Senior Policy Advisor - Accounts and Reporting

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity to join us a Senior Policy Advisor in Accounts and Reporting.

You will take a senior lead role in the Accounts and Reporting team, responsible for implementing the new accounts filing requirements for UK companies filing with Companies House, as set out in the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency (ECCT) Act 2023. As we transition towards becoming a fully digital organisation and introduce the mandatory filing of accounts via software, you will work with the team to develop secondary legislation, policy and guidance that will help companies meet their filing obligations and submit high quality financial information as part of their statutory annual accounts.

You will be required to work closely with other Government departments and financial regulators and provide expert policy advice to multi-disciplinary teams across Companies House. You will work closely with colleagues to ensure our systems are enabled for all account types and compliant with the law, helping to communicate the changes and requirements clearly to our customers and partners. This is a great opportunity to create and introduce policy that will deliver a more streamlined accounts filing process for companies, improve the transparency of company accounts and the quality of financial information available on the public register.

Does this sound like the role for you? If so, we’d love to receive your application!

Companies House offers a flexible and welcoming culture that promotes a healthy work life balance as well as a proactive approach to wellbeing that allows us to be our best at work. We recognise that people are the key to our success so offer a fantastic benefits package including flexible working with no core hours, 30 days annual leave, 8 bank holidays and 1 privilege day as well as enrolment into the Civil Service Pension scheme with a contribution rate averaging 28%.

Find out more about what a great place Companies House is to work.

You will be aligned to our Cardiff office, where you will be expected to attend on a regular basis. Please see the section 'Where will you be working?' for more information.

Please note - Companies House cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. Please see 'Things you need to know' section below for more information.

Job description

As a Senior Policy Advisor in Accounts and Reporting your key responsibilities will be:

• Work closely with DBT, FRC, HMRC and other government departments to develop policy and legislative change.
• Support implementation of the new ECCT Act requirements, including developing the secondary legislation and guidance about the new accounts filing requirements placed upon companies.
• Take ownership of specified workstreams, including audit reform, non-financial reporting, environmental reporting and accounts compliance and enforcement, working closely with colleagues to deliver and their implications for the business.
• Develop expertise and provide advice to operational colleagues on complex queries received from companies about accounts filing requirements.
• Working closely with other business areas to influence stakeholders and communicate policy intent / requirements.
• Analyse legislation to assess potential impacts on our processes, systems and customers, and advise colleagues accordingly.
• Develop and maintaining strong working relationships with key stakeholders in business teams and the accounting profession.
• Represent Companies House and the team through membership of Boards and at cross-Government meetings.
• Draft policy papers for consideration at Business Boards and panels.
• Consider and draft responses to Ministerial and Chief Executive correspondence.

About the team

Following enactment of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency (ECCT) Act Factsheet: Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill overarching - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) we are working closely with the Department for Business and Trade and other government departments to develop policy and legislation that promotes the UK as the best place in the world to start and grow a business, while also strengthening our ability to combat economic crime. With a key role to play in register reform, there has never been a better time to join our brilliant policy team.

Person specification

We’re looking for an experienced Senior Policy Advisor that:

• Can effectively develop policy proposals that support delivery of a high profile, ambitious transformation programme.
• Has strong analytical skills and is able to understand complex concepts and legislation.
• Has knowledge and experience of working with legislation and the process of legislative development.
• Is a confident communicator - effectively articulating detailed proposals in a manner that ensures understanding and encourages engagement.
• Is a great team player, able to support the principal policy adviser and senior colleagues with detailed analysis.
• Is able to provide clear recommendations based on their expertise.
• Is able to build and maintain a strong network of stakeholders (internally and externally) and is confident collaborating with colleagues at all levels.
• Works at pace and is resilient under pressure; juggling competing priorities and delivering on time and to high quality.

Behaviours

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

• Delivering at Pace
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Leadership
• Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,744, Companies House contributes £13,541 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

We believe that our success is driven by the well-being and satisfaction of our team members at all levels of the organisation. At Companies House we’re committed to providing a comprehensive benefits package that goes beyond the ordinary, ensuring your career journey with us is not only fulfilling, but also rewarding. We pride ourselves on offering a quality work-life balance with our employee wellbeing being central to our working practices.

Head to Our benefits - Working for us - Recruitment (companieshouse.gov.uk) to find out more about the fantastic benefits package we have at Companies House.

We celebrate diversity...

