Head of Accounting and Reporting

On behalf of The Crown Prosecution Service , we are looking for a Head of Accounting and Reporting (Inside IR35) for a an initial contract until March 2027 based remotely with ad hoc basis in London.

Role Profile:

This is a senior leadership role requiring an accomplished finance professional with extensive Civil Service or wider public sector experience. As the organisation's leading technical accounting expert , you will oversee financial accounting, reporting, government budgeting, and financial governance while leading a high-performing finance team.

The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in ensuring the delivery of high-quality management accounts, statutory reporting, year-end accounts, and financial advice to senior executives and external stakeholders.

As a Head of Accounting and Reporting , your main responsibilities will be to:

PLEASE NOTE: Active SC Clearance is an essential requirement for this role, as a minimum you must be willing & eligible to undergo checks. Please note, due to the exceptional requirements of this position (short-term nature of this role and speed at which we require a postholder in situ) preference may be given to candidates who meet all of the essential criteria and hold active security clearance.

- Lead the Accounting & Reporting function and provide technical finance leadership across the organisation.
- Manage and develop the Management Accounting team and wider finance resources.
- Oversee the production of monthly management accounts and financial reporting packs.
- Lead the preparation and delivery of Annual Report & Accounts in accordance with government accounting requirements.
- Ensure compliance with IFRS, HM Treasury guidance, the Government Financial Reporting Manual (FReM), and other relevant accounting standards.
- Provide expert technical advice on complex accounting and government budgeting matters.
- Lead Whole of Government Accounts (WGA) submissions and associated reporting requirements.
- Support budget planning, forecasting, and government budgeting activities.
- Maintain robust financial controls , governance arrangements, and assurance processes.
- Manage relationships with the National Audit Office (NAO) and external auditors.
- Present financial information and recommendations to senior executives, Boards, and Audit & Risk Assurance Committees.
- Identify financial risks and opportunities and recommend appropriate mitigation strategies.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives across financial reporting processes, systems, and controls .
- Implement audit recommendations and drive best practice across the finance function.

Essential:

- Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent).
- Significant experience operating at a senior level within the Civil Service or wider public sector finance environment.
- Demonstrable expertise in technical financial accounting and government budgeting.
- Recent hands-on experience leading the production of Annual Report & Accounts.
- Experience providing technical financial advice and exercising professional judgement on complex accounting and budgeting issues.
- Proven experience engaging with senior stakeholders, Executive teams, Boards, and Audit & Risk Assurance Committees.
- Experience working directly with HM Treasury and other central government bodies.
- Active SC Clearance.

Desirable:

- Oracle Financials experience.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.

Disability Confident

As a Disability Confident employer, The Crown Prosecution Service encourage applications from disabled and neurodivergent candidates . Applications from candidates who identify as having a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role will be prioritised for review. Where application volumes are high, additional role-specific and desirable criteria may be applied as part of the shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following "this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different".