System Accountant

Job summary

The Insolvency Service is a leading Government agency which plays a crucial role in providing essential services to the public and to business. The work we do is important to the proper functioning of markets, the economy in general and support for thousands of people each year who are in financial difficulty.

Inclusive and diverse teams are important to us. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups underrepresented in our workforce. The Insolvency Service strives to ensure that the agency is a safe, inclusive, and welcoming place for everybody to bring their true self to work and to help the agency to achieve its diversity objectives. We have 9 active employee network groups available to join or become an ally, these include, Carers Network, Disability network group, Employee Assistance, Representatives, FACES Network Group, LGBT+, Mind Matters, Part Time Workers, The Shed - Men’s Network Group and Women’s Network Group.

We value capability, technical skills and experience and we place great emphasis on lifetime development to support our people. We encourage our employees to become more involved in areas they feel strongly about, whether it be for the benefit of the agency, though our Engagement network or in their own local communities via volunteering opportunities.

The Insolvency Service is a great place to work, learn and grow your career!

We are expanding our Systems Accounting team, who work to identify improvements and support change to the Agency's finance systems, improving user experience, championing user needs and enhancing financial control and efficiency.

If you're looking for a chance to shape & deliver positive change, making it easier to derive real value & insight from our data, this could be the role for you. This Systems Accountant role is a great opportunity to drive enhancement to financial systems, modernise ways of working and ensure that Finance and operational teams can work efficiently and safely to deliver a great service to the public.

Job description

We are seeking to recruit two qualified or part-qualified Systems Accountants to our Finance & Commercial operating group.

The roles will report to the Head of Systems Accounting and will work closely with other functional areas within Finance, the wider Agency and across Government, requiring you to build a network of contacts to understand, improve and assure finance systems and processes.

These roles will focus on upcoming projects to improve financial data flows and processes in operational and financial systems, across a varied landscape including Unit4 ERP (Business World), Microsoft Dynamics 365 and other tools and platforms. The roles also provide advice and support to review and incrementally improve existing systems and financial processes, through enhanced use of technology and automation.

The roles offer exposure at senior levels, and a great opportunity to work with multi-disciplinary projects spanning the breadth of the Agency's operations.

Responsibilities

As an SEO Systems Accountant, you will:

• Lead Finance engagement on specific projects, as the Finance subject-matter expert for relevant Finance systems and processes
• confidently & proactively validate understanding and assumptions through collaboration with colleagues inside & outside Finance, to ensure key requirements, concerns and opportunities are identified, agreed, prioritised and documented
• contribute to system & process design decisions, leading on Finance requirements to make best use of system capabilities
• review and assure processes and new design proposals against internal requirements and best practice, providing positive challenge to achieve best outcomes and understand impacts
• report to the Head of Systems Accounting on matters relating to finance systems, and make recommendations for the endorsement of plans relating to these systems
• support the Head of Systems Accounting with demand management, capacity planning and relevant training & guidance across the Systems Accounting team, the wider Finance function and the Agency as relevant.

Person specification

The successful candidates will:

• Quickly build productive, supportive working relationships with expert colleagues in Finance, IT, operational areas and with suppliers, to understand and tackle complex problems together
• understand applicable accounting requirements, particularly Government standards and best practices (Government Financial Reporting Manual (FReM), Managing Public Money, Government Functional Standards and NOVA Functional Reference Model), and how these impact system design and development
• confidently and clearly explain technical finance IT functionality and accounting requirements in plain English - ensuring experts in Finance & Systems understand one another, to expertly communicate requirements, concerns and impacts to stakeholders at all levels both verbally and in writing
• ensure sufficient attention is given to documentation, assurance and testing of system design, fixes and enhancements to support financial control, audit and future maintenance requirements
• understand the business context of financial systems, working with stakeholders across disciplines to achieve the best possible outcomes for the Agency as a whole, building and sharing knowledge of the Agency's structures, processes and systems to support across the team where required
• be able to prioritise competing demands and take ownership of workplans and workload; working at pace to respond appropriately with confident, evidenced expert advice to support on-time delivery with understood, minimised risk
• engage with opportunities across the Government Finance Function, to network and share best practice across the sector
• you will be required to attend an Insolvency Service office at one of the locations listed for 60% of your working time, and occasionally attend other locations. This will count towards your 60% attendance.

Essential Criteria

The successful candidates will:

• hold a recognised CCAB or CIMA Professional Accountancy qualification, such as ACA, ACCA, CIPFA, CIMA and membership of the relevant body; or will be a student member & undertaking the final stage of one of these qualifications, to complete remaining exams and log book within 2 years of taking up post. This will be a contractual obligation, with funding provided.
• have recent practical experience in finance IT system design, improvement or management. Experience with Unit4 ERP (previously known as Agresso Business World) is desirable, but not essential.

