Job Description

On behalf of The Department for Transport, we are looking for a Financial Accountant (Inside IR35) for a 5 month contract until July 2026 contract based in London or Leeds 4 days a week in the office



Transport matters and what we do at the Department for Transport matters. Click [1] here here to find out more about working for DfT and its agencies. We are different people, one team.

As a Financial Accountant, your main responsibilities will be:

Lead and support the preparation and publication of DfT's financial accounts, ensuring accuracy, compliance and timely delivery. Review publication packs for consistency with draft accounts, identifying errors and driving corrective actions. Support and guide junior team members, offering advice, quality checks and coaching as required. Review key reconciliations, including: Fixed Assets, Leases, Intragroup transactions, Variance analysis Ensure all project and reporting milestones are met, escalating risks or delays where appropriate. Reconcile working capital balances, ensuring integrity and audit readiness of all figures. Review consolidation pack submissions from ALBs, applying a critical, analytical approach to data accuracy and raising queries where necessary. Liaise with the National Audit Office (NAO) and provide clear, complete audit evidence on request. Use advanced Excel and financial systems (SAP, SAC) to support reporting, controls and analysis.

Essential:

Significant experience preparing and reviewing financial accounts in central government, public sector, or multi?entity environments; strong understanding of key reconciliations (fixed assets, leases, intercompany, working capital) and consolidation submissions. Proven ability to challenge financial information, ensure integrity and compliance, produce audit?ready outputs, and work confidently with auditors (including NAO). Skilled in guiding junior team members, providing quality assurance, and coordinating delivery across multiple milestones and deadlines. Advanced Excel capability (pivot tables, lookups, data validation) and strong finance systems literacy, ideally including SAP and SAC.

Desirable:

CCAB/CIMA qualification or equivalent experience. Experience in public sector reporting, Whole of Government Accounts (WGA), or ALB oversight. Understanding of IFRS and FReM.

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



Disability Confident



As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, DfT guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. This scheme encourages candidates with a disability and/or neurodivergence to apply. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.



Armed Forces Covenant



DfT guarantees to interview?veterans or spouses / partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates / military spouses or partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, we?will interview the best candidates from within that group. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our 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".



References



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1. https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-transport