Quote ref: 100510/81093
Quote ref: 100510/81093
This contract with our government client is for a Financial Accountant for 6 months based in Northern Ireland (Primarily working from home. Can be in the office. Get togethers for meetings (approx. once between now & Jan).
Main Duties & Responsibilities:
• Support the Functional Lead within the Capital Budget and Reporting Function to deliver service requirements including finance support to the capital budget and the annual accounts process, including working jointly with across the service to ensure a consistent and cohesive service is delivered.
• Support the Functional Lead in the on-going operational delivery of the service.
• Manage capital budget and yearend processes as assigned by the functional lead, including maximising efficiency and overall effectiveness of services.
• Assist in the oversight of workload distribution & all activities undertaken by service through work plans, ensuring the responsibilities of the function are delivered within agreed statutory requirements and at all times identifying mechanisms to continually improve service delivery.
• Share responsibility for the development of strategies, frameworks, toolkits and initiatives to sustain the continuous improvement of the Service with a particular focus on financial governance and compliance.
• Ensure the development of, and lead on related innovative and effective systems & procedures to ensure that the function is customer-orientated, providing a centre of accounting expertise and advice for budget holders.
• Take responsibility for resolving any service issues/problems/queries/escalations through analysis and investigation, as appropriate, if referred to him/her by Functional Leads within the service. This may include responsibility for resolving complex issues and problems within financial guidance and accounting standards. Escalate issues and communications to the Functional Lead or Head of Service as required.
• Through use of weekly and monthly reports, continuously monitor performance and act upon information to ensure that all activity is progressed in a timely manner in accordance with reporting requirements, raising areas of concern with the Functional Lead and agreement on strategies to resolve.
• Contribute to the management of accounts queries and technical guidance.
• Contribute to the management of finance teams as appropriate, including administrative support to the service.
• Maintain clear audit trails in all actions taken ensuring that lessons learned are appropriately actioned.
• Lead the regular review of service delivery practices and policies in order to determine required changes and take corrective action where appropriate.
• Ensure that all data and information management standards which are the responsibility of the team are in line with statutory requirements, and comply with good practice and EA requirements.
• Support the Functional Leads and Head of Service in budgetary monitoring and variance reporting.
• Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with a wide and diverse range of customers and external stakeholders including NIAO, DE, and WGA bodies (in agreement of balances).
• Lead and/or contribute to continuous improvement projects with an emphasis on digital and online approaches in conjunction with Functional Leads.
• Provide direct support to budget holders when required. This may include travel across Northern Ireland to meet the needs of the Service.
• Participate as required in the development and delivery of finance training, particularly training in relation to the application of technical accounting standards. This may include travel across Northern Ireland to meet the needs of the Service.
• Deputise for the Management as required, allocating issues as appropriate.
• Participate in working groups as necessary providing specialist knowledge.
Other Responsibilities
• Hold budgetary approval at an appropriate level and ensure resources are managed within the agreed budget for the Service.
• Ensure that the Authority’s policy on Data Protection (in particular processing sensitive personal information) is properly complied with.
• Ensure that the Authority’s Equal Opportunities Policy, relevant Codes of Employment and Practice and other relevant legislation are adhered to.
• Participate as required in the selection and appointment of staff in accordance with the policy and procedures laid down by the Authority.
• Undertake other related duties within the grade and competence of the post-holder as required.
• The post holder may also be required to work outside normal office hours on occasions.
Essential Criteria
- Be a fully qualified accountant with current membership of one of the five CCAB bodies (ICAEW, ACCA, CIPFA, ICAS or Chartered Accountants Ireland) (ICAI) or CIMA or equivalent and Hold a Bachelor’s Degree (UK Qualification and Credit Framework Level 6) or an equivalent or higher qualification and two years’ demonstrable experience in the successful management of two of the areas listed below* in a complex organisation
OR
- Have five years’ demonstrable experience in the successful management of two of the areas listed below in a complex organisation:
a. Finance policy, procedures and processes;
b. Financial planning and strategy;
c. Capital budget setting, monitoring and control;
d. Provision of advice and support to budget holders;
e. Maintaining and developing Fixed Asset Registers.
- Proven ability to achieve targets and objectives within a demanding and pressurised environment against challenging deadlines and through engaging team members.
- Demonstrable experience of delivering an effective high-quality service to service users.
Top 3 must have’s:
1. Accounting knowledge in relation to capital budget settings – monitoring control.
2. Importance of working & managing a challenging work programme – prioritise tasks
3. Good communications skills – managing a meeting, report writing.
