Job Overview:
A Permanent recruitment for the role of Principal Accountant is currently ongoing. The Principal Accountant will have a good understanding of Financial Accounting and an excellent communication skills. The Principal Accountant will be responsible for providing technical financial advice across the Organization and will support the delivery of the Statement of Accounts, working with internal and external audit. The Principal Accountant will also ensure strong policies and procedures are in place to deliver sound financial practices and controls, while identifying opportunities for continuous improvement and modernisation and supporting preparations for the implementation of the new finance system.
Key Responsibilities:
- Identify financial risks and opportunities as and when they arise, inform others in the team and collectively consider options to mitigate risks or exploit opportunities.
- Instigate, develop and support the attainment of alternative sources of funding that contribute towards identified funding gaps.
- Promote a culture which empowers budget holders and supports the delivery of value for money services and knowledge of key cost drivers.
- Assist with the production and presentation of complex and diverse financial information to members and other senior stakeholders, that informs service and corporate decision making.
- Engage, communicate and influence within the company, across partners and with the wider local government community to champion a unified regional and sector approach.
Qualifications, Experience, Skills and Abilities:
- Qualified CCAB / Actively studying towards obtaining either CCAB (preferably CIPFA), CIMA, CFA, or ACT and expected to qualify within the next 6 months.
- Experience of providing data for reports in a clear, understandable and appropriate format for use.
- Experience of closing the accounts and the external audit of those accounts.
- Experience in persuading stakeholders to work together, encouraging an organisational focus on the needs of the community
- Able to extract and manipulate complex financial and non-financial data to demonstrate trends and correlations.
- Ability to think critically, apply innovative and creative thinking to address complex service challenges
- Well-developed IT skills (MS Office suite, financial systems, data visualisation tools (e.g., Power BI)
- Ability to organise and plan one's own workload and that of others
- Ability to work calmly and flexibly under pressure, demonstrating resilience, not being easily deterred in the face of challenges
- Ability to inspire and motivate employees and generate a positive working environment
Location - 222, Upper Street, Islington, London. N1 1XR