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Head of Management Accounts
Croydon On-site 5-10 yrs exp Accounting 63 employees
BudgetingForecastingAdvanced ExcelIFRS Accounting StandardsFinancial Consolidation
Requirements
Applicants must hold a full CCAB or CIMA accountancy qualification and demonstrate budgeting, forecasting, advanced Excel, IFRS knowledge, complex finance consolidation experience, and strong communication skills. The role also requires leadership and stakeholder skills; fee setting, government finance knowledge, and Power BI experience are desirable.
Job Description
Job Summary
About the Government Legal Department
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 fulfill 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. They provide expertise to the 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, 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. Our lawyers can also be located within other departments and overseas.
GLD also depends on a range of cross-functional professionals to provide our corporate services. There are nearly 1000 colleagues playing an essential part in helping GLD to achieve its purpose and truly deliver much more than law.
This is an exciting time to join GLD, with cutting edge legal work on global issues and a transformation agenda which is ensuring the Department exemplifies the Modern Civil Service.
Job Description
About the Finance Division
The Finance Division plays a vital role in helping GLD deliver its business objectives by providing effective business planning, financial management and performance reporting.
Our team of around 50 colleagues supports a wide range of activities, including accounts payable, customer billing, banking and expenses, financial planning and reporting, finance policy, procurement, and Bona Vacantia (BV) Finance. We also provide financial services to the Attorney General's Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate.
As a smaller department, GLD has the same external reporting responsibilities as much larger government organisations. This means our Finance team has a unique opportunity to make a real impact, ensuring strong financial control, delivering value for money for our clients, and supporting informed decision-making across the organisation.
The breadth of work on offer is one of the things that makes GLD Finance special. You'll gain exposure to a diverse range of finance activities and build experience across multiple disciplines in a collaborative and supportive environment. GLD Finance is primarily based in central London, with colleagues also located in our Croydon and Salford offices.
This role sits within the Accounts Team and is central to delivering high-quality financial management across the department. The team is responsible for month-end and year-end accounting, budgeting, forecasting, fee setting and tax reporting. Working closely with senior leaders, you'll provide insight and advice that supports strategic decision-making and helps the Accounting Officer meet GLD's statutory reporting responsibilities.
" This is an exciting time to join the Government Legal Department. GLD plays a vital cross-government role, supporting departments on issues of national importance while ensuring our own corporate services are modern, efficient and focused on delivering value for money.
As Director of Finance, Operations and Digital, I am proud of the role our finance teams play in putting high-quality financial insight at the centre of strategic decision-making. Our ambition is to build a finance function that reflects the best of the Government Finance Function Strategy: professional, data-led, commercially aware, focused on value for money, and able to support better outcomes for GLD and the wider public sector.
The Head of Management Accounts role is central to that ambition. It offers an excellent opportunity to coordinate GLD’s budgets and forecasts, lead high-quality management reporting, and work closely with senior finance colleagues, Executive Committee members and Divisional Heads to support delivery of our financial strategy and Spending Review commitments.
This is also a period of significant transformation. We are taking forward ambitious efficiency plans, strengthening our data strategy so that trusted, secure and well-governed information supports better insight and responsible use of AI, and aligning with the Government’s Shared Services agenda to simplify processes, improve user experience and release capacity for higher-value work.
This role will suit someone who is motivated by public service, enjoys working with complex financial information, and wants to help shape how finance enables strategic decisions in a major government department. If you want to make a tangible contribution to GLD’s future and develop your career in the Government Finance Function, I would strongly encourage you to apply.
Carmel
Carmel Thornton, Government Legal Department Director of Finance, Operations and Digital "
About The Role
We’re looking for an experienced finance professional to lead GLD’s Management Accounting function and help shape the department’s financial planning and decision-making.
Leading a small team, you’ll oversee budgeting, forecasting, management accounting and fee-setting activities, providing high-quality financial insight to support senior leaders. You’ll work with a wide range of stakeholders, manage complex financial information and play a key role in ensuring GLD effectively balances its income and expenditure.
This is an excellent opportunity for someone with strong analytical, communication and leadership skills who enjoys using financial data to drive informed decision-making. You’ll gain exposure to strategic finance issues, influence senior stakeholders and contribute directly to the successful financial management of the organisation.
