What's involved with this role: 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: Qualified Accountant, e.g. CIPFA, CIMA, ACCA or other equivalent qualifications/experience. Operational leadership experience to provide clear direction to assist development of effective working relationships and performance of the organisation. Experience in managing change, exploiting new opportunities and developing a positive performance management and improvement culture. Good management skills including direct line appraisal meetings and managing a team through change. 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: 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. 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 whilst 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. 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. Develop and extend the services currently provided to existing and new customers, as well as exploring new areas of financial support services. In order to maintain the quality and high level of expertise within the financial Support Service Unit. Driving the change agenda. To 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. Be responsible for the Service Area’s accounting processes such as budget estimate preparation, input into the medium term financial strategy, budget monitoring and year end closing down, payments of accounts etc. 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. Represent Finance at Scrutiny and other committees’ meetings when required. Improve and enhance the efficiency of an 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. Please quote the Job Title & Vacancy Reference No. in your application, or we will be unable to match your CV to the role being applied for. Qualification details and any other experience/skills relevant to the role to help support your application should be clearly shown in your CV. Due to the number of CVs being sent to us unfortunately we cannot respond to all applications. If you have not heard from us within 3 working days, please assume that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion. s Please note that clients invariably ask us to strip out contact details from CVs before we submit them for consideration. This is always quicker and easier to do if you send your CV to us in Word format, rather than as a PDF please.