Senior Accounting Technician, HEO, Perm, Liverpool/Newport

Job summary

• Are you able to analyse complex case work and financial information to form sound judgements and conclusions?
• Do you have an aptitude for analysis and have excellent written and verbal communication skills to present your findings?
• Are you a team player who thrives in a fast-paced environment, where no day is ever the same?

The Accountancy team is a close-knit team of 16 that leads on providing expert advice to the Commission’s case work, proactive projects relating to charity finances, as well as leading on policy proposals with a significant Accountancy element and advising on projects within the business.

As a Senior Accounting Technician, you will be accountable for analysing financial information and providing expert advice to the Commission’s case working teams. You will produce reports detailing your findings ensuring all matters are accurately addressed in a professional, efficient, timely manner. Your judgement and findings will support the Commission to take appropriate timely solutions and/ or regulatory outcomes. You will escalate complex/high-risk issues and decisions as appropriate.

The role requires the ability to work in a fast-paced, customer-focussed environment dealing with high-risk and complex matters. High standards of written work and fluent verbal communication skills are essential. You must be able to work independently within a wider team, deliver at pace, strive to meet all desired performance levels and be confident working in a digital environment.

Job description

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• Carry out reviews of charity reports and accounts scrutiny and bank analysis reports for matters referred from the operational divisions, identifying any possible causes for concern and any instances of failure to comply with the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) for charities, advising on recommendations for the case officer and case strategy.

• Analyse accounting records and bank statements from Charities using specialist Altia software when necessary, highlighting and documenting underlying risks, issues and recommendations in written reports to inform case strategy and regulatory solutions/outcomes.

• Working on your own initiative, supporting the team in undertaking proactive systematic or ad hoc accounts monitoring exercises to identify trends or areas of non-compliance.

• Planning for and participating in books and records visits to Charities – identifying risk factors and potential consequences.

• Build capability of case officers through training and sharing knowledge and skills with case officers and own team- actively contributing to the quality of service provided by the team.

• Support continuous improvement and better ways of working. This will include being innovative with technology.

• Personally contribute to the achievement of the department’s targets, including performance and quality expectations.

• Undertake the agreed course of study to become a CCAB (ICAEW, ICAS, ICAI, ACCA, CIPFA) or CIMA qualified accountant.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

Ability:

• Aptitude for accountancy analysis and an ability to turn the outputs of the analysis into accountancy reports that can be shared with case officers.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to analyse complex case work/information to form sound judgements and conclusions.

Experience:

• Ability to organise own workload and prioritise.
• Analytical skills to evaluate financial information.
• Experience of managing a large workload with evidence of planning and prioritising competing demands to ensure performance targets and deadlines are met.
• Application of risk management principles during the management of work and when making decisions.
• Anticipate, investigate and resolve problems in systems, processes and services.
• Experience in innovating and improving processes or ways of working.

Technical:

• AAT qualified; or working towards a CCAB (ICAEW, ICAS, ICAI, ACCA, CIPFA) or CIMA qualification; or possession of a relevant degree offering exemptions from CCAB or CIMA examinations.
• Agreement to undertake study to become a CCAB (ICAEW, ICAS, ICAI, ACCA, CIPFA) or CIMA qualified accountant.
• A knowledge of the charity accounting framework and the charity SORP
• Understanding of the principles of accruals accounting.
• Sound knowledge of Microsoft applications including Excel
• Handling data and information sensitively in accordance with the business procedures and/or law.

Qualifications

AAT qualified; or working towards a CCAB (ICAEW, ICAS, ICAI, ACCA, CIPFA) or CIMA qualification; or possession of a relevant degree offering exemptions from CCAB or CIMA examinations.

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Changing and Improving

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £35,384, Charity Commission contributes £10,250 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

This is your chance to make a contribution that really matters and to make an impact in an organisation where your voice will be heard and your hard work noticed.

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We operate a flexible hybrid working policy where office attendance is combined with homeworking days dependent on role and corporate requirements.

We recognise everyone as an individual, accepting people for who they are and treating everyone fairly. We welcome the unique contribution diverse applicants bring from all backgrounds and we aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We champion inclusion and wellbeing, aiming to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and has a sense of belonging.

We do not discriminate on the basis of culture, ethnicity, race, nationality or national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, religion or belief, disability status, sexual orientation, educational or social background or any other factor.

We offer access to the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme (employer contributions of 28.97%), far more than in the private sector, and a flexible, family-friendly environment. Additionally, you can look forward to other great benefits via our ‘Perkbox’ and ‘Edenred’ schemes. These include everything from an interest-free season ticket loan, tenancy deposit loan scheme and bicycle loan (after two months) to discounts on gym membership, cinema tickets and restaurants. Please see the attached Charity Commission benefits document.

A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30 days per year. You have the opportunity to purchase up to an additional 5 days annual leave (pro rata) per year, requests must be submitted in the February of that year.

The Charity Commission’s operational ambition is to realise the Commission’s values of being an expert regulator that is fair, balanced, and independent, which works in a wa