Head of Financial Reporting

**Details**:
**Reference number**:

- 274158**Salary**:

- £50,305 - £61,145-
**Job grade**:

- Grade 7**Contract type**:

- Permanent**Type of role**:

- Finance**Working pattern**:

- Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time**Number of jobs available**:

- 1Contents

Location

About the job

**Benefits**:
Things you need to know

Location
- Didcot, South East England, OX11 0QR : Swindon, South West England, SN2 1SZ : City of Westminster, London (region), SW1H 0NBAbout the job

**Job summary**:
**Background: The UK Space Agency**:
The UK Space Agency (UKSA) is an executive agency of the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) and provides technical advice on the government’s space strategy, supporting the UK space sector to deliver the government’s vision.

Space is a part of everyday life. Satellites underpin our national economy, from agriculture and banking to aviation and shipping, and support our national security. Space science provides critical data to understand and address global challenges such as climate change, while missions to explore our solar system unite nations and advance humanity’s horizons.

We support a thriving space sector in the UK, which generates an annual income of £16.5 billion and employs 47,000 people across the country.

Through our portfolio of programmes and projects, we encourage the development of national space capabilities and are an early-stage investor in space research and development. We also promote the UK space sector’s interests and achievements; make connections to join up industry and academia; and represent the UK in international space programmes.

We have a powerful global voice, partnering with institutions across the world, including the European Space Agency.

**Our Inclusive Environment**

We have an inclusive culture to make UKSA a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it will help us be more innovative and make better decisions.

We offer first-class flexible working benefits, excellent employee well-being support and a great pension. We are fortunate to have a range of excellent staff networks and are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We will support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive.

**Job description**:
This is an exciting opportunity for a high-performing, qualified finance professional to join the UK Space Agency’s Finance team as Head of Finance Reporting. Reporting to the Assistant Director of Finance the post will be a leading and very visible role within the UKSA finance team. They will be able to demonstrate technical accounting skills of the highest quality developed within environments demanding the highest levels of transparency and probity. Likewise, experience and an understanding of accounting principles relating to complex accounts and successfully delivering large scale business process and control improvements are also essential. Experience and understanding of public sector accounting principles is highly advantageous. Key responsibilities will include but not be limited to:
- Oversight of delivery of the UKSA Exchequer Accounts, in collaboration with UKSBS (shared services provider) to meet the needs of the UKSA and the DSIT year-end timetable, whilst continually improving the clarity and impact of both financial reporting and non-statutory disclosures.
- Management of the relationship with the NAO to ensure that they complete their audit to agreed timescales.
- Development of accounting policies for new grant schemes.
- Provision of technical accounting advice to both finance and non-finance colleagues.
- Active participation in governance forums across UKSA providing expert financial advice, guidance, and support to a range of stakeholders.
- Advising on the design of financial controls, and on the measurement of fraud and error within grant expenditure.

**Person specification**:
**Essential Skills, Knowledge Experience and Qualifications**:

- CCAB qualified.
- Strong technical accountant, with detailed knowledge of IFRS and FReM.
- Ability to construct and present accounting policies for complex transactions, and to interpret the IFRS conceptual framework in situations where IFRS standards are not directly applicable.
- Building and maintaining strong and effective relationships with a range of stakeholders
- Significant experience of dealing with auditors (or a background in auditing), and the ability to anticipate and proactively address audit risks.
- A thorough understanding of managing public money and consolidated budgeting guidance.
- An understanding of grants functional standards.
- Ability to advise and support stakeholders in the development of complex business cases.
- Ability to explain and articulate complex financial information to aid business decision making