Hays
Senior Qualified Accountant

How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Job Summary
The Finance and Assurance Services (FAS) Directorate at DVLA is a vibrant and dynamic place to work. We play a key role in supporting the Agency to achieve its strategic aims and to deliver effective value for money by providing clear advice and robust insight to inform decisions. We are agile and alert to emerging opportunities for continuous improvement. We also offer modern, flexible ways of working and opportunities for you to develop as part of a welcoming and innovative team, and we are recognised as a 'Platinum Employer' by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
Our strategy is to be at the heart of decision-making. We are experts in our field and pride ourselves on providing a professional service to all of our customers and stakeholders. We operate within seamless governance and assurance processes, and we are fully committed to developing all of our staff to their full potential through formal learning and development courses and more informal shadowing and mentoring opportunities.
Job description
The Senior Qualified Accountant role being recruited is pivotal in supporting financial planning, analysis and decision-making across the Agency, helping to ensure robust financial management and compliance with government frameworks and professional standards.
As a Senior Qualified Accountant, you will provide high-quality financial advice, analysis and professional expertise to support strategic decision-making, drive continuous improvement and deliver value across DVLA. You will work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders, applying your technical expertise to provide insight, challenge and support across a range of financial activities.
Responsibilities
- Undertaking detailed financial analysis and presenting insights clearly and effectively to senior stakeholders.
- Leading the development, implementation and continuous improvement of financial policies, processes and controls.
- Delivering a range of strategic, operational and ad hoc assignments in line with agreed priorities.
- Developing subject matter expertise and providing professional advice on financial activities, standards, policies and best practice.
- Ensuring the accuracy, integrity and quality of financial information used to support decision-making.
- Building effective relationships and collaborating with colleagues across the Finance and Assurance Services Directorate and wider Agency.
- Developing, maintaining and analysing cost models to support financial planning, forecasting and strategic decision-making.
- Providing constructive challenge and support to stakeholders to promote sound financial management and value for money.
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
See breakdownIt searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
For further information about the responsibilities, please see the candidate pack.
Person Specification
- Strong technical accounting skills and the ability to apply them in a complex organisational environment.
- The ability to build effective relationships and communicate financial information clearly to a wide range of stakeholders.
- Experience of providing high-quality financial advice and support to inform decision-making.
- A proactive and collaborative approach to problem solving and continuous improvement.
- Adaptability and resilience, with the ability to respond effectively to changing priorities.
Memberships
Candidates must hold full CCAB or CIMA membership.
Benefits
Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits:
- Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
- 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave).
- 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King's birthday.
- Access to the staff discount portal.
- Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc.
- Joining a diverse and inclusive workforce with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues.
- 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.
- Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.


Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
How to Apply
For this role, you will need to submit a CV which must include your employment history, relevant experience to date, and professional qualifications and memberships. In addition, you must also provide a personal statement (up to 1000 words) evidencing the following:
- Experience applying technical accounting knowledge in a complex environment.
- Experience providing high-quality financial advice to support business decisions.
- Strong stakeholder skills, with the ability to explain financial information clearly to diverse audiences.
- Experience improving processes, solving problems, and adapting to changing priorities.
For this recruitment campaign we will be working with our recruitment partners: Hays. To apply, please send your most up to date CV (which should include the information above) and personal statement to before the advertised closing date/time.
Following this, Hays will compile a long list of applications, and these will be sent through to the DVLA recruitment team. The DVLA recruitment team will then complete an internal sift. Successful candidates from the sift will then be progressed to interview.
The internal sift is due to take place from week commencing 28th September. Interviews will be held from week commencing 12th October. Interviews will be conducted on site at DVLA, Swansea.
Further details of which will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.
Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at hays.co.uk.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills
Location