£330 - £400 Per day
Accountant
Full-time, Contract
Job Description
- Prepare the annual budgets for a range of services in accordance with the agreed estimate programmer by using information supplied by, and in consultation with, Budget Managers and from allocation working papers by analyzing information as appropriate to enable budgets to be set that are consistent with the Council’s financial strategy.
- Prepare the final accounts for services in accordance with the agreed Closing of Accounts programmer by rigorously testing and examining information from the Financial Management System and from Budget Managers in order that accurate service actuals are produced.
- Develop the system for the effective budgetary control of services by continuously reviewing the systems for providing budgetary control data, to ensure that, in consultation with Budget Managers, variances are identified and reported effectively, and appropriate action taken.
- Assist the Senior Accountants as directed and in accordance with agreed procedures to enable the effective control and monitoring of ledger controls and personal accounts and in completing high quality year-end working papers.
- Provide proactive and responsive advice and support to Members and Managers as requested by giving verbal and written advice in order to assist them in achieving their aims whilst at the same time ensuring adherence to the Council’s financial regulations, standing orders aims and objectives.
- Provide comments on the resource implications for reports and provide professional input to all other reports, attending pre-meetings, meetings and following up issues after the meeting so that the stakeholders receive high quality professional financial advice.
- Complete financial returns for government departments and other organizations by using appropriate and accurate financial data set in the correct context within the timetables specified, to ensure that the financial position and plans of the Council are fairly and accurately reported.
- Recover sums owed from third parties in accordance with written legal agreements on a periodical basis by interrogating the Financial Management System and raising invoices for the appropriate amounts to ensure all sums due to the Council under these agreements are received on time.
- Support the Senior Accountants at working parties and project teams by attending meetings and providing financial evaluations, costings and advice to enable decisions to be made that assist in the achievement of the aims of these groups and teams.
- Payroll Costing
- Maintain payroll controls by reconciling payroll system records to the Financial Management System and making sure that any variations or problems are quickly resolved, in order that up to date and accurate payroll information is available
- Assist the Senior Accountant in compiling reports on salary costs by updating spreadsheets with the latest salary information and analyzing significant variances, to enable the Senior Management Team to monitor and control their salary budgets.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Actively studying for the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) or equivalent
- Five GCSE or "O" levels or equivalent including Maths and English
- Full membership of the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT)
- Qualified member of a CCAB body with full membership
- CIPFA membership
- Training specifically linked to local government accounting
- A minimum of three year’s working in a finance environment
- Knowledge of budget setting and budgetary control functions
- Knowledge of cost allocation, recharging mechanisms and reconciling control accounts and salary budgets
- Well versed in using the Microsoft Office suite of applications including Word, Excel, MS Teams and Outlook
- Worked in local government or other public sector body
- Worked in an accounting function
- Demonstrate a high degree of numeracy and accuracy
- Confident with using figures and has the ability to collect, understand and interpret information and explain the meaning of figures in a clear way to non-finance staff and other stakeholders
- Ability to understand, analyses and interpret financial data and present it in a format suitable for reporting
- Able to review and proof-read documentation effectively to check for completeness and accuracy
Reference no: 108494