being appointed. The required level of security is security check (opens in new window).
View our vetting charter (opens in a separate window).
People who work with government assets must pass baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Medical
Successful candidates will be required to provide a medical.
Nationality requirements
This position is widely open to the following groups:
- UK citizens
- Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- Nationals of Commonwealth countries have the right to work in the United Kingdom
- Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein, and family members of those nations, with established or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS). (Opens a new window)
- Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein, and family members of those nations, who have made a legitimate application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS).
- Individuals having limited or indefinite right to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before December 31, 2020.
- Turkish nationals and certain family members of Turkish nationals have gained the right to work in the Civil Service.
More information about nationality criteria. (Opens a new window)
Working in Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) specifies the norms of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We hire on merit through fair and open competition, as defined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service values diversity and encourages equal opportunity. As a result, we provide a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) to candidates with impairments who meet the basic selection requirements.
Diversity & Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attracting, retaining, and investing in talent wherever it exists. For more information, please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
Apply and get more information.
This position is part of the Great Places to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
The job advertisement will be removed once this position has been filled. You may wish to keep a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants.
Job contact:
Name:
Mary Fitzgerald
Email:
Mary.Fitzgerald@transport.gov.scot
Recruitment team
Email:
scottishgovernmentrecruitment@gov.scot
