Estates Accountant

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 reconciliations, 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.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £35,645, Insolvency Service contributes £10,326 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, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

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

Online Tests

CV

Personal Statement

Behaviours

• Behaviour 1 – Making Effective Decisions
• Behaviour 2 - Managing a Quality Service
• Behaviour 3 - Changing and Improving

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour Making Effective Decisions, 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.

Online Tests Guidance

After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Numerical Test. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application.

Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 23:55 on 17 05 2026. If you fail to complete the online tests before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the tests will be available when you are invited to take the tests. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.

There will be maintenance for online tests on Sunday 3 May - 4pm to midnight and Sunday 10 May - midday to 1pm. This means you will be unable to access the online tests between these times. Your progress will be saved, and you will be able to continue once the tests are available again.

If you are in the middle of a test when the maintenance begins, your progress will be paused. You will be able to resume your test from where you left off via your application centre once the downtime has ended. Please note that you will not be able to launch any new tests while the system is offline.

CV Guidance

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 not be scored as part of the assessment process and will only be used for reference purposes.

Personal Statement Guidance

Your personal statement should be no more than 500 words and should explain how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, in reference to the essential criteria and values in the person specification.

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

Behavioural Competencies - assessed through:

• Behaviour 4 - Working Together

Technical Skills

Strengths

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Sift – w/c 18 05 2026

Interview – w/c 15 06 2026

Location - MS Teams

Your interview will be conducted by video. 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.

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

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 Service 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 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 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 : INSS Central Recruitment Team
• Email : HR.recruitment@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 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, 3061kB)Insolvency Candidate Information Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 6509kB)