Contents Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information Location Bristol About the job Job summary Are you an experienced Qualified Accountant with a CCAB recognised accountancy body such as CIMA or ACCA? Have you got the enthusiasm and drive to work collaboratively with colleagues, stakeholders and customers, delivering quality at pace? Can you effectively communicate in-person and in writing, translating large volumes of complex and detailed information to a wide audience? Do you seek a role where your work will have a direct impact on our society and can make a real difference? We have a great opportunity to join our Finance team as a Senior Financial Management Accountant. If you are looking for a role that ticks all the boxes, including continued professional development, opportunities to broaden your skills and knowledge in a fast-paced and evolving Agency, whilst delivering quality and assurance to our society, please get in touch. Heres John Golding, Finance Controller, to tell you more about the Agency, Finance Team and what you can expect joining the VCA. About Us Our work is focused on improving vehicle safety and environmental protection by providing robust testing and certification to national and internationally recognised standards. We are a part of the Department of Transport as the designated UK Vehicle Type Approval Authority. With more than 40 years experience, we have become one of the largest and well-respected approval bodies around. The Finance team plays an important role providing support and guidance ensuring compliance for the Vehicle Certification Agency in the UK and its overseas offices. For further information, check out what John Golding Finance Controller, has to say about our Finance Team and what you can expect joining the VCA. Job description As an experienced Qualified Accountant, you will play a key role in our Finance and Resources department, supporting the fundamental work we do. Using your expertise and knowledge to navigate daily tasks, you will be reporting to a variety of internal and external stakeholders. You will find yourself at the centre of a variety of projects and activity in the Agency, contributing ideas and solutions to problems, as well as leading the way for change and improvement to ensure we are working at our best. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively in-person and in writing is necessary as you will be working closely with colleagues and customers in the UK and overseas. Confidence translating complex and abundant information is essential, presenting this content in different formats, including our Annual Report and Accounts and regular updates to senior management, DfT and the wider Agency. You will need to act professionally and in accordance with our organisations values, delivering quality at pace and carefully ensuring your work is accurate and to our exacting standards. Part of your responsibilities will include managing colleagues in the team, supporting their professional growth and ability; ensuring the Finance Team are working systemically to meet deadlines and core business objectives. It is important you can see the bigger picture, sharing your ideas and supporting initiatives that will enable you and your team to work effectively and have a greater impact. We are committed to your ongoing growth and the upskilling of our staff. You will be encouraged to partake in learning modules and training, additional qualifications and will be supported to achieve your career aspirations and goals. We also champion a work-life balance, with flexible working policies and our invested interest in your physical and mental wellbeing, delivering monthly webinars and topical conversations. Your main duties will include but will not be limited to: As a Senior Financial Management Accountant, your key responsibilities will include: Support the Financial Controller with the preparation of quarterly consolidated accounts and annual statutory reporting. Monitor and evaluate financial information systems and recommend improvements. Liaise with credit Control Manager to audit bad debt provisions and recovery. To see the full role information, please see the attached Role Profile Person specification To apply for our Senior Financial Management position, you will need: Experience of working as a Qualified Accountant, CCAB recognised accountancy body such as CIMA or ACCA. Systems experience in a Systems Accountant role or involvement with a systems implementation or upgrade. Public sector FreM accounting knowledge. Strong communication and interpersonal skills. Strong attention to detail and accuracy are vital to this role. The ability to problem solve and apply analytical skills. Experience with multi-currency, multi database, global multi-location entities. Experience with time recording, work-in-progress and billing systems. Experience of leading and line managing a team. Advanced Excel skills. Additional Information This role is suitable for hybrid working, and therefore a combination of workplace and home-based working can be accommodated subject to business requirements. Hybrid working is a non-contractual arrangement where employees have the flexibility to work remotely combined with a minimum of 60% of their working time a month at either their principal workplace (one of the locations cited in the advert) or, when required for business reasons, visiting stakeholders and colleagues, or carrying out detached duty in another VCA workplace. There may be occasions where you are required to attend above the minimum expectation. If you have questions regarding how hybrid working is practiced within the business area, or any reasonable adjustments or flexible working arrangements you may currently have or need in place if successful in your application, please contact the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). VCA does not offer Visa sponsorship. Candidates should ensure they have the appropriate rights to work in the UK before application. Qualifications Qualified Accountant, CCAB recognised accountancy body such as CIMA or ACCA, or working towards this. Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Seeing the Big Picture Making Effective Decisions Working Together Delivering at Pace Benefits Alongside your salary of £44,198, Vehicle Certification Agency contributes £12,804 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. The Vehicle Certification Agency is the designated UK Vehicle Type Approval Authority. We have over 30 years experience supporting industry by providing internationally recognised testing and certification for vehicles, their systems and components. If you would like to read more about VCA and the benefits of working for us visit our Careers website Things you need to know 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 application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and 1000 word personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form. This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience. When considering applying please look at how your experience relates to the role, and within you r CV and Personal Statement please provide detailed evidence of your experience of the following: Experience of working as a Qualified Accountant, CCAB recognised accountancy body such as CIMA or ACCA. Systems experience in a Systems Accountant role or involvement with a systems implementation or upgrade. Experience with multi-currency, multi database, global multi-location entities. Experience working with internal and external auditors. Your personal statement should be a maximum of 1000 words and we recommend a minimum of 250 words for each of the bullet points above. Some guidance to help you with your application can be found in the candidate pack below. Our 2-stage selection process ensures a comprehensive assessment of each applicant's qualifications, skills, and potential fit within our organisation. Stage 1: Initial Experience-Based Sift In this stage, we carefully review all applicants CV & Personal statement to shortlist candidates who meet the experience indicators and possess the necessary qualifications. Stage 2: In-person Interview The final stage involves an in-person Interview, where selected candidates will be invited to visit one of our premises. Merit List Please note that candidates placed on the merit list will be considered for suitable positions as they arise. Being on the merit list may lead to potential opportunities beyond the role of Senior Financial Management Accountant. Sift and Interview The sift is due to take place the week commencing the 5th February 2025. Interviews are likely to be held the week commencing the 24th February 2025. We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates. You are encouraged to become familiar with the role profile, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within. The Department for Transport alongside other Government Departments recruit using Success Profiles. This means for each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate in order to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity. For further information on Success Profiles visit our Careers website. Please note that VCA are unable to offer VISA sponsorship. 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 Adjustments As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. Complete the Assistance required section in the Additional requirements page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if youre deaf, a Language Service Professional. If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via dftrecruitment.grscabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. Document Accessibility If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section. This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email DRGCommsdft.gov.uk for assistance. Further Information For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role. Pre-employment Checking Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicants details held on the IFD will be refused employment. A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government. 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 the Civil 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 : John Golding Email : john.goldingvca.gov.uk Recruitment team Email : dftrecruitment.grscabinetoffice.gov.uk Further information If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact Government Recruitment Services via email: dftrecruitment.grscabinetoffice.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website Here Attachments Senior Financial Management Accountant Role Profile Opens in new window (docx, 672kB) VCA_Candidate_Pack_Finance_Resources_Finance_v1 (003) Opens in new window (pdf, 6517kB) Share this page Print Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn GMail