Chief Accountant

Ref:

  • Colchester
  • Finance
  • Permanent
  • Full-time
  • £450 - 550 per day
  • Consultant: Tim

Job Title: Chief Accountant

Service: Corporate Services

Responsible to: Finance Director (deputy 151)

Line Management Responsibility for: Staff in the technical accounting team including Deputy Chief Accountant and Systems Accountant.

Contact with: Senior Officers and other staff of the Council, Elected Members, external organisations and other local authorities.

Purpose of job: To lead and direct the technical team in the most economic, efficient, effective and customer-focused manner in line with the Council’s strategic objectives, goals and behaviours.

The Chief Accountant is the primary source of technical accounting advice to the organisation and to the Section 151 Officer. The post holder will manage the production of the Statement of Accounts and be responsible for the organisation’s financial control regime. The post holder will be required to:

  • be responsible for the organisation’s statutory financial accounts and annual report.
  • provide advice to services and senior management across the organisation on financial accounting.
  • manage the organisation’s taxation arrangements, ensuring that appropriate controls are in place.
  • manage the organisation’s cash and banking reconciliations and ensure that appropriate control is maintained in relation to the accounts.
  • be responsible for finance controls and procedures, in particular the finance systems.
  • to provide financial advice, information and support for Council projects, and to ensure that financial implications are considered within Council budgets and forecasts.

Budget responsibilities:  £180,000

Responsibilities

The Chief Accountant will lead the Council’s financial accounting and reporting functions, ensuring sound financial management and full compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements. The Chief Accountant will manage the production of the Council’s annual accounts, will be the primary day-to-day relationship with the external auditors, support budget planning and monitoring, maintain effective financial controls, and contribute to the delivery of high-quality financial advice and insight across the organisation.

  • Financial Accounting & Statutory Reporting including responsibility for:
    • Leading the preparation of the Council’s Statement of Accounts in accordance with the CIPFA Code of Practice, IFRS, and all relevant accounting standards.
    • Ensuring timely completion of all statutory returns and audit deliverables.
    • Having the primary day to day relationship with external auditor, liaising to manage the audit process, ensuring a smooth and efficient audit with minimal queries or issues.
    • Attending Governance and Audit Committees (virtually is permissible), present the Accounts and respond to all technical questions on Accounts and more broadly.
    • Ensuring compliance with financial regulations, corporate governance, and the Council’s Constitution.
  • Capital accounting including:
    • Overseeing the Council’s capital accounting, ensuring correct treatment of capital expenditure in line with the CIPFA Code of Practice and IFRS.
    • Ensuring the proper accounting and management of fixed assets, depreciation, impairments, disposals, and capital financing (e.g. MRP, borrowing, grants).
    • Supporting the preparation and monitoring of the Capital Programme, providing advice on project funding, profiling, and risks.
  • Systems, Controls & Compliance:
    • Maintaining robust financial systems and internal controls, ensuring integrity and accuracy of financial data.
    • Overseeing the work of the Systems Accountant to ensure finance systems (e.g. eFinancials, Collaborative Planning) support effective reporting and control.
    • Ensuring that reconciliations and control accounts are maintained and reviewed regularly.
  • Have a thorough understanding of current local government accounting practice and procedures, with particular knowledge of the provisions of the CIPFA Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting in the United Kingdom, International Financial Reporting Standards, legislation and regulations.
  • Interpret, advise on and implement technical accounting legislation, regulations and codes including material relating to closure of accounts and associated subjects e.g. updated and new accounting standards.
  • Maintain sound financial systems in accordance with statutory and Council policy, to ensure the Council's procedures are efficient, effective and meet all legislative and corporate needs.
  • Manage the finance and accounting implications of Council Tax, Business Rates, Benefits and other legislative changes and the provision of VAT and other technical or specialist advice to the Council, drawing on external resources as necessary.
  • Collaborate with other Finance team leaders on the medium to long term financial plans of the Council, in relation to the overall strategic management of the revenue and capital programmes.
  • Develop the Council's financial management responsibilities through standards, specifications and training, to ensure the proper and effective use of all resources.
  • Manage the team’s Human Resources in terms of performance, development, attendance and health and safety.
  • Be responsible for the collection, maintenance and integrity of personal data ensuring confidentiality is maintained and data is processed in an accountable manner.  Comply with our data protection policies and procedures to ensure we meet our legal responsibilities under data protection legislation.  Ensure that the team/s you manage have an understanding of this legislation and meet compliance requirements.

Person Specification

What we expect you to have:
  • Full membership of CCAB recognised body (e.g CIPFA, ACA, ACCA, CIMA).

What we hope that you have:

  • Have experience in a similar role in another Local Authority

Skills

Role-specific technical skills:

  • Proven experience in finance role at this level 
  • Knowledge and awareness of issues affecting local government
  • Understanding of financial systems
  • Appreciate the increasing role of the commercial sector in financial matters, and an understanding of how this changes requirements on the finance service
  • Treasury management knowledge or experience

Leadership/Management

  • Have integrity
  • Be able to inspire and motivate others
  • Have organisational and political awareness
  • Empower and enable staff

Impact and influence

  • Be decisive
  • Have business and financial acumen
  • Develop team performance and motivate staff
  • Deal with conflict
  • Use appropriate management styles
  • Be able to plan, monitor and prioritise change
  • Understand risk management

Project Management

  • Be able to plan, monitor and prioritise change
  • Meet deadlines
  • Be methodical and able to problem solve

IT Skills

  • Microsoft Office365 applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, Powerpoint)

Data Protection

  • Up to date knowledge and understanding of the principles of data protection legislation to ensure compliance. 
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