Please note: This vacancy is advertised across 11 locations; however, Stratford and Croydon are only available to current Insolvency Service Staff. The advertised salary includes London weighting, which is only applicable to internal candidates.

Qualifications

You must hold a full accountancy qualification from a CCAB member body or CIMA; or be in the final level of study for once of these qualifications, and commit to complete these studies and log book to achieve full qualification within a maximum of 24 months from appointment. Successful applicants will receive funding towards their final CCAB/CIMA exams as appropriate.

Memberships

You must be a fully qualified current member of a CCAB accountancy institute or CIMA; or a part-qualified current student member of a CCAB accountancy institute or CIMA and in your final level of study. Details should be included in the CV section.

Behaviours

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

• Working Together
• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Working Together
• Changing and Improving

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £48,429, Insolvency Service contributes £14,029 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

We want you to have a good work-life balance and want to support you in all that you do, so we offer a great benefits package including:

• flexible working arrangements and flexi-time
• full time new entrants to the Civil Service and those Civil Servants on modernised terms and conditions will be entitled to 25 days leave increasing on a sliding scale to 30 days after 5 years’ service
• in addition to this you are entitled to 8 public/bank holidays plus an additional day of privilege leave
• competitive maternity, paternity and parental leave
• 5 days paid leave for learning and development
• 5 days paid for volunteering
• a Cycle to work scheme
• staff have access to an employee assistance programme, Workplace Wellness, for confidential, independent support and advice during difficult times in either their professional or personal life

Your pension is a valuable part of your total reward package where the employer makes a significant contribution to the cost of your pension. Your contributions come out of your salary before any tax is taken. This means, if you pay tax, your take-home pay will not be reduced by the full amount of your contribution; and your pension will continue to provide valuable benefits for you and your family if you are too ill to continue to work or die before you retire. For more information, visit www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk

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 Experience.

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

CV

Personal Statement

Behaviours

• Behaviour 1 – Working Together
• Behaviour 2 - Changing and Improving

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the CV/Personal Statement, assessing candidates against the essential criteria. Only those who meet the essential criteria at this stage will proceed to a full assessment of their application. If a candidate does not meet the minimum requirements during the initial sift, the remainder of their application will not be reviewed. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview.

CV Guidance

Your CV should provide a clear overview of your employment history, key responsibilities and relevant qualifications. Please ensure details of your essential qualifications are included in this section.

Note: Your CV will be scored as part of the assessment process and will be assessed against the criteria outlined in the job advert.

Personal Statement Guidance

Your personal statement should be no more than 750 words and should explain how you consider your personal skills, qualities, qualifications and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria and qualities outlined in the personal specification.

There are 2 posts available through this campaign:

• 1 permanent post
• 1 fixed-term appointment for 18 Months

Applicants must indicate whether they wish to be considered for:

• the permanent post only;
• the fixed-term post only; or
• either post.

All applications will be assessed through one selection process against the same published criteria. Appointable candidates will be placed in a single merit order. Offers will then be made in strict merit order, taking account of each candidate’s stated willingness and eligibility to accept the relevant contract type.

The fixed-term post is available for 18 Months. Any possibility of extension or permanency is not guaranteed and would be subject to business need, funding and the relevant recruitment rules.

If successful at the sift stage, at interview, you will be assessed on the following:

Experience

Behaviours - assessed through:

• Behaviour 1 - Working Together
• Behaviour 2 - Changing and Improving
• Behaviour 3 - Communicating and Influencing

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Sift – week commencing 22nd August 2026

Interview – week commencing 6th July 2026

Location - MS Teams

Your interview will be conducted by video. Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.

Visa Applicants

To sponsor a candidate under the Skilled Worker visa, a sponsorship licence is required. The Insolvency Service does not currently hold this licence and therefore, cannot legally sponsor Skilled Worker visa applicants.

Hybrid Working

Insolvency Service operates a hybrid working policy subject to business need, giving people the flexibility to choose when and where they work and collaborate with others.

Individuals are expected to work from one of the office locations stated in the advert to connect with their colleagues, as required by their role and business team needs. There is flexibility to split the working week, spending a minimum of 60% in the workplace, which includes the office, site visits, court etc.

Furtherinformation

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

Any move to Insolvency from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service and Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via insolvencyrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Feedback

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 : Dan Gordon
• Email : daniel.gordon@insolvency.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : InsolvencyRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel there have been procedural irregularities at any stage of the recruitment process or that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then in the first instance you should contact hr.recruitment@insolvency.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive you can then contact the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

Applying for a Job - A Candidate Guide Opens in new window (pdf, 3061kB)Insolvency Candidate Information Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 6509kB)