Financial Accountant

Venesky-Brown’s client, a public sector organisation in Belfast, is currently looking to recruit a Financial Accountant for an initial 6 month contract on a rate of £23.60/hour PAYE – working 37.5 hours per week. This role will be based on site in Belfast.

Responsibilities:

• Assist the Head Accountant with the preparation and delivery of the annual accounts for the organisation.
• Ensure that all tasks and functions within the department are maintained on an ongoing basis throughout the financial year, thus facilitating the completion of the annual accounts and various returns.
• Participate in the development, implementation and maintenance of financial accounting systems and processes to meet the objectives of the post and the wider Finance Directorate.
• Ensure the effective management of the capital accounting function to include the maintenance of the relevant aspects of the asset register.
• Ensure reconciliation and review of control account balances is completed in a timely and accurate manner, including the resolution of balancing items where required. Ensure that documented system knowledge and reconciliation procedures exist for all control accounts and that these procedures are kept fully up to date.
• Ensure that the interface from the payroll system (HRPTS) to the General Ledger (eFin) is maintained and reconciled, and that processes exist to ensure the timely and effective receipt and application of all related information.
• Assist the Head Accountant with the management of the relationship with the BSO Shared Service functions – Payroll, Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable.
• Oversee the management of any Payments and Income function retained within the Finance Directorate.
• Creation, maintenance and updating of all formal and desktop procedures relating to Financial Accounting and Services Department.
• Represent the Finance Directorate on various directorate, the organisation and regional working groups as required.
• Liaise with internal and external audit to ensure effective input to audit work and timely implementation of agreed recommendations.
• Assists with providing support to the organisation’s Committees.
• Assist with ensuring that the Trust complies with all statutory and DoH financial policies and guidelines and providing specialist technical accounting advice to the organisation.
• Assist as required with the completion of the organisation monitoring returns for the DoH.
• Contributes to the organisation’s overall corporate governance process to ensure compliance with public sector values, codes of conduct and accountability.
• To be an authorised cheque signatory in accordance with the Finance Directorate’s procedure.
• Undertake any other duties.

Essential Skills:

• Full membership of one of the five professional accounting institutes within the CCAB or CIMA AND Minimum of 1 year’s finance experience following successful completion of final professional accountancy exams (dated from notification by institute of completion) AND Worked with a range of Stakeholders, both internal and external to the organisation, to achieve successful outcomes for a minimum of 2 years AND Successfully demonstrated people management, governance, leadership and organisational skills for a minimum of 2 years.
• Hold a current full driving licence which is valid for use in the UK and have access to a car on appointment. This criteria will be waived in the case of applicants whose disability prohibits driving but who have access to a form of transport approved by the organisation which will permit them to carry out the duties of the post.
• Ability to influence and negotiate with staff at senior levels both internal and external to the organisation.
• Ability to analyse highly complex data and to communicate subsequent analysis.
• Ability to plan and work effectively within timescales and deadlines.
• Ability to review and challenge current processes in own area and throughout the organisation where there is a financial impact.
• Ability to manage and motivate staff.
• Have extensive working knowledge of ICT systems to include Microsoft Office, in particular having advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Knowledge of Health and Social Care Northern Ireland
• Knowledge and understanding of the key finance issues within Health and Social Care

If you would like to hear more about this opportunity please get in touch.