Senior Financial Accountant

Job summary

The SIA is the organisation responsible for the regulation of private security. It is an independent, arm’s length body (ALB) of the Home Office, reporting to the Home Secretary, under the terms of the Private Security Industry Act 2001. The SIA’s purpose Is protecting the public through effective regulation of the private security industry and working with partners to raise standards across the sector. Its regulatory remit covers the whole of the United Kingdom.

The SIA has two main duties: the compulsory licensing of individuals undertaking designated activities within the private security industry and the management of a voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme, which measures private security suppliers against independently assessed criteria.

SIA licensing covers security operatives who are in guarding, door supervision, close protection, cash and valuables in transit, and public space surveillance using CCTV, vehicle immobilisation (in Northern Ireland) and key holding. Licensing ensures that private security operatives are fit and proper persons who are properly trained and qualified to do their job.

Job description

Are you a qualified accountant looking to play a key role in a high-profile public sector organisation? The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is seeking a talented Senior Financial Accountant to join their Finance & Procurement team and help shape financial excellence across the organisation.

In this role, you’ll provide both strategic and operational financial expertise, supporting executive decision-making and ensuring the delivery of accurate, compliant financial reporting. Working closely with senior leaders and stakeholders, you will help maintain strong financial governance while enabling the organisation to operate efficiently and deliver value for money.

You’ll lead the preparation of the SIA’s annual accounts and monthly financial reporting, ensuring compliance with HM Treasury guidance, the Financial Reporting Manual and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Alongside this, you will oversee aspects of the general ledger, review payroll postings, contribute to financial modelling for pay awards and provide technical accounting advice across the organisation.

The role also offers the opportunity to work collaboratively across corporate services, including HR, ICT and transformation teams, while building strong relationships with external stakeholders such as the Home Office, Government Internal Audit Agency and National Audit Office.

As a senior member of the team, you will line manage one colleague and play an important role in developing financial capability across the organisation by delivering guidance, training and financial insight to managers and project teams.

We’re looking for a CCAB-qualified accountant with at least three years’ post-qualification experience, strong technical accounting knowledge and excellent communication skills. If you enjoy influencing senior stakeholders, improving financial processes and helping organisations make sound financial decisions, this could be the ideal next step in your career. Join us and help ensure strong financial stewardship in an organisation committed to public protection and high standards.

Person specification

Essential

• A relevant professional accountancy qualification (applicants must be qualified within a CCAB body) with minimum post-qualification experience of 3 years.
• Prior experience of the preparation and/or audit of Central Government or other similar public sector financial statements.
• Confidence and credibility with excellent communication and relationship management skills with the ability to act under your own initiative and problem solve independently.
• A proven ability to deliver outcomes involving strategic financial decision making, including influencing at a senior level.
• Proven experience of delivering value for money through strong commercial awareness.
• Strong collaboration and influencing skills with the ability to build an effective network of key stakeholders quickly.
• Pro-active, flexible, resilient, motivated and results oriented with strong Excel skills.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £58,501, Security Industry Authority contributes £16,947 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• A welcoming and innovative work environment.

• Continued support and development opportunities.

• Access to training for attainment of recognised qualifications.

• Flexible working arrangements.

• Annual leave entitlement will be 27.5 days, rising by one additional day for every two years of service up to a maximum of 32.5 days.

• A variety of discounts including Gymflex.

• Civil Service Pension Scheme – employee contribution between 4.60% and 7.35% and employer contribution between 26.60% and 30.30%.

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

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and 500-word personal statement. Further details around guidance for this is listed on the application form. If you fail to submit all aspects of the application before the deadline of 6th April 2026, your application will be withdrawn.

Please use your personal statement (in no more than 500 words) to outline why you believe you would be an ideal candidate for this role. Please highlight your relevant skills, experience and achievements that align with the essential job requirements.

Should we receive a large number of applications, applications may be sifted on personal statement only.

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Interview details will be provided to successful candidates prior to their interview taking place.

Sift and Interview Process:

Sift will take place from 7th April 2026.

Interviews will be held on 20th April 2026.

Interviews will be held in person at our London office.

To apply for this role, please use the link below:

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

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 : Archer Mac Recruitment Team
• Email : stephanie.robinson@archermac.co.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@sia.gov.uk

Further information

Complaints should be submitted to the Contact Us page on SIA website. If, after investigation by the SIA, the complainant remains dissatisfied, they may bring their complaint to the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

Senior Financial Accountant Role Opens in new window (pdf, 180kB)