Army - Accounts Officer

The Ministry of Defence, Civil Service workforce is diverse, with many different functions and professions ranging from cyber and digital transformation, police officers, security guards, trainers, human resources, teachers, psychologists, storekeepers, and policy secretariat staff to support the British Army.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join the team at Headquarters Catterick Garrison Administration Office (GAO). Working within a dynamic environment, the team is responsible for delivering pay, documentation and financial accounting for the numerous units within Catterick Garrison area of responsibility.

This is a key role within the team, responsible for providing effective financial administration and secure management of Service (Charitable) Funds for the Catterick Garrison Central Bank Account, in line with policy requirements. While previous experience is desirable, full training will be provided, including the opportunity to gain a qualification in Regimental Accounting.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Key responsibilities:

• Maintain the Catterick Garrison Central Bank Account (Combined Cash and Bank Account) and its component funds.
• Maintain the Paxton Plus accounting system, including General Public Funds (GPF) analysis and debtor and creditor records for all component funds.
• Act as an authorised signatory and operate commercial bank accounts and savings instruments in accordance with Managing Trustee (MT) and Garrison Administration Office (GAO) instructions.
• Receive and process cash and cheque payments, issue receipts, and ensure funds are credited to the correct service fund.
• Ensure all cash is banked regularly, stored securely and remains within insurance limits.
• Advise the Senior Fund Manager (SFM) on the investment of funds not required for normal business.
• Ensure the safe custody of financial instruments, including cheques and passbooks.
• Process authorised payments and complete all associated accounting actions.
• Reconcile all service fund bank balances monthly and provide written confirmation to Fund Managers (FM).
• Ensure subsidiary records are maintained and balanced against Paxton Plus each month.
• Manage debtors and creditors, reporting overdue items to Fund Managers (FM) and the Internal Auditor (IA).
• Complete PAYE, Employer National Insurance Contribution (ERNIC) and other required payments in accordance with Army policy.
• Prepare audit schedules, supporting documentation and service fund accounts for internal and end-of-period audits.
• Conduct daily cash checks, monthly bank reconciliations and handover/takeover account procedures, including certification requirements.
• Provide sickness and absence cover for the Financial Systems Administrator (FSA).

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)

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Candidates will be required to provide a Personal Statement. (250 words)

At sift, you will be assessed against your Personal Statement and the following:

Behaviours:

• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

Where a large number of applications are received, an initial sift may be conducted against the Personal Statement only. The remaining evidence submitted at the application stage will be assessed only if you are successful at this initial sift.

At interview, you will be assessed against the following:

Behaviours:

• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together

Application sifting will be scheduled to take place within 7 days of the application closing date. Interview dates are to be confirmed and will be held in person. We endeavour to keep to these time frames, but these are subject to change around business needs.

Further Information:

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points-based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category, and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system.

Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.