If you’re looking to develop your career in strategic finance and management accounting within a collaborative and supportive environment, we’d love to hear from you.
Key Responsibilities And Tasks Areas
Behaviours
Below are details of the Success Profiles that make up this role. Demonstrating all the behaviours listed below is essential at either application or interview. You can read more about Success Profiles and how they are used as an assessment method before completing your application.
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Essential – must be demonstrated at application and interview
Desirable criteria will be used when there is a need to distinguish between candidates who are closely tied or the same after the initial consideration of essential criteria, at sift and / or interview.
Candidates must hold one of the following qualifications:
All GLD employees must hold BPSS. In addition to this, those based in our London offices must hold or be willing to obtain CTC level clearance for this role. If London based, you can start your position pending this clearance level, however your appointment will be conditional upon obtaining CTC clearance.
Sponsorship and Visas
There is the possibility that GLD can provide sponsorship for skilled workers, as long as they meet the full eligibility criteria set down under current immigration legislation. GLD does not guarantee sponsorship will be provided or that an applicant will be successful in gaining a skilled worker visa.
Candidates with Limited Leave to Remain can apply but must have at least 12 months remaining on an existing visa which allows them to work for GLD when employment commences. Please allow three months for the onboarding process from the point of offer. The expectation is that applicants have an existing visa, which at the point they start work with GLD has at least 12 months remaining on it. The share code you provide for your pre-employment checks must be linked to the visa that allows you to work for a minimum of 12 months in the role for which you have applied. This doesn’t not include having any outstanding visa applications in process during the recruitment process.
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £60,412, Government Legal Department contributes £17,501 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
About the Government Legal Department
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 fulfill 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. They provide expertise to the 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, 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. Our lawyers can also be located within other departments and overseas.
GLD also depends on a range of cross-functional professionals to provide our corporate services. There are nearly 1000 colleagues playing an essential part in helping GLD to achieve its purpose and truly deliver much more than law.
This is an exciting time to join GLD, with cutting edge legal work on global issues and a transformation agenda which is ensuring the Department exemplifies the Modern Civil Service.
Job Description
About the Finance Division
The Finance Division plays a vital role in helping GLD deliver its business objectives by providing effective business planning, financial management and performance reporting.
Our team of around 50 colleagues supports a wide range of activities, including accounts payable, customer billing, banking and expenses, financial planning and reporting, finance policy, procurement, and Bona Vacantia (BV) Finance. We also provide financial services to the Attorney General's Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate.
As a smaller department, GLD has the same external reporting responsibilities as much larger government organisations. This means our Finance team has a unique opportunity to make a real impact, ensuring strong financial control, delivering value for money for our clients, and supporting informed decision-making across the organisation.
The breadth of work on offer is one of the things that makes GLD Finance special. You'll gain exposure to a diverse range of finance activities and build experience across multiple disciplines in a collaborative and supportive environment. GLD Finance is primarily based in central London, with colleagues also located in our Croydon and Salford offices.
This role sits within the Accounts Team and is central to delivering high-quality financial management across the department. The team is responsible for month-end and year-end accounting, budgeting, forecasting, fee setting and tax reporting. Working closely with senior leaders, you'll provide insight and advice that supports strategic decision-making and helps the Accounting Officer meet GLD's statutory reporting responsibilities.
" This is an exciting time to join the Government Legal Department. GLD plays a vital cross-government role, supporting departments on issues of national importance while ensuring our own corporate services are modern, efficient and focused on delivering value for money.
As Director of Finance, Operations and Digital, I am proud of the role our finance teams play in putting high-quality financial insight at the centre of strategic decision-making. Our ambition is to build a finance function that reflects the best of the Government Finance Function Strategy: professional, data-led, commercially aware, focused on value for money, and able to support better outcomes for GLD and the wider public sector.
The Head of Management Accounts role is central to that ambition. It offers an excellent opportunity to coordinate GLD’s budgets and forecasts, lead high-quality management reporting, and work closely with senior finance colleagues, Executive Committee members and Divisional Heads to support delivery of our financial strategy and Spending Review commitments.
This is also a period of significant transformation. We are taking forward ambitious efficiency plans, strengthening our data strategy so that trusted, secure and well-governed information supports better insight and responsible use of AI, and aligning with the Government’s Shared Services agenda to simplify processes, improve user experience and release capacity for higher-value work.
