- The Hays senior finance team are recruiting for an interim senior accountant for a local government organisation in the area - to support a gap in the team while they go through a team re-structure and re-hiring process.
- This role is ideally starting as soon as possible until the end of the year, but there are possibilities for extensions into the new year with various projects internally.
- We are looking to speak with qualified accountants, ideally with recent & relevant local government experience.
- The team are looking predominantly for support with monitoring & reviewing claims within the business & some ad-hoc business case work.
- The team have 1 day a week they tend to go in (Wednesday), but other than that, the hybrid working policy is very relaxed-especially for short-term interim roles.
Role Purpose
To perform a range of advanced professional accounting activities for the Council, and provide financial advice and guidance, to support the appropriate finance lead in delivering a comprehensive accounting (financial or management) service and advisory service to budget holders, project managers and decision makers. This might involve being a specialist in a complex area of accounting or overseeing the work of an accounting team.
Accountabilities
- Provide complex, expert accounting and financial management advice, and advise the Council's Senior Responsible Officers, Members, governance boards and budget holders on the financial implications of prepared reports, to ensure decisions are made with the full understanding of the financial consequences.
- Take lead on annual revenue and/or capital budget preparation to ensure timely and accurate financial management, ensuring that spend is aligned to the strategic direction of the service and to support a holistic approach to business planning.
- Monitor expenditure and income across the Council against budget plans and targets, identifying variations, risks and issues, and resolving these in partnership with the finance lead and the service leadership.
- Prepare the statement of accounts and other formal reports on the financial position of the Council, to enable the Council to fulfil its statutory reporting requirements. This includes presenting reports to committees and other formal governance bodies within the Council.
- Provide financial impact evaluation and analysis modelling to provide up-to-date and accurate financial information and reports so that the Council leadership can make the best value for money judgements and report necessary financial information. This will include providing financial modelling for partnerships, services, projects and programmes where relevant.
- Provide training, advice and guidance to senior officers on the application and implementation of financial standing orders, and financial management arrangements to ensure effective financial controls are put in place, so the Council adheres to all necessary Codes of Practice and relevant statutes and regulations.
- Review legislative changes and evaluate the impact on financial policies, guidelines and protocols of the Council, to ensure compliance with regulations to required standards.
- Resolve complex queries from internal or external stakeholders by providing information on processes and the related policies, to ensure the integrity of the financial systems and controls.
- Plan and oversee the workload of the accounting team so that a full range of financial and accountancy services are delivered effectively and within given organisational standards and timescales.
Knowledge / Skills / Experience required:
- Chartered professional accountancy qualification e.g., CIPFA, CIMA, ACCA, ACA, or equivalent.
- Full membership of an accountancy professional body.
- Substantial experience of budget preparation and control, financial reporting, and financial analysis.
- Substantial experience of providing financial advice, training and support to Members and senior officers.
- Advanced and thorough knowledge and understanding of public sector finance and reporting requirements. It may include knowledge of a specific area of finance such as companies, taxation, VAT, treasury management and financial systems.
- Knowledge of the current and future legislation changes relating to specialist fields.
- Advanced knowledge of the Council's financial regulations and accounting procedures and practices.
- Advanced and thorough knowledge of financial management principals, finance systems, policies and procedures.
- The ability to communicate, collaborate and influence based on professional knowledge.
- The ability to plan and manage the workload of themselves and others to meet deadlines.
What you need to do now
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call Charlie Maidment from the Hays senior finance team. If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.
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