Interim Head Accountant
Devon 5262501
Basic DBS disclosure required for this role
Hybrid working – 2-3 days in the office
Please state expected hourly rate on your CV
Key Requirements:
1. Qualified Accountant, e.g. CIPFA, CIMA, ACCA, or other equivalent qualifications/experience.
2. Operational leadership experience to provide clear direction to assist development of effective working relationships and performance of the organisation.
3. Experience in managing change, exploiting new opportunities, and developing a positive performance management and improvement culture.
4. Good management skills including direct line appraisal meetings and managing a team through change.
5. Knowledge of the Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting, Service Reporting Code of Practice, and International Financial Reporting Standards (IGAAP).
The purpose of the role is to provide strategic advice and to ensure the provision of comprehensive financial services across a wide range of disparate services. This will include the analysis of complex financial information; financial monitoring, planning and budgeting; financial advice on operational and strategic plans and their impact; closure of the financial accounts; and the implementation, review, and improvement of financial processes. The post holder will manage the detailed work of the annual budget preparation process, budget monitoring, and year-end closing down processes. The post holder will have responsibility for a service area within the Council.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Provide financial services to specific business areas. Key to this area will be the ability to apply judgement from experience and professional knowledge to draw conclusions, influence Heads of Service, in the resolution of conflicting issues and budgetary demands.
2. Manage and direct the staff within the Group in all aspects of their work and to ensure that they are properly trained and achieve the standards of financial competence and expertise required while ensuring that team resources fit annual budget targets as established by the finance management team. This will include management of cultural change to achieve the transformation agenda.
3. Ensure all financial information, accounts, and budgets are produced and reported accurately and consistently, and comply with all financial legislation, regulations, and standards set by the County Treasurer.
4. Develop and extend the services currently provided to existing and new customers, as well as exploring new areas of financial support services to maintain the quality and high level of expertise within the Financial Support Service Unit, driving the change agenda.
5. Provide financial advice, direction setting, and financial management support to the officers and Members of the authority within the service area to which they are responsible.
6. Be responsible for the Service Area’s accounting processes such as budget estimate preparation, input into the medium-term financial strategy, budget monitoring, year-end closing down, payments of accounts, etc.
7. Ensure that budget details are produced in line with targets established by cabinet, as communicated by Corporate Finance and passed on to Chief Officers and Heads of Service.
8. Represent Finance at Scrutiny and other committees’ meetings when required.
9. Improve and enhance the efficiency of automated budget preparation, monitoring, and accounts close down procedures. Continually assess current practice within Finance to anticipate and adapt to the future requirements of the organisation.
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