This role will suit someone who is motivated by public service, enjoys working with complex financial information, and wants to help shape how finance enables strategic decisions in a major government department. If you want to make a tangible contribution to GLD’s future and develop your career in the Government Finance Function, I would strongly encourage you to apply.
Carmel
Carmel Thornton, Government Legal Department Director of Finance, Operations and Digital "
About The Role
We’re looking for an experienced finance professional to lead GLD’s Management Accounting function and help shape the department’s financial planning and decision-making.
Leading a small team, you’ll oversee budgeting, forecasting, management accounting and fee-setting activities, providing high-quality financial insight to support senior leaders. You’ll work with a wide range of stakeholders, manage complex financial information and play a key role in ensuring GLD effectively balances its income and expenditure.
This is an excellent opportunity for someone with strong analytical, communication and leadership skills who enjoys using financial data to drive informed decision-making. You’ll gain exposure to strategic finance issues, influence senior stakeholders and contribute directly to the successful financial management of the organisation.
If you’re looking to develop your career in strategic finance and management accounting within a collaborative and supportive environment, we’d love to hear from you.
Key Responsibilities And Tasks Areas
- Lead GLD’s annual budgeting, quarterly forecasting and fee-setting activities.
- Provide management accounts and financial insight that support strategic decision-making.
- Partner with senior leaders and budget holders, offering trusted financial advice and guidance.
- Drive improvements to budgeting, forecasting and reporting processes.
- Analyse financial performance to identify risks, trends and opportunities.
- Build collaborative relationships across the organisation to support effective financial management.
- Lead, support and develop an HEO team member.
Behaviours
Below are details of the Success Profiles that make up this role. Demonstrating all the behaviours listed below is essential at either application or interview. You can read more about Success Profiles and how they are used as an assessment method before completing your application.
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions (Lead Behaviour)
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Working Together
- Delivering at Pace
Essential – must be demonstrated at application and interview
- Budgeting
- Forecasting
- Advanced Excel skills
- Good working knowledge of IFRS Accounting standards
- Experience of co-ordinating a complex finance consolidation process
- Excellent communication skills
- Advanced Excel skills
- Good working knowledge of IFRS Accounting standards
- Experience of co-ordinating a complex finance consolidation process
- Excellent communication skills
Desirable criteria will be used when there is a need to distinguish between candidates who are closely tied or the same after the initial consideration of essential criteria, at sift and / or interview.
- Fee setting
- Familiarity with government finance including Supply Estimates and Government Financial Reporting Manual, or similar processes
- Experience in using Power BI reporting
Candidates must hold one of the following qualifications:
- CCAB (ICAEW, ACCA, CIPFA, ICAS, Chartered Accountants Ireland) or
- CIMA full accountancy qualification held
All GLD employees must hold BPSS. In addition to this, those based in our London offices must hold or be willing to obtain CTC level clearance for this role. If London based, you can start your position pending this clearance level, however your appointment will be conditional upon obtaining CTC clearance.
Sponsorship and Visas
There is the possibility that GLD can provide sponsorship for skilled workers, as long as they meet the full eligibility criteria set down under current immigration legislation. GLD does not guarantee sponsorship will be provided or that an applicant will be successful in gaining a skilled worker visa.
Candidates with Limited Leave to Remain can apply but must have at least 12 months remaining on an existing visa which allows them to work for GLD when employment commences. Please allow three months for the onboarding process from the point of offer. The expectation is that applicants have an existing visa, which at the point they start work with GLD has at least 12 months remaining on it. The share code you provide for your pre-employment checks must be linked to the visa that allows you to work for a minimum of 12 months in the role for which you have applied. This doesn’t not include having any outstanding visa applications in process during the recruitment process.
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £60,412, Government Legal Department contributes £17,501 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
Education
Professional Certificate
Skills
BudgetingForecastingAdvanced ExcelIFRS Accounting StandardsFinancial ConsolidationFinancial ReportingManagement AccountingFee SettingFinancial AnalysisStakeholder ManagementCommunicationTeam LeadershipPower BIGovernment FinanceSupply EstimatesGovernment Financial Reporting Manual
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