Finance Operations Officer

Details
Reference number

437481

Salary

£25,854 - £33,936

National - £25,854 - £30,850

London - £28,390 - £33,936

Please ensure that you read the Pay and Reward information for civil service and internal colleagues before applying.

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

GBP

Job grade

Executive Officer

Level 1b

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

Finance, Planning and Performance

Type of role

Corporate Finance

Finance

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

• Location
• About the job
• Benefits
• Things you need to know
• Apply and further information

Location

Successful candidates may be based in any of our office locations – Cardiff, Glasgow, or London. We especially welcome applicants from Cardiff and Glasgow.

About the job
Job summary

Ofgem is Great Britain's independent energy regulator. We're at the forefront of change across the energy sector, driving towards Net Zero whilst protecting energy consumers, especially vulnerable people.

Ready to take a key role in Ofgem's financial operations? As a Finance Operations Officer, you'll ensure accurate and timely processing of the monthly VAT return and cashflow, contribute to month-end procedures including fixed asset register maintenance, as well as support the audit of Ofgem's Annual Report and Accounts.

Your expertise spans various areas. You'll expertly assess the VAT treatment of expenses in line with HMRC rules for Government departments. You'll also excel in understanding the changing requirements around VAT and how they affect Ofgem's return as well as help address VAT queries from the wider Ofgem business.

Your commitment to accuracy is key as a Finance Operations Officer as you'll handle balance sheet reconciliations and adjustment journals, actively investigating discrepancies and coordinating with stakeholders for resolutions. You'll also build the expertise to support the preparation of the monthly cashflow submission to HM Treasury. Your role is instrumental in supporting external audits of Ofgem's Annual Report and Accounts, ensuring compliance with auditors' queries and delivering necessary audit evidence within set deadlines.

Building effective relationships is pivotal to your role. You'll foster strong connections with multiple teams, including the Accounts Payable Team, Procurement Team, Management Accounting Team, Finance Business Partners, as well as contract managers and budget holders across Ofgem. You'll also engage externally with the National Audit Office.

If you're prepared to contribute your skills to our dynamic team, playing a crucial part in maintaining Ofgem's financial stability and accountability, we invite you to apply and become an integral part of our organisation.

Ofgem values inclusion, celebrating the diverse voices and experiences of our colleagues. We encourage different perspectives and experiences in our work, making everyone welcome in our inclusive workplace, where employees can bring their authentic selves to work.

Job description

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare monthly balance sheet reconciliations, investigating discrepancies and liaising with relevant stakeholders to resolve.
• Prepare monthly VAT return, ensuring VAT is reclaimed in line with HMRC's Contracted Out Services headings.
• Maintain the Fixed Asset Register, processing additions, disposals and depreciation.
• Support the external audit of Ofgem's Annual Report and Accounts – assist with the management of the Client Liaison Schedule to ensure all samples and required audit evidence is provided to the auditors by the required due dates; liaise with various stakeholders to address queries raised by the auditors.
• Support other external reporting including working with teams across Ofgem to prepare the monthly cash flow forecast for submission to HM Treasury.
• Provide accurate advice and guidance to teams across Ofgem on accounting policies and systems including the recoverability of VAT on purchases.
• Build effective relationships with the Management Accounting Team, Accounts Payable Team, Finance Business Partners and other corporate services functions such as Payroll.

Key Outputs and Deliverables

• Month end tasks are prepared to timetable, including accurate and fully reconciled balance sheet reconciliations, the VAT return, and the cash flow forecast.
• Audit evidence and responses to audit queries are provided on a timely basis and satisfy the auditors' requests.
• Prompt responses and accurate advice is provided to teams across Ofgem, delivering a high level of service.

Person specification

Essential:

• Experience of working in a finance team, with a good understanding of financial reporting, accounting journals and reconciliations (Lead criteria).
• Team player, customer focussed and able to effectively communicate with both internal and external stakeholders, offering advice and resolving queries.
• Ability to prioritise and work accurately under pressure.
• Excellent attention to detail and good analytical and problem-solving skills.

Desirable:

• Working towards a CCAB, AAT or equivalent qualification.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £25,854, OFGEM contributes £7,489 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Ofgem can offer you a comprehensive and competitive benefits package which includes; 30 days annual leave after 2 years; Excellent training and development opportunities; The opportunity to join the generous Civil Service pension which also includes a valuable range of benefits; hybrid working (currently 1 day a week in the office but this is kept under review), flexible working hours and family friendly policies. Plus lots of other benefits including clean and bright offices based centrally, engaged networks and teams and an opportunity to contribute to our ambitious and important targets of establishing a Net Zero energy system by 2050. This exciting blend of professional challenge and personal reward identifies career opportunities at Ofgem as something to get excited about.

Things you need to know
Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours, Ability and Experience.

When you press the 'Apply now' button, you will be directed to a Civil Service test – guidance for this can be found here Civil Service online tests - GOV.UK ). The test you are due to take is not timed and you can complete it at your own pace. Upon passing the test, you will be asked to complete personal details (not seen by the sift panel), your career history and qualifications.

You will then be asked to provide a 1250 word 'personal statement' evidencing how you meet the essential criteria listed in the role profile. Please ensure you demonstrate clearly, within your supporting statement, how you meet each of the essential criteria.

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application or used during interview, including your CV and any statements or examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Ofgem takes any incidences of cheating very seriously. Please ensure all examples provided are of your own experience. Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant applications will be withdrawn from the process. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.

Please refer to Civil Service candidate advice on the acceptable use of artificial intelligence within the recruitment and selection process - Artificial intelligence and recruitment , Civil Service Careers

The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected, you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found by [].

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)
• 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

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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 .

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 and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans 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 : Lucy Dowding
• Email :

Recruitment team

• Email :

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel there has been a breach of these Recruitment Principles.

In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly via If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website.

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