What's involved with this role: Role: Financial Accountant Job Ref: QAD 2709/2201 Pay Rate: Competitive Market Rate Hours per week: 37 hours per week Contract Length: Anticipated 6 months Location: Salisbury or Fareham – 2-3 days per week onsite We are seeking a highly skilled and proactive Financial Accountant. Key accountabilities include the preparation and submission of quarterly VAT returns and acting as the administrative point of contact for interim and final external audits, ensuring all necessary reconciliations and supporting documentation are maintained. The role also involves maintaining the Assurance Framework, providing guidance to the finance community, and preparing statutory financial statements in line with HM Treasury’s Financial Reporting Manual (FReM) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). A successful candidate will possess strong financial accounting expertise, an understanding of statutory accounts, and professional qualifications through CIMA, ICAEW, ACCA, or another recognised CCAB body. Public sector experience and proficiency in Microsoft Excel are essential, alongside the ability to communicate effectively at all levels. Generation and submission of quarterly VAT returns Liaise with the external audit team as the administrative point of contact for the Interim and Final audits, maintaining comprehensive workings and reconciliations to support them. Support delivery and operational finance teams with accounting, policy and VAT issues liaising, where required, with colleagues in the Head Office and the Financial Management Policy and Accounting (FMPA) team. Maintain the Assurance Framework and guide the finance community on assurance activities across the function. Prepare statutory financial statements in accordance with the HM Treasury’s Financial Reporting Manual (FReM) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Process Stewardship of the financial processes and coordinating activity to refresh the process content on the Themis Management System. Provide quality oversight and assurance of financial information, actively encouraging innovation and improvement both within the finance community and with wider influence. Identify and support improvements to business processes, considering organisation effectiveness and not just short-term savings. Key requirements: Understand financial statutory accounts. Financial accounting expertise. Keep up to date with financial reporting requirements (IFRS, FReM). High delivery focus and integrity. Competent with Microsoft Excel. Effective communication in various mediums, including presentation of complex data, at all levels of the organisation. Public sector experience Professionally qualified through CIMA, ICAEW, ACCA or other CCAB body Desirable: Advanced knowledge of financial technologies and Microsoft Excel. Awareness of government accounting and Managing Public Money. Experience within government or Defence specifically is desirable. Please quote the Job Title & Vacancy Reference No. in your application, or we will be unable to match your CV to the role being applied for. Security Clearance: SC highly desirable; candidates with active SC clearance will be fast-tracked Should you require reasonable adjustments at any point during the recruitment process or if there is a more accessible way for us to communicate, please do let us know. If you consider yourself to have a disability or if you are a veteran, and you meet the essential criteria for the role, you will be put forward for the ‘Guaranteed Interview’ scheme whereby you will have the opportunity to discuss this role and your suitability with a member of the Sourcing team. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we provide the best talent and encourage all applications regardless of background, in line with our commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion. "XI Am Please note that clients invariably ask us to strip out contact details from CVs before we submit them for consideration. This is always quicker and easier to do if you send your CV to us in Word format, rather than as a PDF please.