Job Description

As the Principal Accountant, your main duties will include:

Corporate Finance

• Champion excellent management of financial resources, promoting efficiency, high performance, probity and excellent value for money services
• Contribute to the delivery of service transformation, driving efficiency and productivity improvements and also the optimisation of income opportunities, to contribute towards the achievement of financial self-sufficiency.
• To take a lead in ensuring the proper administration of financial affairs and monitor compliance with relevant financial standards and legislation, whilst supporting the delivery of a programme of continuous improvement.
• Ensure that members and officers are provided with high-quality strategic advice and direction on financial strategies, policies, standards and practices, enabling timely and well-informed decisions to be made in the knowledge of the impact of those decisions will have financially on the Council.
• Lead in specialised areas ensuring thorough financial evaluation/analysis and risk identification, resulting in robust financial data that can be relied upon.
• Provide financial expertise for and attend various officer working parties and Committee meetings.
• Co-ordination, completion and certification of statutory and non-statutory returns.
• Assist in the coordination of the production of the Statement of Accounts function.
• Have in-depth knowledge of all relevant current legislation and interpret new legislation and advise other officers on the financial and operational implications.
• Any other appropriate duties as requested.

Treasury Finance and VAT

• To act as the Council's expert on Treasury Management function including; monitoring investments to ensure compliance and adequate rate of return and daily cash management including the bank account.
• To lead on the production of the annual Treasury Strategy.
• Assist in the production of the Medium Term Financial Plan and Capital Strategy providing the necessary treasury information for budget planning and forecast monitoring.
• Undertake financial appraisals to advise on strategic investment options, in accordance with the Council's relevant strategies.
• Completion of year-end Treasury Accounts for both HRA and General Fund Capital and Revenue accounts.
• Contributing to the production of the Council's Statement of Accounts.
• Ensuring VAT treatment is correct and providing guidance to others.

Financial Systems

• To lead on the coordination and delivery of projects and developments made to the financial system. This will include;

1. Assist IT in the delivery of improvements made to reporting and budget planning tools to promote the overall objective to provide a more self-service finance system with this is more accessible to Budget Managers.
2. Development and delivery of financial systems training.
3. Identify improvements and efficiencies to the financial system which will add value and promote a lean way of working.

• To provide the necessary reassurance that the financial controls are in place within the finance system and any relevant feeder systems.
• To ensure financial systems and process are fit for purpose, enabling the organisation to develop and ensuring financial information is clear and accessible.
• To provide a client role on the development of financial systems liaising regularly with the Councils Information Technology team.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

At least three years post qualification experience in a professional finance environment preferably within the public sector. A full understanding of up to date Local Government finance policies and legislation Experience of developing and maintaining good working relationships with colleagues and external contacts to achieve service outcomes. Experience in developing financial systems and processes. Experience of producing high quality and accurate financial reports for management information. Must be a fully qualified member of one the accountancy institutes in CCAB, preferably CIPFA