Finance Systems Specialist

Job summary

This role supports the stabilisation and exploitation of the finance system Access Financials following its recent implementation. You will strengthen financial controls, improve data quality and deliver management information (MI), automation and integration (including with Salesforce) so that finance and delivery teams have timely, trusted information for decision-making and reporting.

N.B. GAD may work with recruiters on this campaign provided prior agreement is reached for this specific campaign

Job description

This role suits someone who combines hands-on finance systems experience with a practical improvement mindset - comfortable operating in the detail of system administration (access controls, reconciliations, audit trails) while also able to step back and deliver structured change such as dashboards, automation and integrations.

The ideal candidate will have experience supporting, administering and improving a live finance system post-implementation. They will also have experience connecting finance data to a CRM like Salesforce, and confidence building reporting in Power BI.

You will be able to hit the ground running without extensive onboarding and can manage a systems improvements project without needing close direction.

Please find below a link to our candidate pack for more information.

Person specification

• Support day-to-day operation and continuous improvement of Access Financials, including issue triage, supplier liaison and change control.
• Maintain robust system governance: role-based access, segregation of duties, periodic access reviews, documented procedures and audit-ready evidence.
• Improve data integrity (master data standards, validation, reconciliations) to underpin accurate reporting.
• Lead on implementing GAD’s 12-month finance system improvement plan, including delivering MI dashboards and reporting (e.g. Power BI and/or Access Analytics) for Job/Project Managers, Business Leads and senior stakeholders.
• Implement automation and digitisation (e.g. Access Office Integration, workflow-enabled forms, invoice OCR such as Lightyear, digital expenses), embedding appropriate controls.
• Support integration between Access Financials and Salesforce (data mapping, ownership, reconciliations, operational support model).
• Drive user adoption through training, guidance and clinics (e.g. improving timesheet discipline and consistent processes).

This job description reflects current duties and may evolve in line with GAD’s operational needs which are at the discretion of the relevant Unit Director and in conjunction with the post holder.

Behaviours

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

• Changing and Improving
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

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

• Experience supporting, administering or improving a finance system/ERP (ideally Access Financials) in a live operational environment (Essential)
• Strong understanding of financial controls and governance (approvals, audit trail, segregation of duties, access management) (Essential)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £53,539, Government Actuary's Department contributes £15,510 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

As well as competitive salaries, we offer a substantial package of benefits:

• Exceptional learning and development opportunities that you can explore alongside your day-to-day work.
• 25 days annual leave per year, increasing to 30 days after 5 years’ service. In addition, we offer 9 days public and privilege days leave per year (pro rata for part time staff)
• Eligibility to join either a Civil Service Pension scheme or a stakeholder pension scheme
• 5 days of paid volunteering leave
• Up to 9 months maternity leave on full pay + generous paternity and adoption leave
• Staff reward and recognition bonuses that operate throughout the year.
• Occupational sick pay
• Family-friendly policies such as help with caring responsibilities, special leave, generous paid maternity, paternity, and adoption leave.
• Access to employee assistance programme which offers staff 24/7 confidential support and resources such as counselling, debt guidance and management advice.
• The opportunity to join a trade union.
• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity.
• Salary advances for travel costs, including annual season tickets and cycle-to-work schemes.
• Access to the Edenred employee benefits system which offers discounts to popular retailers and access to various useful resources such as financial and savings advice.
• Complimentary BUPA health check.

As this is a fixed term contract, it is recommended that you read this link to find out more find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

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 and Technical skills.

Stage 1: Application sift

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

• A CV of up to 2 pages setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you provide employment history that relates to the essential criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained.
• A Personal statement of up to 500-words explaining how you meet the essential criteria for the role, with particular reference to the criteria provided in the person specification of the JD.

The Civil Service application process has a standardised method for assessing candidates, we strongly recommend that you read the descriptions of the civil service behaviours. Strong applications will present these in the Situation, Task, Action, Result (STAR) method.

We will use your CV and Personal Statement to assess the Experience and Technical skills listed in the JD.

Stage 2: Panel interview

During the interview you will be assessed on the experience and behaviours listed in the Person Specification and detailed in this advert. The interview will include a presentation, details of which will be sent to those invited to interview. There are likely to be follow-up questions on the Behaviours below leading on from the presentation to ensure the panel gain a rounded picture.

Timelines

Application deadline: 1200 hrs on 22 June 2026
Shortlisting: W/C 22 June 2026
Interviews: W/C 29 June

Please apply via our recruitment portal below.

As part of the application form process, please submit your CV and supporting statement. Please do not email your CV outside of this process as it will not be accepted.

Shortlisting criteria is based on the Person Specification as set out in the Assessment Criteria section of the Job Description. Please ensure you provide examples of how you meet the Assessment Criteria; a strong application will also demonstrate that you meet the required criteria that are identified as key for this role. Applications will be shortlisted in line with the essential criteria for the role. The desirable criteria will not be assessed throughout the recruitment process, but will be used in the event of tied scores between candidates. Behaviours will be assessed at sift and interview stage. Candidates who are successful at shortlist will be contacted as soon as possible and advised of the interview process and assessment (exact times and dates will also be confirmed).

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

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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

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

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 : Recruitment Team
• Email : recruitment@gad.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@gad.gov.uk

Further information

The Government Actuary’s Department’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the recruitment principles of the Civil Service Commissioner, which outline that selection for appointment be made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitm… If you feel at any time your application has not been treated in accordance with the values in the Civil Service Code and/or if you feel the recruitment has been conducted in such a way that conflicts with the Civil Service Commissioner’s Recruitment Principles, you may make a complaint, by contacting the recruitment team at recruitment@gad.gov.uk in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commissioners.

https://gad-gov.pagetiger.com/cngxbss/1

Attachments

Finance Systems Specialist job description 2026 Opens in new window (pdf, 550kB)