Debt Lead Accountant

Job summary

Join the Finance, Commercial, Sustainability and Property Directorate (FCSP) at the Insolvency Service!

Do you have a passion for finance and a desire to make a real impact?

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.

The Agency is seeking to recruit the Debt Lead Accountant within our Finance, Commercial, Sustainability & Property Directorate. This role reports to the Head of Core Finance and has no line management.

The work within this team is unique and at the heart of the Insolvency Service Finance team, it offers flexibility and the opportunity to learn transformational skills.

We offer a supportive environment where you can develop your expertise and contribute to the Agency's success.

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!

Job description

The role is responsible for identifying, impacting and leading change relating to Government Functional Standards compliance (GovS 014). The role also provides reporting, advice and assurance to the Finance Director, Accounting Officer (CEO) Executive Committee and Audit Risk & Assurance Committee (ARAC) on Debt Performance.

This role will work closely with all other functions within Finance, as well as operational areas of the business with the successful candidate playing a major role in business strategy and process. As well as delivering on accounting requirements for debt in the Annual Report and Accounts.

Additionally, the candidate will work closely with the Government Debt Profession, Department for Business and Trade (DBT), His Majesty's Treasury (HMT) and internal operational colleagues on matters of strategic importance.

This role is approximately 50% leading and supporting stakeholders, and 50% direct delivery.

Responsibilities

The successful candidate can expect to be involved in a range of the following:

Functional Standards:

• lead annual reviews of the Debt Functional Standards compliance
• lead Debt Functional Standard Workshops on improvement towards standards compliance, reporting to Audit Risk & Assurance Committee

Debt Profession:

• Agency Lead for the Government Debt Profession, advising the business on best practise, technology and mandate from the profession
• working with operational areas to research industry best practice and develop appropriate KPIs for debt recovery
• act as Debt subject matter expert for Case Management Systems and Finance System projects and input into the project analysis and implementation, to ensure compliance against best practise, Functional Standards and NOVA Reference Model

Debt performance:

• work with stakeholders to produce Power BI debt reporting and provide high level and quality insights of debt MI for Executive Committee and Senior Leaders
• review and advise on the performance of the outsourced debt collection function, working with the Deputy COO on supplier changes
• supporting agency accounts production and audit of consolidated debt balances

Debt Policies and procedures:

• undertake annual review impairment calculation and underpinning assumptions, to support the annual accounts
• lead the annual review of uneconomic‑to‑recover balances, ensuring alignment with Exchequer value‑for‑money principles
• lead quarterly debt writes offs obtaining HMT/DBT approval for items outside of the policy
  working with Systems Accounting Team Testing, implementing and then running the bulk debt write off process in systems
• work with Financial Control on continual review of Agency Delegation levels and write off policies to ensure that they are appropriate for all agency debt
• support Treasury Management teams on the adherence and review of working capital policies

Person specification

As a Debt Lead Accountant it is essential that you can demonstrate the following attributes:

• wide accounting knowledge with the ability to convey accounting concepts to non-finance stakeholders
• excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills
• understanding of Functional Standards, Accounting Officer Principles and NOVA Reference Model to understand what controls can be used to mitigate risks identified
• strong stakeholder management capabilities with the ability to build and establish positive relationships with a range of stakeholders to support the delivery of business outcomes
• a highly organised individual; able to work independently, in a flexible way and respond to competing priorities and challenges

Desirable skills:

• system Accounting Knowledge and Power BI Experience
• experience and knowledge of reporting requirements within central government e.g. FReM, CBG and MpM
• previous debt management experience, though it is not a prerequisite
• experience of preparing submissions and papers for senior forums, e.g., Board, Audit Committee, etc

Essential Criteria

Fully qualified and active membership with a CCAB or CIMA professional body.

Qualifications

Full CCAB or CIMA qualification

Memberships

Active membership with a CCAB or CIMA Qualification.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Changing and Improving
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together

Technical skills

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

• Any candidates who reach the interview stage will be required to deliver a presentation to test their technical skills.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £57,367, Insolvency Service contributes £16,619 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

We want you to have a good work-life balance and want to support you in all that you do, so we offer a great benefits package including:

• flexible working arrangements and flexi-time
• full time new entrants to the Civil Service and those Civil Servants on modernised terms and conditions will be entitled to 25 days leave increasing on a sliding scale to 30 days after 5 years’ service
• in addition to this you are entitled to 8 public/bank holidays plus an additional day of privilege leave
• competitive maternity, paternity and parental leave
• 5 days paid leave for learning and development
• 5 days paid for volunteering
• a Cycle to work scheme
• staff have access to an employee assistance programme, Workplace Wellness, for confidential, independent support and advice during difficult times in either their professional or personal life

Your pension is a valuable part of your total reward package where the employer makes a significant contribution to the cost of your pension. Your contributions come out of your salary before any tax is taken. This means, if you pay tax, your take-home pay will not be reduced by the full amount of your contribution; and your pension will continue to provide valuable benefits for you and your family if you are too ill to continue to work or die before you retire. For more information, visit www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

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

As part of the sift process, you will be asked to complete:

• CV
• Personal Statement

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the Personal Statement, assessing candidates against the essential criteria. Only those who meet the essential criteria at this stage will proceed to a full assessment of their application. If a candidate does not meet the minimum requirements during the initial sift, the remainder of their application will not be reviewed. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview.

Your CV should provide a clear overview of your employment history, key responsibilities, relevant qualifications, and the skills and experience you’ve gained throughout your career including any notable achievements.

Note: Your CV will be scored as part of the assessment process and will be assessed against the criteria outlined in the job advert.

Personal Statement Guidance

Your personal statement should be no more than 500 words and must demonstrate how your personal skills, qualities, and experience align with the requirements of the role. Please ensure your statement references the essential criteria outlined in the person specification, as well as any desirable criteria. This will help provide a clearer basis for scoring and will be particularly useful in the event of tied scores.

If successful at the sift stage, at interview, you will be assessed on the following:

• Behavioural Competencies - assessed through:

• • Behaviour 1 – Communicating and Influencing
  • Behaviour 2 – Changing and Improving
  • Behaviour 3 – Seeing the Big Picture
  • Behaviour 4 – Working Together

• Technical Skills – a presentation will be required and candidates who are successful at the sift stage will be provided with further details prior to the interview.

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Sift – w/c 04 May 2026

Interview – w/c 11 May 2026

Location - MS Teams

Your interview will be conducted by video using MS Teams. You will be notified of this if you are selected for interview. Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.

Visa Applicants

To sponsor a candidate under the Skilled Worker visa, a sponsorship licence is required. The Insolvency Service does not currently hold this licence and therefore, cannot legally sponsor Skilled Worker visa applicants.

Hybrid Working

Insolvency Service operates a hybrid working policy subject to business need, giving people the flexibility to choose when and where they work and collaborate with others.

Individuals are expected to work from one of the office locations stated in the advert to connect with their colleagues, as required by their role and business team needs. There is flexibility to split the working week, spending a minimum of 60% in the workplace, which includes the office, site visits, court etc.

Further information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Insolvency from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via insolvencyrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service/Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Feedback

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Scott Barrett
• Email : Scott.Barrett@insolvency.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : InsolvencyRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel there have been procedural irregularities at any stage of the recruitment process or that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then in the first instance you should contact hr.recruitment@insolvency.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive you can then contact the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

Applying for a Job - A Candidate Guide Opens in new window (pdf, 5217kB)Insolvency Candidate Information Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 6509kB)