Finance Officer

CCW is the passionate, independent voice representing water consumers in England & Wales. We support thousands of people each year, providing free advice and helping people to resolve their complaints with their water company in an easy, caring way. We champion everyone’s needs and interests, completing and showcasing research that influences water companies, government, and regulators to make change happen.

We are a government Arm’s Length Body sponsored by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Our values

We expect and support all CCW colleagues to embody and celebrate CCW’s values through Positive Energy, Respect for all, Innovative spirit, Delivery of our promises and being Engaged as one (PRIDE).

The role

This role is a 12 month FTC to cover maternity leave.

As Finance Officer, you will help keep the finance function running smoothly, processing payments and expenses, maintaining accurate records and completing reconciliations. Working with the Finance Manager and budget holders, you will monitor budgets, analyse financial performance and prepare clear reports. You will support audits and financial returns, administer procurement cards, investigate queries and help ensure compliance with financial controls and regulations.

This is a varied role for someone analytical, organised and detail-focused, who can manage deadlines, communicate financial information clearly and work collaboratively with colleagues and external stakeholders. You will help improve financial processes and systems, support staff with financial guidance, and play an important part in protecting CCW against financial risk.

Key responsibilities

• process supplier invoices, staff expenses and procurement card transactions, ensuring payments are accurate and timely
• maintain cash books, bank and balance sheet reconciliations, and post journals, including the monthly payroll journal
• prepare regular financial reports, annual statements and required financial returns
• support internal and external audits, investigate queries and anomalies, and maintain financial controls and regulatory compliance
• administer finance systems, support colleagues and identify improvements to processes and fraud prevention

The candidate

Essential skills and experience:

• strong numeracy and attention to detail, with the ability to analyse budgets, forecasts and financial data
• skilled at investigating discrepancies, payroll anomalies and audit queries, and identifying financial risks
• well organised, able to manage competing priorities, meet tight deadlines and work accurately with minimal supervision
• collaborative, with the ability to advise budget holders and support colleagues
• clear written and verbal communicator, able to explain financial information to non-financial audiences
• confident building relationships with colleagues, suppliers, banks, auditors and external stakeholders

Benefits

• hybrid working policy: 8 days per month office based, remainder can be worked from home
• 25 days annual leave allowance plus 10½ days’ public and privilege holidays
• flexi time is available, with the ability to accrue and take time off in lieu throughout the year
• generous Civil Service Pension
• health & Fitness allowance
• paid allowance days for voluntary work
• wellbeing Hour once a month
• onsite Coffee shop
• free Eye Test every 2 years and Free Flu Jab annually

Disability Confident Scheme

We guarantee an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post. To be eligible for the guaranteed interview scheme you must have a disability or long-term health condition. The disability could be physical, sensory or mental and must be expected to last for at least 12 months. You do not have to be registered as a disabled person to apply under the scheme.

If you would like to apply through this scheme, please fill in the Disability Confident Scheme form and include this with your application.

We want everyone to have a fair chance, no matter their age, disability, gender identity, marital status, family status, race, religion/belief, sex or sexual orientation. All applications are considered fairly based on merit. To enable us to monitor this, candidates are asked to complete the voluntary Equal Opportunity Monitoring form. The information provided will be kept confidential and will be used for monitoring purposes only.