Benefit Payment and Accounting System Advisor

Benefit Payment and Accounting System Advisor
Location: Dundee or Glasgow, United Kingdom (Hybrid - 1-2 office days per week)
Contract Type: Fixed-term, 12 months (with potential 11-month extension)
Hours: 21 hours per week (3 full days, Monday to Friday)
Day Rate: Up to £550 per day
IR35 Status: Inside IR35
Security Clearance: Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) required
Travel: Possible travel between sites, including Glasgow, Dundee, and Edinburgh (public transport fares provided)

About the Role:
ASA Recruitment is seeking an experienced Benefit Payment and Accounting System Advisor on behalf of our client. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in the delivery of a new Payment and Accounting solution, working closely with internal and external stakeholders, including Scottish Government and Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). You will act as a Finance Subject Matter Expert (SME), providing technical expertise throughout the project lifecycle. From defining business requirements and steering the system design to leading testing and quality assurance over change management communications, you'll ensure finance interests are protected and deliver value for public funds.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Act as the Finance SME throughout the project lifecycle, representing Finance at governance forums and keeping stakeholders informed.
2. Define and explain Finance business requirements, contributing to options appraisals and influencing system design.
3. Lead and provide quality assurance over test strategies for payment and accounting processes.
4. Identify and manage risks and issues, ensuring Finance stakeholders are engaged and mitigation actions agreed.
5. Oversee quality assurance of change management communications, cutover plans, guidance, and training.
6. Provide hyper-care support post go-live, ensuring smooth process stabilisation before handover.
7. Support other finance-related projects during breaks in the Payment and Accounting project lifecycle.

Essential Criteria:

1. Qualified Accountant: CCAB, CIMA, or CA accreditation with up-to-date CPD.
2. Proven experience leading Finance Programmes/Projects or acting as an SME on major finance/payment systems change programmes.
3. Expertise in finance/payment process design and ensuring legal, fiscal, and audit compliance.
4. Strong leadership skills, with the ability to build effective teams, motivate, and develop staff.
5. Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex financial and technical information to non-financial stakeholders.
6. Demonstrated ability to work independently, deliver high-quality outputs, and meet deadlines.

Desirable Skills:

1. Experience managing finance/payment projects in a dynamic or Agile environment.
2. Knowledge of Scottish Government financial systems, processes, and policies.
3. Change management experience, including business process impact assessments.
4. Awareness of benefit payment processes.
5. Familiarity with GDPR and data privacy legislation.

Additional Information:
Travel: Possible travel between Glasgow, Dundee, and Edinburgh (public transport fares provided).
Security Clearance: Candidates must have Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance or higher before starting.
Start Date: Expected to commence on 2nd June 2025 for an initial 12-month period, with potential for an 11-month extension.

How to Apply:
If you are a qualified finance professional with expertise in finance system implementation and a passion for delivering impactful change, apply now with your CV. Closing date for applications: Monday 31st March at 12:00 noon.