The posting
Job Description
Job Title: Finance Manager Revenue / Capital and Balance Sheet
Management Group: Finance and Corporate Services
Department: Finance & Property Section: Financial and Technical
Reports to: Chief Accountant
Responsible for: Overall day to day responsibility for managing up to 6 FTE. Main purpose of the job:
- To ensure that revenue and capital accounting entries underpinning the Statement of Accounts are produced in a timely manner, are accurate and in accordance with relevant legislative requirements and professional codes of practice and guidelines.
- To produce the Statement of Accounts, Group Accounts and other related statutory returns
- To lead on the provision of financial advice and statutory returns relating to taxation and VAT.
- To support and co-ordinate the development of capital strategy as an integral part of the medium term financial strategy, formulating policies and practices across the nominated Council(s).
- To produce high level capital monitoring reports in accordance the timetable established by the Head of Strategy treasury and Pensions.
- To collaborate with the Finance Manager, Treasury & Pensions in developing a Treasury Strategy which reflects the Councils capital spending plans and cashflow forecasting.
- The post is focused on delivering specialist accounting services and the post holder will have a wide understanding of accounting requirements and practical knowledge
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
- Ensure that the Councils accounts are produced in compliance with all statutory accounting requirements
- Provision of technical accounting advice to other senior Management, Members and Finance staff
- Making use of appropriate financial data analytics in reviewing the overall revenue and capital information that forms the basis of the statement of accounts for accuracy and appropriateness.
- To manage the key reconciliations around balance sheet accounts and ensure that any suspense accounts are cleared in a timely manner.
- To produce and submit any regular VAT and tax returns on behalf of the Council within required deadlines.
- To undertake appropriate reconciliations for the Collection Fund and produce the Collection Fund statement within the Statement of Accounts.
- To draft reports for officers on all capital planning and budgeting issues. To ensure that all relevant issues are reflected in financial plans and budgets.
- Co-ordinate the periodic asset valuation process in consultation with the property team, engineers and valuers to ensure that an asset register is maintained which is compliant with accounting requirements.
- Co-ordinating with finance business partners to maintain up to date projections for all capital spending and funding
- Calculating the revenue impact of new capital schemes and projects.
- Input into the medium term financial strategy and annual revenue budget regarding capital charges and the impact of fifinancing costs.
- Preparation of final accounts complying with the accounting code of practice and statutory requirements relating to all revenue and capital accounting issues.
- Input into financial planning and investment decisions regarding the cost of capital investment.
- To develop the Capital Strategy in consultation with the Finance Manager Strategy.
- To collaborate with the Finance Manager Strategy to ensure that the procedures and systems used for the recording and monitoring of capital expenditure are fit for purpose.
- Formulate and present financing options for capital expenditure, in order to optimise the use of available resources.
- To calculate depreciation, impairment and other capital charges.
- Lead on the corporate grants register ensuring accurate grant records that satisfy both statutory accounting and monitoring requirements.
- Monitoring spending against specific grants and preparing grant claims as appropriate
Person Specification
Education & Formal Training Qualified CCAB Accountant or Equivalent Relevant Finance Qualification Participation in Continuing Professional Development
Relevant Technical Experience, Knowledge & Skills/Abilities
- A detailed knowledge of the accounting requirements pertaining to capital and revenue expenditure and the key influences on the strategic finances of the authority
- Accounting and budgetary experience, sound knowledge of local government finance framework, accounting principles and standards, statutory requirements and relevant codes of practice.
- Knowledge of the major issues facing local government, understanding of the national policy context, requirements and future direction for local authorities
- Good interpersonal and communication and presentation skills, with proven ability to communicate effectively to a wide range of audiences both horizontally and vertically, financial and non-financial, throughout the organisation
- Sound knowledge of accounting principles and standards
- Experience of producing year end accounts
- Experience of attending Member Committees and/or other corporate/board meetings
- Experience of financial appraisals, modelling techniques, development of business cases
- Staff management experience with the ability to lead and develop a team
- Experience of delivering change programmes
