Staff Officer Accountant
Posted Today by HAYS
Negotiable
Inside
Hybrid
Belfast, UK
Summary: The Staff Officer Accountant role within the Department of Justice's Financial Services Division in Carrickfergus involves supporting the Finance Manager with various financial responsibilities, including managing financial processes, preparing accounts, and liaising with auditors. The position requires a qualified accountant with practical experience and strong analytical skills. The role offers flexible working arrangements and opportunities for career advancement within the public sector. CTC clearance is necessary for this position.
Key Responsibilities:
- Managing the financial processing function
- Preparing monthly management accounts and control accounts/reconciliations
- Completing VAT returns
- Supporting in year and year end accounts
- Monitoring and profiling budgets, including variance analysis and reporting
- Maintaining the staff budget
- Asset management
- Analysing financial data and contributing to business case development
- Assisting with FOIs and Assembly Questions
- Liaising with internal and external auditors
- Supporting ad hoc financial projects
Key Skills:
- Full current member of a recognized accounting body
- At least 1 year of practical experience
- Strong interpersonal and written/verbal communication skills
- Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships
- Well developed analytical and problem solving skills
- Strong Excel capability and confidence dealing with numerical data
- Ability to work to tight deadlines and meet reporting requirements
Salary (Rate): £24.04 hourly
City: Belfast
Country: UK
Working Arrangements: hybrid
IR35 Status: inside IR35
Seniority Level: Mid-Level
Industry: Finance
ACCA, NICS, CIMA, ACA, QUALIFIED ACCOUNTANTS, CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT, PUBLIC SECTOR, FORENSIC
Your new company
You will be joining the Department of Justice (DoJ) within the Financial Services Division based at Seapark, Carrickfergus. The team supports the financial operations of Forensic Science NI, managing budgets, reporting, and statutory financial processes. You'll work within a team of five, with one new team member pending placement and one currently on leave.
Your new role
As the SO Accountant, you will support the Finance Manager across a broad range of financial responsibilities. These will include:
- Managing the financial processing function
- Preparing monthly management accounts and control accounts/reconciliations
- Completing VAT returns
- Supporting in year and year end accounts
- Monitoring and profiling budgets, including variance analysis and reporting
- Maintaining the staff budget
- Asset management
- Analysing financial data and contributing to business case development
- Assisting with FOIs and Assembly Questions
- Liaising with internal and external auditors
- Supporting ad hoc financial projects
This role offers flexible working with 2 days per week in the office, with a preference for full office attendance during the first week of employment. CTC clearance is required and typically takes around 6 weeks.
What you'll need to succeed
You must be a full current member of one of the following accounting bodies, with at least 1 year of practical experience:
- Chartered Accountants Ireland
- Institute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland
- Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
- Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
- Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
- Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy
- Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Ireland
You will also demonstrate:
- Strong interpersonal and written/verbal communication skills
- Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships, including with senior management and DoF
- Well developed analytical and problem solving skills
- Strong Excel capability and confidence dealing with numerical data
- Ability to work to tight deadlines and meet reporting requirements
What you'll get in return
- £24.04 per hour/£41,272 annually
- Flexible working (2 office days per week)
- 37 hours per week
- 37 days annual leave
- Contract roles which will open the doors to putting yourself forward for the external competitions coming up in the NICS with the help of your line manager and team.
- Getting your foot in the door to the NICS.
- Experience within a specialised area of the Department of Justice
- Opportunity to support a high impact public sector organisation
- A supportive team environment within Financial Services Division
What you need to do now
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up to date copy of your CV, or call us now.
If this job isn't quite right for you but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.