Head of Management Accounts

About the Government Legal Department

From healthcare to artificial intelligence, energy to national security, we provide legal advice to government departments on nation‑changing subjects.

Bristol, Leeds, Manchester

At Government Legal Department we have a vital, single‑minded purpose: to help the Government govern well within the rule of law. This is complemented by our exciting vision to be an outstanding legal organisation, committed to the highest standards of service and professionalism and a brilliant place to work where we can all thrive and fulfil our potential. Our work touches almost every aspect of public life.

We are the largest provider of legal services across government, working on high‑profile matters. Our respected professionals are involved in everything from regulation and litigation to advice on drafting legislation, providing expertise to a full range of government departments. We are at the heart of delivering the government’s priorities and our success depends on our people. GLD is a non‑ministerial government department headed by the Treasury Solicitor and our Permanent Secretary, and employs nearly 4000 people, including nearly 3000 legal professionals.

We have offices nationwide in Bristol, Leeds, inner and outer London and Manchester, and our lawyers can also be located within other departments and overseas. GLD also depends on a range of cross‑functional professionals for corporate services, with nearly 1000 colleagues helping our purpose and delivering more than law. This is an exciting time to join GLD, with cutting‑edge legal work on global issues and a transformation agenda that is ensuring the Department exemplifies the Modern Civil Service.

Finance, Planning and Performance Division (FPPD) ensures GLD has effective business planning and sound financial and performance management processes. The division has about 50 staff covering transaction processing, financial and management accounting, planning, performance, finance policy, procurement and Bona Vacantia Finance. GLD’s external reporting requirements are the same as those of larger government departments, and the division maintains a robust internal performance and finance regime to secure maximum value for money.

We are looking for a motivated and suitably experienced individual to join the Accounts Team as Head of the Management Accounting function. The team, consisting of one Grade 7 and a Higher Executive Officer, is responsible for planning and coordination of the Department’s annual budget and quarterly forecasts, month‑end accounting processes, budgeting and fee setting, supporting senior management with financial decision‑making.

• Support the Assistant FD in the design of the budgeting and forecast processes
• Coordinate the commissioning, consolidation and analysis of the annual departmental budgeting process
• Coordinate the commissioning, consolidation and analysis of the quarterly department forecasting process
• Coordinate the budgetary delegation process
• Support the FD in setting client fees and, for fixed fees, manage the change process around fees and instruct the billing team to issue quarterly fees
• Prepare and issue monthly management account reports to budget holders
• Work with the accounts team to support month‑end processes, including deep‑dive analysis on specific spend areas and analysis of CMS time and disbursements balances
• Provide advice, training and support to budget holders on preparation of budgets and forecasts, working with Finance Business Partners to ensure a high‑quality service
• Manage a Higher Executive Officer (HEO) direct report

Below are the Success Profiles that make up this role. Demonstrating all the behaviours listed below is essential at either application or interview. We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

Essential – must be demonstrated at application and interview

• Budgeting
• Forecasting
• Advanced Excel skills
• Advanced accounting
• Experience of coordinating a complex finance consolidation process
• Excellent communication skills

Desirable

• Fee setting
• Familiarity with government finance including Supply Estimates and Government Financial Reporting Manual
• Experience in using Power BI reporting

• CCAB (ICAEW, ACCA, CIPFA, ICAS) or
• CIMA full accountancy qualification held

For more information and to apply, please visit our website via the apply button below.