Corporate Financial Advisor

Summary: The Interim Corporate Financial Advisor role is a temporary position within the Council’s Strategic Finance and Accounting Team, aimed at enhancing senior-level capacity. The advisor will be responsible for various financial management functions, including budget setting, financial reporting, and treasury management. The role requires a qualified accountant with expertise in local authority financial management and compliance with relevant legislation. The position involves a hybrid working arrangement, with initial on-site requirements followed by reduced office attendance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide expert support to the Chief Finance Officer in managing the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and meeting statutory financial duties.
• Lead the annual review and update of the Council’s Reserves Strategy, assessing risk, reserve adequacy, and the robustness of financial estimates in the MTFS.
• Oversee the preparation of the annual statutory Statement of Accounts.
• Manage the year-end closure process, ensure compliance with CIPFA and other standards, liaise with external auditors and the Audit & Governance Committee, and deliver financial reporting to senior management and government departments.
• Lead the annual Capital Strategy review and reporting.
• Advise on capital spending limits, project appraisal and prioritisation, financing options, and setting of financial controls and risk management frameworks.
• Lead the development and reporting of the Treasury Management Strategy.
• Oversee cash flow, investment, borrowing, Prudential Indicators, and external treasury advice. Manage treasury activities, risk, and the Council’s banking arrangements.
• Lead on technical accounting, including VAT, tax, pensions, capital financing, and leasing. Ensure compliance with relevant legislation and standards, while seeking to optimise the Council’s financial position through effective liaison with HMRC, pension funds, and other bodies.

Key Skills:

• Qualified Accountant (member of CCAB)
• Degree or equivalent Professional Qualification
• Expert knowledge and experience of best practice in financial planning, management and reporting, and emerging trends and innovations in local authority financial management
• Expert knowledge of finance and accounting legislation and relevant national and local policy and strategy, including the Council’s Constitution and its Finance Procedure Rules, and the statutory reporting requirements of public and private sector accounting and financial reporting standards
• Knowledge of all Council services, their service proposition and their impact on local residents and businesses

Salary (Rate): £33.18

City: Crewe

Country: United Kingdom

Working Arrangements: hybrid

IR35 Status: inside IR35

Seniority Level: Senior

Industry: Finance