Title: Principal Accountant
Rate: £450 per day
Location: Hybrid- Brentwood Borough Council, Town Hall, Brentwood, Essex CM15 8AY
Type: Temporary- 9 months
Opus People Solutions are working with Brentwood Borough Council to recruit for an interim Principal Accountant to plan and co-ordinate the final accounts process including liaison with external audit Act as the lead advisor on technical accounting, including Collection Fund, Pensions and VAT.
* To have line management responsibility for the Technical Accountant, including one to one review meetings, appraisals, leave booking and work allocation.
* Support the implementation of policies and strategies for the financial service to support service delivery, value for money and the delivery of the Council's priorities and defined outcomes.
* Attend, advise and actively participate in meeting with members, Directors, Management teams and working groups as required.
* Prepare the treasury elements of the statement of accounts in accordance with statutory requirement.
* Lead in the preparation and publication of the Statement of Accounts including producing notes to the accounts and professional working papers.
* Contribute to the MTFS in relation to technical areas.
* Take lead responsibility for technical accounting policies and strategies.
* Lead on the Collection Fund, Pensions, VAT and any other technical/specialist requirements of the finance team.
* To build a strong relationship with our internal and external auditors, whilst supporting the annual audit programme and in answering issues raised as part of the final accounts process.
* Prepare the Capital & Investment Strategy by undertaking relevant research to ensure documents remain up to date and ensure best practice is applied.
* Ensure all government returns are completed on time and correctly.
* Provide professional advice and tailored reports to a defined group within the Council, on their financial plans and projects.