Job responsibilities
- Lead the coordination of approximately 2,000 audit samples for both interim and year-end accounts, ensuring timely commissioning and collation of high-quality supporting evidence in line with audit requirements.
- Liaise with internal and external stakeholders, including finance and non-finance teams, to obtain appropriate and robust evidence that meets National Audit Office (NAO) standards.
- Provide bi-weekly verbal updates to the Financial Accounts and Control Annual Accounts meetings, reporting on the status of each sample area and highlighting any risks or delays.
- Lead NAO sample meetings ensuring that all agreed actions between NAO and UKHSA are tracked and completed within agreed timelines.
- Manage and update sample trackers, detailed schedules, and the shared audit requests inbox to ensure a clear, auditable trail of all evidence and correspondence. Be prepared to report on sample status to senior stakeholders on a daily basis if required.
- Assist Finance workstream leads in implementing agreed actions in response to NAO audit recommendations, contributing to continuous improvement in financial governance and control.
- Exercise discretion and sound judgment in resolving operational issues, interpreting guidance, and adapting procedures to meet audit and organisational needs. Provide expert advice to senior colleagues where appropriate.
- Identify opportunities to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of audit evidence collection and reporting processes, contributing to the development of best practices within the team.
- Operate independently within a defined area of responsibility, managing day-to-day tasks and priorities with minimal supervision, while escalating complex or policy-sensitive issues as needed
- Ensure all activities are conducted in accordance with internal controls, financial regulations, and audit standards, maintaining the integrity and credibility of financial reporting.
Essential Criteria:
- Demonstrable experience in supporting year-end audits, particularly in the coordination and provision of high-quality sample evidence in line with external audit requirements.
- Proven ability to work effectively with non-financial stakeholders, providing clear guidance on financial processes and audit evidence expectations.
- Expert knowledge of core financial operations, with a strong focus on Receivables, Payables, and Purchase-to-Pay (P2P) functions.
- Good understanding of General Ledger structures, double-entry bookkeeping principles, and practical experience in the preparation and processing of manual journals.
- Experience in supporting the implementation of audit recommendations, including tracking progress and contributing to process improvements.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex financial information clearly and confidently to a range of audiences.
- Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel ,Word, Outlook, and Teams.
- Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and demonstrate strong organisational skills, attention to detail, and sound judgement in problem-solving.
- Capable of making day-to-day operational decisions within established policies and procedures, with the discretion to interpret guidance and adapt processes as needed.
- Experience in managing or coordinating discrete areas of work, including the potential to supervise staff, allocate tasks, and contribute to performance management and resource planning.
- Educated to Level 4 qualification with AAT, CCAB, CIMA or qualified by experience with a minimum of 3 years finance experience in an equivalent role.
Desirable Criteria:
- Experience of supporting the delivering of change and transformation initiatives
- Working Knowledge of Oracle Fusion ERP system
Selection Process Details:
This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
Stage 1: Application & Sift
Success Profiles
You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 11 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:
- Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
- 750 word supporting statement.
This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.
The Application form and supporting statement will be marked together.
Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Please do not email us your CV.
Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:
- Meets all essential criteria
- Meets some essential criteria
- Meets no essential criteria
If longlisting is used, the pile 'meets all essential criteria' will proceed to shortlisting.
Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications an initial sift will be conducted of the lead criteria of:
- Demonstrable experience in supporting year-end audits, particularly in the coordination and provision of high-quality sample evidence in line with external audit requirements.
- Expert knowledge of core financial operations, with a strong focus on Receivables, Payables, and Purchase-to-Pay (P2P) functions.
- Good understanding of General Ledger structures, double-entry bookkeeping principles, and practical experience in the preparation and processing of manual journals.
Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications / large amount of successful candidates
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment.Please do not exceed 750 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number. Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2: Interview
Success Profiles - GOV.UK
You will be invited to a single remote interview.
Behaviours will be tested at interview.
The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:
- Working Together
- Working at Pace
- Managing a Quality Service
- Changing and Improving
Interview dates to be confirmed.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Selection Process
Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Please do not email us your CV.
Eligibility CriteriaExternal- Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants). Location
This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQs. We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's core HQs (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London- Canary Wharf).
Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport link and benefit from benefit from co location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).
Security Clearance Level Requirement
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard.