As an equal opportunity employer, we celebrate diversity, being committed to ensuring we’re representative of the citizens we serve and creating an inclusive environment. Everyone in Companies House brings something different, and so will you. To fulfil our commitment to recruiting and attracting diverse talent we welcome applications from underrepresented groups. We also welcome applications from Welsh speakers.

We are proud to be a disability confident leader. Our recruitment process is fully inclusive and we can make adjustments as needed through our process. These could include having an interview buddy, extra time at interviews/assessments and receiving interview questions in advance, to name a few.

If you require any reasonable adjustments at application stage, or if you'd like to discuss any person-centred adjustments, please contact us by emailing recruitmentCH@companieshouse.gov.uk.

Where will you be working?

You will be aligned to our Cardiff office, where you will be expected to attend on a regular basis. We are currently using a hybrid approach to the way we work which provides opportunities for you to be adaptable in the way you work so that you can achieve a healthy balance between your work and home life. The degree of choice you have will depend on your role and your day-to-day work activities. Your manager will agree regular patterns of attendance with you, however you may be required to make yourself available to attend the office more frequently when required to meet business needs.

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 and Experience.This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

In your application form we’d like you to:

1. Tell us about your employment history, including any key responsibilities and achievements.
2. Write a personal statement of 1000 words where you demonstrate how you meet the skills required for this role, providing examples to evidence your level of skill. In your personal statement we are looking for evidence of the sift criteria in bold below.

What will the process look like?

Sift

• Once the advert has closed we will sift applications - this involves reading through them all, please bear with us as this can take some time.
• We may raise the score required if we receive a high number of applications.
• At sift we may choose to take through the highest performing candidates to the next stage. If, after the final stage is completed and roles are unfilled, we will proceed to invite lower scoring candidates to interview.
• At sift candidates will be assessed against experience and alongside your work history the panel will score your application against the following criteria:

1. Developing policy proposals that support delivery of a high profile, ambitious transformation programme.
2. Strong analytical skills and is able to understand complex concepts and legislation.
3. Knowledge and experience of working with legislation and the process of legislative development
4. Communication skills focusing on effectively articulating detailed proposals in a manner that ensures understanding and encourages engagement.

Interview

• Successful candidates from the sift stage will be invited to attend a virtual interview, which will conducted using Microsoft Teams.
• A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles (of the same or lower grade).
• We use a blended interview technique, allowing us to find out more about you.
• We use the Success Profile framework and at interview we will use Success Profiles assessing the Behaviours listed in the advert along with Strengths and Experience.
• There will be an activity as part of the interview - this will be a ten minute presentation assessing your skills and experience working in policy.
• The lead criteria to distinguish between tied candidates will be the behaviour Leadership.

Key dates (dates are indicative only and could be subject to change)

• Closing date - 8th February 2026
• Sifting - w/c 9th February 2026
• Interviews - w/c 23rd February 2026

We’re committed to being diverse and inclusive, so please make your application anonymous by removing all identifying personal information (such as names and dates) from your employment history and personal statement.

Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of recruitment based on fair and open competition with decisions made on the basis of merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles.

Sponsorship

Companies House cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. Companies House holds a Visa sponsorship licence, but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify. Should you apply for this role and require sponsorship, your application may be rejected, and any provisional offers of employment withdrawn.

Security

Successful candidates must pass a Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) check before they can be appointed.

BPSS is an entry level security check. It uses the Police National Computer (PNC) to make sure a candidate has no convictions. The check returns evidence of any current criminal record and un-spent convictions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Nationality statement

As part of our recruitment process, it is essential for all candidates to independently verify their eligibility to work in the UK before applying. This includes a thorough check of your right to work to ensure compliance with UK employment laws, being mindful of the recent changes to going rates detailed on GOV.UK.

Please ensure you have the necessary documentation and permissions in place. Our team is dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce and encourages applicants from all backgrounds to apply. However, it is the candidate's responsibility to ensure they meet the UK's legal requirements to work.

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 : Ieuan Pewtner
• Email : ipewtner1@companieshouse.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitmentch@companieshouse.gov.uk

Further information

We welcome applications in Welsh / Rydym yn croesawi ceisiadau yn y Gymraeg. Selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit, on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. In accordance with the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles, our recruitment and selection processes are underpinned by the requirement of appointment on the basis of merit by fair and open competition. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact infopoint@companieshouse.gov.uk in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commission.