Finance Accountant

at  Environmental Standards Scotland

JOB SUMMARY

Environmental Standards Scotland (ESS) is an independent corporate body, directed by a Chair and Board. ESS is a Non-Ministerial Office, part of the Scottish Administration, and employees are civil servants. Full details are available on the ESS website Home - Environmental Standards Scotland.
ESS was established by the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2021, which received royal ascent in January 2021. ESS was established and gained its statutory functions and powers on 1 October 2021.
ESS has been set up to ensure environmental laws and standards are adhered to in Scotland, replacing the European Union’s scrutiny and enforcement role after Brexit.
The remit of ESS covers a broad range of environmental law, including all aspects of environmental protection and harm, particularly in relation to human beings and their enjoyment of the environment.
ESS’ role is to scrutinise, investigate and secure improvements in public authorities’ compliance with environmental law, the effectiveness of environmental law, and the way it is being implemented and applied in Scotland.
The body has published a Strategic Plan, setting out how it will operate and function, including how it will act objectively, impartially, proportionately and transparently. ESS is accountable to the Scottish Parliament for the effective performance of its functions.

The organisation will carry out its role by:

• monitoring information about the quality of the environment in Scotland and the effectiveness of environmental law, including representations brought forward by citizens and interested groups
• seeking information from public authorities, including the Scottish Government, and working with the public authorities to understand the background to regulatory policies and practices
• selecting a small number of cases for detailed investigation, prioritising cases where there is the greatest risk to the environment
• working with public authorities, where necessary, to seek to agree changes in practice to reflect environmental law, or develop advice on recommended changes to the law to improve its effectiveness

JOB DESCRIPTION

As the only Financial Accountant within ESS, you will ensure the organisation maintains accurate accounts and records which meet the high regularity and propriety standards expected of a public body. You will lead on the annual accounts and related external audit requirements, alongside ongoing financial reporting requirements across the year. For example: update reports to the Executive Team and Board; attendance and reporting at Audit and Risk Committee meetings; reporting to Scottish Government on staffing and lease arrangements; and medium and long-term financial projections.
You will also lead on streamlining ESS’ finance functions, implementing action plans and improvements in response to need, alongside audit actions arising from external and internal reviews. For example: the development of ESS’ annual budget; the implementation of an ongoing review of ESS financial accounting policies; ensuring compliance of related processes and controls with the latest accounting standards and guidance; and supporting the on-boarding of the new Oracle finance system (due to take place on 1 October 2024).
You will report directly to the Head of Corporate Services and Communications, with support from the Business and Finance Manager (responsible for the operational delivery of ESS services) and two Business Support Officers (all of whom work across a range of services). There are no current line management responsibilities. Learning and development opportunities are also available as set out below.

WHAT WILL THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE BE DOING?

This is a key role within the Corporate Services and Communications team. You will work with the ESS Board, colleagues and stakeholders, across all levels, to assist with the work of ESS. You will need an eye for detail and the ability to be creative in your approach to challenges, alongside being proactive in seeking to continuously improve existing processes and procedures.

QUALIFICATIONS

Qualifications Required
Professionally qualified accountant – CCAB professional accountancy body or equivalent with up to date CPD (candidates who are at an advanced stage in studying towards a professional accountancy qualification will also be considered).
Other qualifications equivalent to these may also be acceptable, if you are in any doubt please contact the recruiting manager named at the bottom of the advert to discuss.
Please note: If you fail to demonstrate how you meet the minimum qualifications as stated above, your application will be automatically sifted out.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Communications & Engagement
• Analysis & Evidence
• Improving Performance
• Self Awareness

Benefits
Alongside your salary of £57,141, Environmental Standards Scotland contributes £16,553 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES WILL INCLUDE:

• planning for and preparing ESS’ annual accounts in accordance with the SPFM, the FReM and other accounting guidelines
• supporting the development and reporting of ESS’ annual budget
• assisting in the co-ordination of the annual external audit and liaising with external and internal reviews
• continuously reviewing and implementing opportunities to raise reporting standards and improve operational effectiveness and consistency through process, technology and/or people capability development
• assessing ongoing current and future organisational challenges through finance scoping and profiling, and supporting the general longer-term ESS financial strategy development
• using initiative to address novel issues and resolve the root cause of financial situations which may arise
• providing (or supporting the provision) of financial reporting to the ESS Board, Audit and Risk Committee and Scottish Government, ensuring all reconciliations and other key controls are up-to-date
• supporting ESS with the move from the current finance system (SEAS) to a new Scottish Government shared service finance system (Oracle Cloud) on 1 October 2024, to ensure ESS’ needs are being met and factored into planning
• supporting the development of robust business processes, providing guidance and support in accordance with recognised best practice to deliver positive outcomes
• supporting the gathering and analysis of finance related PMIs
• working with the ESS Corporate Services and Communications team to develop effective services. For example, coaching to build professional expertise

The organisation will carry out its role by:

• monitoring information about the quality of the environment in Scotland and the effectiveness of environmental law, including representations brought forward by citizens and interested groups
• seeking information from public authorities, including the Scottish Government, and working with the public authorities to understand the background to regulatory policies and practices
• selecting a small number of cases for detailed investigation, prioritising cases where there is the greatest risk to the environment
• working with public authorities, where necessary, to seek to agree changes in practice to reflect environmental law, or develop advice on recommended changes to the law to improve its effectivenes

The Skills for Success Competencies required for this role are shown below. You will be tested against these competencies at interview.

• Communications & Engagement
• Analysis and Use of Evidence
• Improving Performance
• Self Awarenes