Public Sector Financial Reporting Specialist

**JOB DESCRIPTION**

**_ Public Sector Financial Reporting Specialist_**

**Business Unit**
- Audit & Assurance - Audit Quality Support Team (AQST)**Reporting To**
- AQST Public Sector Partner**Key Relationships**
- AQST, Public Sector Audit Team, Accounting Technical Services (ATS)**Grade**
- Manager / Senior Manager**Location**
- Any**Role Summary
The public sector is one of Mazars' core strategic markets and is a priority area for our investment and growth.
We provide audit and assurance services to some of the largest and most prestigious public service providers across England and Scotland through framework arrangements with Public Sector Audit Appointments, the National Audit Office, and Audit Scotland, as well as being directly appointed by a range of NHS bodies.

As a leading supplier of public sector external audit, we are looking for new team members who are passionate about financial reporting in the public sector and progressing their career through supporting the delivery of high-quality audits across NHS, Local Government and Central Government sectors in England and Scotland.

As one of our Public Sector Financial Reporting Specialists you will report to our public sector technical leadership team, and be responsible for:

- Supporting auditors to deal with increasingly complex financial reporting matters;
- Providing technical leadership on emerging financial reporting issues;
- Promoting best practice and developing the technical ability of our wider public sector team.

The role requires a good understanding of public sector financial reporting, strong communication skills, an ability to build professional relationships and a passion for developing your own knowledge.

**Responsibilities**

Specific responsibilities include:

- Liaising with relevant standard setters such as CIPFA, HM Treasury and DHSC
- Working with key stakeholders to develop guidance on sector-specific financial reporting matters
- Actively contributing to relevant technical groups including NAO technical networks and a range of panels and boards
- Developing and delivering training for public sector auditors
- Supporting the development of client-facing technical content such as briefings and awareness-raising sessions
- Carrying out technical reviews of financial statements
- Responding to financial reporting queries from auditors and providing ad hoc support for audit teams on complex technical matters
- Drafting responses to public sector financial reporting consultations
- Supporting the firm's thought-leadership activities

**Skills, Experience and Knowledge required**

Essential criteria:

- Strong knowledge of either local government or NHS financial reporting frameworks and how they applied across a range of relevant public sector bodies
- A good understanding of underlying IFRS
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills and an ability to discuss technical matters with a range of audiences
- Ability to build effective relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders
- A keen interest in developing our business and our people and contributing to our continuing growth in the public sector
- Relevant accounting qualification CPFA, ACA, ACCA, CA (or equivalent)

Desirable criteria:

- Experience of delivering financial statement hot reviews of local government bodies
- Experience working as part of a technical function in a firm delivering public sector audit work
- Experience of developing and delivering technical training
- Knowledge of other public sector financial reporting frameworks (e.g. housing and education sectors)

**Inclusion at Mazars**
- At Mazars inclusion is central to our values. We recognise that being an inclusive organisation makes us stronger as a business._
- We are open to having conversations about flexible working. Our client-facing professionals can often be required to travel regularly or may be based at client sites, but our approach to agile working can help achieve a lifestyle balance without compromising on client service._

**Benefits**:
Annual Leave +

Charitable Giving

Dental Insurance

Wellbeing Benefits

Virtual GP

Cycle to Work

Gym Discounts

Life Assurance

Pension

Flexible Benefits +

**Meet the recruiter**:
Verity Eden