Systems Accountant

Job Title:  Systems Accountant

Service: Corporate Services

Responsible to: Chief Accountant

Line Management Responsibility for: Systems Officer

Contact with: Officers of all levels, external organisations and local authorities

Purpose of job: To support the Finance leadership team in delivering the Council's statutory financial responsibilities and ensuring the continued integrity, resilience, and fitness-for-purpose of our corporate financial systems. As Systems Accountant, you will play an essential role in ensuring that the Council’s Finance systems remain fit-for-purpose and resilient. You will be involved in improving transaction processing, financial management and reporting.

Budget responsibilities: None

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Responsibilities

• Manage the Council’s financial systems (E-Financials Suite, Collaborative Planning, Business Objects and supporting systems) to ensure that the Council’s statutory obligation and recommended best practice are met.
• Identify and implement improvements to system functionality and integration with other systems (e.g. HR, Procurement, Revenues and Benefits).
• Oversee system configuration, user access, workflows, and chart of accounts maintenance. Maintain controls over system access and data retention.
• Manage upgrades, patches, testing, and liaise with suppliers for technical support.
• Participate in system implementation projects as required.
• Design and maintain financial reports and dashboards (e.g. Business Objects, PowerBI).
• Administration of SharePoint sites.
• Support annual closure of accounts, budget setting and forecasting processes through system-driven solutions. Support internal and external audits by providing system evidence and data extracts. Ensure financial systems meet statutory and internal audit requirements.
• Provide training and guidance to system users across the Council where appropriate.
• Offer first-line support for finance system-related queries, escalating as needed.
• 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.

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Person Specification

What we expect you to have:

• Significant experience in a similar role.

What we hope that you have:

• Full membership by examination of a CCAB recognised body (eg CIPFA, ACCA, CIMA)

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Skills

Role-specific technical skills:

• Use of programming tools to manipulate databases
• Knowledge of Structured Query Language (SQL), Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), and XML.
• Management of business processes and financial control systems
• Maintaining financial systems.
• Budget preparation
• Closure of accounts
• Appreciation of the role that financial accounting plays in:
• Local Government
• Project management 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
• Use appropriate management styles
• Be able to plan, monitor and prioritise change
• Understand risk management

Project Management

• Able to cope with demanding workloads and timescales
• Assertive, flexible and positive approach

IT Skills

• eFinancials suite or other ERP/financial management systems
• Collaborative Planning or other planning tools
• Business Objects, PowerBI, or other BI tools
• Microsoft Access or other DBMS
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel including use of pivots, powerquery etc
• Microsoft Office365 applications (Outlook, Word, Powerpoint)

Data Protection

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