Financial Accountant

Job summary

The UK Hydrographic Office are looking for a Financial Accountant to work within their finance team.

Working closely with the Head of Finance, Financial Controllers, the wider Finance and UKHO team, the role will be responsible for ensuring accurate financial reporting, completion of external audits and liaising with National Audit office (NAO), Government Internal Audit (GIAA) and wider MOD colleagues.

The role will provide opportunity for both personal and professional development in a unique Commercial Organisation which is part of Government.

Hybrid Working Arrangements

There will be a minimum of an initial 2 weeks of training in the office, after which more training may be required dependent on area of expertise

Hybrid working

This job role can be worked on a hybrid basis, which is an informal, non-contractual and voluntary arrangement, working between the office in Taunton and remotely within the UK. The successful candidate is required to work from the Taunton office 3 days a week, however this is dependent on business need.

Job description

• Lead the Financial Accounts team (payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, treasury management and tax compliance) to ensure compliance with UKHO, UK government and HM Treasury policies
• Preparation of financial statements, notes and related disclosures for annual report and accounts ensuring these are in line with the appropriate corporate governance and direction consistent with the FReM (Financial Reporting Manual), GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
• Ensure International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) are adhered to and are consistently applied throughout the business. Correct interpretation of these standards and in-depth understanding of the business is key to delivering an unqualified audit.
• Ensure all required tax filings (such as VAT and Employer Duties) are prepared accurately and submitted on time. Ensure the UKHO direct and indirect taxes compliance by staying updated on changes in tax laws
• Ensure accurate financial accounts are maintained, manage the financial controls framework to a high standard ensuring all control accounts are reconciled, assets are properly accounted for, verified and disposed when required
• Effective credit management of our distributors and other customers; communicating with the sales account managers to ensure we can continually monitor the sustainability of our distributor channel. Working with our credit agencies to minimise the risk to the UKHO

Person specification

• ACA or ACCA qualified accountant with an excellent knowledge and track record of producing financial statements, managing a full year end audit cycle and effective corporate governance
• Detailed knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and full consolidation of financial statements to understand how it affects the organisation
• Financial accounting experience with attention to detail and pragmatic application of accounting standards using technical knowledge and skills to improve and facilitate decision making and performance.
• Experience of ensuring compliance with corporate governance principles
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and organised approach to managing the routine set of tasks within the team whilst retaining the commitment of others involved in those tasks
• Experience in managing a high performing team, empowering and motivating others to achieve organisational objectives

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture

Technical skills

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

• Detailed knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and full consolidation of financial statements

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £48,746, UK Hydrographic Office contributes £14,121 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

At the UK Hydrographic Office, it's very important to us that our people feel valued.

We offer a huge range of benefits such as training and development, well-being support, flexible/ homeworking, a fantastic state of the art building, high spec equipment, and so much more.

See our attached Candidate Information Pack for more details.

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.

How to Apply:

When you click 'Apply now' you will be asked to attach your anonymised CV and input a 750 word supporting statement on the following criteria below.

Timeline:

• Advert Closes for applications: 9th April 2026
• Shortlisting: w/c 20th April 2026
• Interviews: w/c 11th May 2026

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.

Pre-sift criteria:

• Are you a fully qualified ACA or ACCA qualified accountant? If you do not meet this pre-sift criteria, your application will not be taken through to be scored on the Sift/Shortlist Criteria below.

Sift/Shortlist Criteria:

All applications are processed anonymously. You will be short-listed against the following criteria using the information provided in your supporting statement and your CV.

Experience:

• ACA or ACCA qualified accountant with a track record of producing financial statements, managing a full year end audit cycle and effective corporate governance (lead criteria)
• Detailed knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and full consolidation of financial statements

The above criteria will be assessed from your CV and Personal Statement.

Interview Criteria:

You will be interviewed against the following criteria:

Technical Skills

• Detailed knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and full consolidation of financial statements (Lead Criteria - used if there is a tie at interview)

Civil Service Behaviours (SEO Level)

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture

See here for further information: Success Profiles - Civil Service Behaviours (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Process:

• Single Stage, face-to-face interview. You will be contacted to book a suitable slot if you are shortlisted (see our Candidate Pack for further information)
• Interview will be with a panel of no more than 3 people and will last approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Onboarding Checks

In the event you are offered a role with us, you will be required to go through Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks which will include Employment and Right to Work Checks. You will also need to apply for SC (Security Clearance), but you may be able to start your role before gaining this. Please see our attached Candidate Pack for further details and Terms.

Please note, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship.

Residency Requirements:

This is a Ministry of Defence non-reserved post and although open to UK, British Commonwealth and European Economic Area nationals, successful applicants will require a security clearance (SC) and therefore need to have resided in the UK for a minimum of 12 consecutive months within the last 5 years

Eligibility

Due to the secure nature of our work, there may be eligibility restrictions if you hold dual nationality or are not a British Citizen. We will consider each application on a case-by-case basis. We will ask you in our application form to confirm your place of birth and details of any dual or previous nationalities.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).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.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.queries@ukho.gov.uk
• Email : recruitment.queries@ukho.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment.queries@ukho.gov.uk

Further information

Further Information

The Department’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the requirement of selection for appointment based on merit, open and fair competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles, details of which can be found at http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact recruitment.queries@ukho.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can further contact the Civil Service Commission at: civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk or view more details at http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk

Attachments

UKHO Candidate Information Pack (3) Opens in new window (pdf, 5685kB)Additional Pay Information Opens in new window (pdf, 163kB)