Senior Financial Accountant
Scale point: 43-46 | Based in Twickenham | Permanent | Full time
About the service
The Finance Team is responsible for upholding strong financial probity across the company. Through managing effective financial systems and accounting policies and procedures, the team supports the company to maintain a sound financial position that will enable it to deliver its key priorities and drive the continual improvement of services. The Finance Team is part of the Business Services directorate.
About the role
The Senior Financial Accountant will lead the Transactions & Control Team. They will ensure that Achieving for Children has effective financial procedures to deliver its key priorities and drive the continual improvement of services. The post-holder will support the Chief Accountant with regard to final accounts production, VAT & other tax advice inc. associated statutory and Government returns, treasury management/ bank control, insurance and reporting to the various governance boards. They will be responsible for ensuring accounts payable, receivable and control functions are performed to a high standard across the Company.
The post-holder will be responsible for:
- Lead the Transactions & Control Team to produce the IFRS compliant Annual Report and Statement of Accounts. Be the first point of contact for the interim and main external audit and provide information as required to the audit team and the three owning councils
- Support the Finance Team in providing a comprehensive financial and management accounting services including, management accounts, the completion and submission of accounts related returns for Companies House and HMRC for VAT/Corporation tax and treasury management duties
- Provide monthly management accounting for Business Services for the Head of Operational Area 1 Finance. This includes but is not limited to business partnering with the individual heads of services and reviewing performance and forecasting
- Lead the accounts payable, receivable and control functions to ensure transactions are input into the system in a timely and accurate way and that system controls are appropriate and effective.
- To ensure the financial health of the organisation by maintaining strong financial management underpinned by efficient and effective financial controls and systems
- To provide a corporate financial service to all levels of the organisation. This includes membership if corporate working groups, project work, providing financial advice and guidance to finance and non-finance colleagues
- Assist the Chief Accountant in ensuring compliance with the company financial governance framework and internal controls
About you: our role specification
Qualifications
- Qualified CCAB Accountant with significant experience
Skills and experience
- Experience of assisting in the production of IFRS compliant financial statements
- Experience of financial management and a proven track record of managing complex budgets to a high standard
- Experience of treasury management processes and tax returns
- Experience of designing complex spreadsheets and using them as models for decision making
- Experience of managing teams
- Experience of balance sheet management and monitoring financial controls
- Experience of dealing with Auditors and organising a team to provide timely, accurate information
- Experience of addressing specific equality or diversity issues within your practice with colleagues/service users and taking action to solve them.
Personal attributes
- A passion for Achieving for Children's vision, mission and values (trust, empower. respect) to support children and young people to live safe, happy, healthy and successful lives.
- Good communication skills, including the ability to use different communication styles and techniques to present ideas and influence others
- Adept at using finance systems, databases and Microsoft Excel
- Knowledge and understanding of legislation, statutory frameworks and national policy affecting financial services for schools, children, young people and families
- Working knowledge of company accounting and statutory financial compliance
- Able to demonstrate an ability to plan and manage conflicting priorities, handle multiple demands for service and meet deadlines under pressure
- Commitment to collaborative working within Achieving for Children and across organisational boundaries in the best interests of children and families.