Financial Accountant

We are Ofwat, the Water Services Regulation Authority, a non-ministerial government department responsible for regulating the water sector in England and Wales.

We have an opportunity for a Financial Accountant to join our Finance Team within Corporate Enablers Directorate.

The water sector is entering a new chapter. The government has set out a bold new direction, bringing together expertise from across the sector to deliver better outcomes for customers and the environment. We are collaborating with fellow regulators to respond to recommendations in The Independent Water Commission Report, the Welsh Government’s response to the Green Paper, Shaping the Future of Water Governance in Wales, and the Government’s White Paper, A new vision for water.

Ofwat is working with the government and other regulators to help create a new body for England, bringing together our strengths with those of the Drinking Water Inspectorate, the Environment Agency and Natural England. We are also continuing to work with the Welsh Government to support decisions on the future arrangements for Wales.

While these changes take shape, our mission remains the same: to hold water companies to account, drive performance, and ensure the sector delivers real value for customers, communities, and the environment. If you’re passionate about making a difference, this is a unique moment to join us and help shape the future of water, and together we can continue to make a positive impact.

You can find out more about why you should join Ofwat, our strategy, values and our framework for success in the attached Information for Candidates Pack.

We are seeking a skilled and detail-oriented finance professional to join our team as a Financial Accountant. You'll play a vital part in ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and compliance of our financial reporting and operations.

You will be responsible for preparing Ofwat’s financial statements and act as a key liaison with external auditors, facilitating a smooth audit process to ensure timely publication of the Annual Report and Accounts. Additionally, you will prepare the Whole of Government Accounts (WGA) and contribute to the Main Estimate and Supplementary Estimate submissions.

As a subject matter expert, you will provide technical accounting advice in line with International Financial Reporting Standards, (IFRS), the Financial Reporting Manual (FReM), and other relevant Government guidance documents. Your expertise will be crucial in managing the day-to-day operations of the accounts payable and accounts receivable functions, including oversight of the team and ensuring timely completion of reconciliations and statutory and transparency returns.

Key deliverables:

In this role you will be expected to:

• Financial Reporting and ControlLead the preparation of monthly and annual financial reporting, ensuring compliance with IFRS, FReM, HM Treasury guidance and other statutory requirements.
• Review key accounting entries, reconciliations, accruals and prepayments, ensuring the integrity of the general ledger and financial controls.
• Support the year-end audit process and coordinate responses to audit recommendations.
• Financial Systems and Process ImprovementAct as the Finance Subject Matter Expert for Oracle Fusion ERP and promote effective system use across the finance function.
• Identify and implement opportunities to improve reporting, controls, workflows and automation through better utilisation of Oracle functionality.
• Support system enhancements, testing and transformation activities, working collaboratively with IT, support providers and business stakeholders.
• Process Ownership and Operational ExcellenceOwn and continually improve end-to-end financial accounting processes, ensuring they are efficient, documented and fit for purpose.
• Lead the identification and resolution of process inefficiencies, control weaknesses and recurring issues.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance service delivery, reduce risk and improve operational efficiency.
• Team Development and GovernanceProvide technical leadership, coaching and support to colleagues within the financial accounting team.
• Maintain effective process documentation and knowledge-sharing arrangements to support business continuity and team resilience.
• Promote a culture of accountability, learning and continuous improvement whilst ensuring compliance with financial policies and governance requirements

Fully Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or CIPFA)

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)

How to apply

Apply through the Civil Service Jobs website where you’ll be asked to create an account and complete an application form (CV and personal statement). If you’re unable to make an electronic application, please contact recruitment@ofwat.gov.uk and we will support you in completing your application.

Please see the candidate guidance on our website for more detail and tips on how to best make your application and prepare for interview.

Please ensure you have submitted your application in full ahead of the deadline listed below. Unfortunately, we won't be able to consider late applications.

Selection timetable

• Closing date: 23.55pm on 12 October 2026
• Sifting: Week commencing 12 October 2026
• Interview date(s): Week commencing 19 October 2026

Assessment process

Sift Stage - Blind Sifting

We operate a blind sifting model to eliminate bias. All candidate identifying information will be removed from applications.

At sift stage we will assess your application (CV and personal statement) against essential criteria 1,2, 3,4, 5 & 6 listed above. Please ensure you provide enough evidence in your application form to demonstrate how you meet the criteria.

Use your personal statement to address the below criteria and tell us how your experience, skills and knowledge meet them:

• Lead Criterion 1: Strong technical accounting knowledge, including IFRS and public sector reporting frameworks, with experience preparing statutory reporting and supporting audits.
• Lead Criterion 2: Strong experience of ERP systems, preferably Oracle Fusion Cloud, including financial reporting, reconciliations, process improvement, system optimisation and the implementation of automated solutions to improve efficiency and strengthen financial controls.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex financial, operational and systems information, challenge constructively, and identify practical solutions.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to translate technical accounting and systems information into clear, practical business solutions for a range of audiences.
• Experience of coaching, mentoring and developing colleagues, including onboarding, knowledge sharing and building team capability within a collaborative and continuous improvement environment.
• Please note that in the event of receiving a large number of applications, a pre-sift may take place on just the lead criterion.
• * If a high volume of candidates meet the minimum pass mark at sift stage, we will only progress the highest scoring candidates to interview. Candidates not invited to interview, who have achieved the minimum pass mark, will be placed 'on hold' until the final stage of the assessment process is completed. Should the role/s remain unfilled, candidates placed 'on hold' may be invited to interview in merit order.

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

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. For further information on appropriate/inappropriate use of AI see the Civil Service guidance. Please note this guidance refers to ' Civil Service Success Profiles' Civil Service assessment framework. At Ofwat we do not use this in our assessments - please refer to our Framework for Success as listed above.

Interview Stage - Transparent Interviews

At interview stage we will test against essential skills, experience, knowledge and attributes set out above.

Our transparent interview process involves candidates receiving a selection of attribute-based questions in advance. This has been proven to help neurodiverse candidates and others to perform better at interview and is part of our inclusive culture.

You can read more about attributes and our Framework for success here.

Please note that the interviews will be conducted via video conferencing software (Microsoft Teams).

Please ensure anything you present in your interview answers is factually accurate, and you are not presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by AI, as your own. You may expect follow up questions.

It may be necessary for a second stage interview, which will be communicated to the successful candidates, if required.

If the assessment process identifies more appointable candidates than roles available, a reserve list will be created for 12 months from which further appointments in merit order can be made.

'Near-miss' candidates (candidates who have performed well at interview stage but haven’t scored high enough for the advertised Senior Associate band) may be considered (in merit order) for a Associate grade post – a band lower than Senior Associate. Further details will be provided to candidates as needed.

If you have any queries about any aspect of this role, selection process, or you require any reasonable adjustments, please email recruitment@ofwat.gov.uk.

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