Finance Officer

Job summary

CCW is the passionate, independent voice representing water consumers in England & Wales. We support thousands of people each year, providing free advice and helping people to resolve their complaints with their water company in an easy, caring way. We champion everyone’s needs and interests, completing and showcasing research that influences water companies, government, and regulators to make change happen.

Job Purpose Statement

Reporting to the Finance Manager, the Finance Officer provides Finance support and advice to all CCW staff, including liaising with budget holders highlighting performance v budget. Administers Exchequer and Exchequer Mobile (Financial Systems).

Resolving issues with third party suppliers where there are invoicing issues.

Administers the operation of CCW’s bank account.

Job description

Reports to:

Finance Manager

Division:

Business Services - Finance

Location:

CCW Birmingham or Cardiff offices (non-contractual blended working currently in place)

Job purpose

Reporting to the Finance Manager the Finance Officer provides Finance support and advice to all CCW staff, including liaising with budget holders highlighting performance v budget. Administers Exchequer and Exchequer Mobile (Financial Systems).

Resolving issues with third party suppliers where there are invoicing issues.

Administers the operation of CCW’s bank account.

Key duties and accountabilities

• Process invoices, issuing for certification and processing payment of invoices on Exchequer via Bacs.
• Process all T&S expense claims, taxable and non-taxable Chairmen claims and processing for payment on Exchequer & Exchequer Mobile via Bacs and producing the quarterly Board Expenses report.
• Responsible for the administration of the Government Procurement cards (GPC) and processing GPC Statements into Exchequer.
• Maintaining cash book and bank reconciliation and posting journals in Exchequer.
• Monthly reconciliations of balance sheet controls, pay performance and budget reports.
• Prepare and process budget journals on Exchequer.
• Processing the monthly salary journal in Exchequer.
• Assist with the preparation of the annual financial statements and liaising with internal and external audit.
• Completing financial returns required by the sponsor department in line with deadlines.

Influencing the agenda

Financial Reporting:

• Analyse financial performance and variances against budgets and forecasts.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports for internal and external stakeholders.

Budget Management:

• Monitor budgets for various departments.
• Track expenditures and ensure they align with approved budgets.
• Processing the monthly salary journal in Exchequer.

Compliance and Risk Management:

• Ensure compliance with financial regulations and internal policies.
• Identify and mitigate financial risks.
• Coordinate and assist with preparations for and with auditors during financial audits.
• Identifying issues. Investigation and problem solving e.g. queries from auditors and any payroll anomalies identified whilst posting monthly salary journal. Impact of not identifying risks can affect decision making e.g setting up suppliers and ensuring validity/legitimacy etc

Transaction Management:

• Oversee daily financial transactions, including payments, receipts, and reconciliations.
• Ensure accuracy and integrity of financial data.
• Process invoices
• Process all T&S expense claims

Financial Systems and Processes:

• Maintain and improve financial systems and software.
• Implement efficient financial processes and procedures.
• Train and support staff in using financial systems.

Continuous Improvement:

• Identify opportunities for process improvements and implement changes.
• Drive initiatives to enhance financial performance and operational efficiency.
• Provide the first line of defence against financial fraud.

In addition to the duties described in this specification the jobholder may be required to carry out such other duties as may reasonably be required.

Actively promote and embed Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in all your work. Support and comply with all organisational initiatives, policies and procedures on EDI.

Carry out other duties within the scope of the role as required

Management of resources

Financial resources

Responsibility for monitoring CCW’s budget and providing guidance to all budget holders

Human resources (staff for whom the jobholder is directly responsible)

No direct reports but information and finance guidance provided to all at CCW

Contacts and communication

Internal

Provide financial information and support to other departments including all levels of management.

External

Liaise with external stakeholders, including banks and auditors.

Civil Service Competencies:

The postholder needs to demonstrate the following:

• Seeing the Big Picture: Understand how their role fits with and supports organisational objectives and public service priorities.
• Changing and Improving: Seek out opportunities to create effective change and suggest innovative solutions.
• Making Effective Decisions: Use evidence and knowledge to support accurate, expert decisions and advice.
• Leading and Communicating: Communicate with clarity, conviction, and enthusiasm, supporting others to deliver results.
• Collaborating and Partnering: Work collaboratively with colleagues and stakeholders to achieve organisational goals.
• Delivering at Pace: Take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.

Person specification

Person specification

Attainments

• AAT Qualification Accounting Technician or similar qualification. Experience of processing financial transactions, accounts reconciliation and preparing financial reports.
• Considerable experience using finance system and reporting.
• Knowledge of public sector accounting, knowledge of different computerised financial systems, fixed asset registers, financial forecasting, and analysis. Including; Exchequer & Exchequer Mobile and reporting

Skills and abilities

• Able to effectively represent CCWater with external organisations e.g. NAO, DEFRA, HM Treasury and contractors.
• Ability to train and explain processes to those with non-financial knowledge and guiding/helping exchequer queries.
• Effective oral and written communication with senior managers;
• Ability to compile reports and analysis;
• High numeracy skills;
• Ability to solve problems and interpret complex data
• High attention to detail
• Intermediate
• Knowledge of external and internal audit, research financial issues and prepare reports & recommendations, application of fixed asset registers, procurement, office and estates services management.
• Confident, reliable and able to work to tight deadlines.
• Able to manage conflicting priorities and meet tight deadline. Have a meticulous approach.
• Require little supervision. Good team worker.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £35,017, Consumer Council for Water contributes £10,144 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.Annual leave entitlement starting at 25 days rising by one annually to a maximum of 30 days, plus 10.5 Bank Holidays and Privilege leave.

Benefits include Civil Service Pension, Flexitime with up to an extra 24 days off per year, Generous Annual Leave provision, Flexible Working Options, Retailer and Healthcare discounts/cashback, Travel Season Ticket Loans, Bicycle Loans, Employee Assistance Programme and much more.

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

If you are interested please apply using the apply tab and submit both your CV and a statement of suitability (no more than 2 pages) which outlines how your key skills and experience match to the job description and person specification, explaining your suitability for the role. Applications that do not include all this information are unlikely to be considered.

The selection process will include:

• A sift using the content of your CV and statement of suitability
• Interviews and exercise in person 4th February 2026

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications. If you are interested in applying, we’d encourage you to submit your application as early as possible.

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.

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

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 : Lisa Gregory/Laura Smurthwaite
• Email : recruitment@ccwater.org.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ccwater.org.uk

Further information

ccw.org.uk