Senior Technical Accountant - Public Sector Accounting

Senior Technical Accountant (Public Sector)

Temp location Maldon.

Local council authority is looking for an experience Senior Technical accountant with Public Sector experience. (Essential)

This role will be paid at a day rate dependant on level and experience from £450 - £600 per day.

Full time hours Monday to Friday contract type is Temporary - min 3 months.

Office working - (hybrid, flexible working options considered)

Senior Technical Accountant - Key Accountabilities

• Lead the closure of the Council's accounts and the preparation of the Statement of Accounts, ensuring that the Statement is prepared in accordance with the Accounts and Audit Regulations, relevant codes of practice, local authority accounting panel advice, and the requirements of the external auditor. Manage the external audit process ensuring that audit queries are answered quickly and appropriately, minimising cost.
• Monitor all new legislation, regulation and accounting standards, and working in collaboration with relevant officers and other stakeholders, analyse and advise on its impact and ensure its implementation where appropriate. This will include any new and/or changes to the financial standards as promoted by the Chartered institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA).
• Determine and document consistent accounting policies for the Council in accordance with best practice, proper professional standards, and relevant codes of practice, ensuring their application throughout the Council by consulting with, instituting regular liaison with, and providing guidance to managers across the Council.
• Implement the procedures the Council has in place to maintain control over accounting activity, such as balance sheet reconciliations, grant registers, and the Council's asset register.
• Lead the management of treasury management activity, such as investments or borrowing and formulation of the Council's treasury strategy. Attend meetings with the Council's Treasury Advisors and feed back to the Lead Finance Specialist and S151 as appropriate.
• Contribute to the management of the finance team in its role of developing and implementing policy, reviewing and monitoring operational and performance issues.
• Plan, secure, allocate and manage resources within the team so that service delivery standards can be met, including developing, maintaining and monitoring working practices and methods to ensure that these remain cost-effective, efficient, and economic, reflect best practice and provide equality of opportunity. Resolve operational problems and issues as they arise -giving guidance to employees as appropriate.
• Assist the Lead Finance Specialist to ensure that Section 151 responsibilities are discharged to ensure that proper and effective financial administration is maintained throughout the Council.

Experience

• Significant experience and knowledge of practices / methodologies of financial accounting, specifically within a local government context
• Experience in dealing with year-end budgets is essential.
• Excellent working knowledge of legislation and developments in local government finance
• Proven ability to give sound advice and guidance on a wider range cases, topics or issues
• Proven experience of working with Finance systems including Sage

ACA, ACCA, CIPFA, CCBA Qualifications