Interim Principal Financial Accountant Financial Services

Job Ref: K&C 5258169

Pay Rate: 34.59 per hour PAYE

Hours per week: 37 Monday - Friday, normal working hours

Role Length: This opening assignment is for 2-3 months

City: Kensington, London

The role requires someone with experience of working in a team that leads on closing the accounts. They will be preparing the balance sheet and other notes in the Council's statement of accounts e.g. debtors, provisions, officer remuneration to name a few.

The candidate will oversee and help monitor balance sheet reconciliations and use their technical expertise to evaluate accounting treatments especially, but not limited to, balance sheet items.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead on closing the Council s annual accounts by internal and statutory deadlines and achieving a successful audit in areas of assigned responsibility.
• Provide high quality professional and technical advice to members, senior officers, service finance teams and the wider organisation on a broad range of financial accounting and reporting issues, ensuring compliance with CIPFA Codes of Practice and Council financial regulations.
• Represent Financial Management on a range of internal and external boards and forums and ensure the Council s interests, compliance with legislation and policies, financial sustainability and Value for Money are always considered.
• Design and deliver training for trainers / super users, service finance teams and non-financial officers on a broad range of financial accounting topics.
• Ensure that a system of strong internal controls exists in respect of financial matters within assigned areas, including routine compliance monitoring and spot checks.
• Ensure that accurate financial returns, to both internal and external bodies including CIPFA, are made on a timely basis.
• Identify and report system failures / weaknesses, explain the risk to key stakeholders, propose mitigating actions and implement controls to reduce risk and improve effectiveness.
• Monitor balances on AR, AP, Payroll and holding GL codes against reports from SAP, identify and promptly resolve any discrepancies.
• Critically review reconciliation submissions from service finance teams to ensure these are accurate and supported by good quality working papers, raising standards with individuals and teams as necessary.
• Implement requirements of the CIPFA FM Code including quarterly reporting of key balance sheet items to Leadership Team.
• Support the Financial Management Collection Fund Lead by reconciling monthly business rates and council tax cash income and refunds between SAP and Civica.
• Monitor spend against specific and general grants, review grant award letters to ensure correct accounting treatment and advise Financial Strategy Team on budget creation for all grant income.
• Undertake in year reconciliation of corporate and statutory GL control accounts, review submissions from service finance teams including reconciliation of local systems to SAP.
• Contribute to planning the annual closure of accounts including preparation of timetables, guidance documents and templates.

Qualifications:

1. CCAB Qualified Accountant
2. Evidence of significant relevant Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

Experience.

1. Minimum of 12 months recent experience in a similar role, or context and ideally within a public sector organisation.
2. Extensive knowledge of accounting principles, policies and practices.
3. Extensive knowledge of the council s budget processes and requirements.
4. Knowledge of the council s own financial framework including financial regulations, budget and closing of accounts guidelines.
5. Knowledge of major factors, influences and legislation facing local government.
6. Knowledge of UK and international accounting standards and their application.
7. Knowledge of VAT requirements.
8. Experience of providing a financial administration service, of monitoring, reviewing and improving that service.
9. Experience of preparing accounting statements.
10. Experience of providing advice and support to council service departments.

Skills & Abilities:

• Highly numerical with attention to detail and ability to analyse data and translate into useful, accurate information.
• Makes effective and proficient use of financial systems, information technology, software and spreadsheets.
• Ability to manages complex and competing workloads effectively, dealing well with peaks around statutory deadlines.
• Clearly and logically presents written and verbal arguments, anticipating reaction and focusing on key benefits.
• Adapts communication style effectively when working with different staff groups or third parties.
• Strong IT skills including Microsoft packages or equivalent (e.g. G Suite).