Head of Financial Control - UK Health Security Agency

Job Description

Head of Financial ControlGrade 6 - £65,302 - £78,805Remote with travel to regional hubs as and when requiredPermanent ContractThis role will require full UK security clearance and you should have resided in the UK for the past 5 years. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is seeking a Head of Financial Control to join our Finance Senior Leadership Team. The successful candidate will play a critical role in the finance function, acting as the primary resource for technical accounting andcontrol improvement processes.As Head of Financial Control, you will assume a leadership role supporting our Financial Operations and Control functions covering Financial Accounting (including statutory reporting and auditing), Counter Fraud, Cash, Asset, and Tax Management, AccountsPayable and Accounts Receivable. You will be responsible for advising Directors and other senior staff to foster a culture of sound financial probity and compliance.Our Finance Directorate’s aim is to provide UKHSA with efficient, effective, and economic financial services to enable the organisation to achieve its strategic goals, as well as taking the lead on numerous general activities. You will be accountable forleading the improvement agenda relating to our financial systems, reporting, and data capabilities. You will also be responsible for developing and supporting the implementation of financial procedures, strategies, policies, and solutions to help the organisationand its leaders operate a best practice delivery of its financial controls.This role reports to the Deputy Director of Finance Operations and Control and plays a critical role in being the organisation’s primary resource for financial reporting and financial compliance.. .The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) offers hybrid working - this means that whilst the role will be based in one of our offices, there will be opportunities for an element of working from home. UKHSA have office locations across the UK.This role can be based at one of our UKHSA offices/locations (Leeds, Manchester, Totnes, London, Mildenhall, Horsham, Cardiff, Bristol, Nottingham, Harlow, Liverpool, Fareham, Gloucester, Newcastle and Birmingham) with opportunities for an elementof working from home. You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process. The balance between home and workplace working is to be agreed with the line manager, determined primarily by business needs and in line with departmental policy.*Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.*Working Pattern - Flexible Working, Home or Remote Working, Full timeResponsibilities section: The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

• Leading on matters related to financial control
• Representing the Deputy Director at meetings and events both within and external to UKHSA if required.
• Developing and supporting the implementation of financial procedures, strategies, policies and solutions to help the organisation and its leaders operate a best practice’ delivery of its financial controls
• Providing expert financial advice to Directors and other senior management staff
• Provision of guidance and interpretation of UKHSA financial policy, including the continuous improvement of such policies as aligned to best practice.
• Provision of technical accounting advice in relation to the implementation both of new standards, and existing standards in relation to any new services provided by UKHSA.
• Review of existing accounting approaches to ensure current technical stance is appropriate for existing services provided by the organisation.
• Support the Financial Control and Improvement Programme currently on-going, including managing projects to improve financial controls, including but not limited to asset reviews and IFRS 16 module implementation.
• Work with the Head of Financial Accounting as required to support the audit providing technical accounting papers and leading on complex technical issues from an audit perspective.
• Preparing and running training as required for both finance and non-finance staff to ensure they are appropriately trained in relation to financial and technical accounting.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.Essential Criteria:It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 1500 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following criteria:Essential

• A qualified accountant (CCAB or CIMA) with post-qualification experience and evidence of continuing professional development.
• Expert technical accountant, with experience implementing new accounting standards and reviewing extremely complex and judgemental accounting areas and devising the appropriate accounting approach.
• Experience facilitating audits.
• Experience preparing policies and procedures relating to financial control.
• Confident running training sessions for groups of up to 50 people, across a wide range of grades and experience levels.
• Well-developed problem-solving skills and the ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands and experience of troubleshooting within a financial control environment.

Desirable

• Experience within audit firms (public/private sector)
• Experience of a science-based organisation
• Experience of writing and presenting papers to governance committees