Senior Accountant

Full Job Description

Cedar are recruiting an experienced Interim Senior Accountant to join a local authority based in the North West on a contract basis. As the Senior Accountant, you will be responsible for supporting non-finance teams in monitoring and maintaining budgets and contributing to the development of the financial strategy, ensuring alignment with capital expenditure plans.

Rate: 300 - 400 per day (Inside IR35)

The post holder will be required to travel across the borough and work from various locations on a hybrid basis, with a flexible working approach to accommodate service needs.

This opportunity is offering a salary range of 43 - 54 per hour dependant on experience.

Responsibilities:

• Support the effective use of resources and provide advice to budget holders and senior management.
• Support the management, development and updating of the medium-term financial strategy and annual budget to ensure that it supports the strategic aims of the council.
• Prepare and present capital budget reports to senior management, providing analysis and advice to ensure effective financial management of projects.
• Provide financial advice and guidance to budget holders on capital projects, ensuring compliance with financial regulations and policies.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of capital assets, ensuring compliance with accounting standards and local authority policies.
• Provide accurate statutory reporting, financial management information, monitoring of key financial assets and statutory returns.
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting of information, data interpretation and analytical review to finance and non-finance Officers and Members.
• Liaise with external auditors to support the annual audit process for capital expenditure.
• Provide training and support to staff across the Council on capital accounting processes and policies and ensure compliance.
• Ensure accurate and timely management of the Council's assets to provide good financial resilience of the balance sheet, including identifying actions, monitoring of control accounts, ensuring timely completion of reconciliations.
• Support the Technical Accountant Manager in ensuring long-term financial sustainability of the Council's assets through technical advice and analytical data.

Qualifications:

• A recognised professional/technical accountancy qualification/part qualification (e.g. CIPFA, ACA, ACCA, CIMA) or equivalent.

Essential experience:

• Knowledge of financial regulations and accounting standards relevant to local government.

• Significant experience of working in a financial monitoring role, with a focus on capital accounting.
• Knowledge of local government finance and political matters is essential.
• Significant experience of budget setting and budget monitoring activity.
• Experience of supporting and challenging budget holders responsible for financial management.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to provide financial advice and guidance to both finance and non-finance colleagues.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships with stakeholders across the organisation.

• Experience of in-depth support on financial year-end/close down processes.
• Experience of producing statutory financial returns in line with deadlines.