Accountant

We are looking for an Accountant to work within the Finance team.

The successful candidate will be required to provide accurate and timely financial evaluations, management information, budgets and forecasts as well as monitoring SQA’s financial performance against plan to support management decision making. To act as the interface to main business areas alongside the Finance Business Partners. In order to do this you must be able to demonstrate experience in the following specific duties:

• Prepare monthly management accounts and variance analysis to enable budget holders to effectively gauge the financial performance of their area of responsibility
• Provide financial management information and reports for external stakeholders as required and to agreed timescales
• Co-ordinate, communicate and plan the budget and forecast processes to enable completion within agreed timescales and to achieve the overall financial aims of SQA
• Analyse budget and forecast returns and highlight areas where action is required to ensure budget holder assumptions and rationale can be properly challenged if necessary
• You may be asked to support the financial accountant with tasks relating to the year end accounts
• You may be asked to support and provide cover to the finance officer in relation to banking tasks.

Additionally, you must be able to demonstrate the following skills and experience:

• Provide guidance to budget users in the planning, creating and monitoring of budgets and forecasts to ensure accurate information is provided on which to base financial assumptions
• Responsibility for review and improvement of financial controls
• Contribute to the development of financial systems, processes and procedures to support the overall aim of continuous improvement
• Excellent MS Excel skills are desirable

Applicants, as a minimum, should be educated to SCQF Level 8 (HND/Degree in a financial discipline) and/or be a part qualified accountant associated with one of the CCAB accounting bodies or be able to demonstrate at least 3 years of direct relevant experience for the role

In return, SQA offer a fantastic benefits package for your talent. These include but are not limited to a career average pension scheme; staff well-being and health assistance programmes; development opportunities and 27 days annual leave in addition to 14 days public holiday.

If you think you’ve got the skills, knowledge and experience required to succeed in this exciting opportunity please apply below.