As part of a new Unitary Council formed in April 2020, we are undertaking a journey to recover from the impacts of the pandemic, and to develop new 'Buckinghamshire Council' ways of working.

 

 

The Chief Accountant will be a key role in developing and delivering our emerging model of financial accounting and control, delivering a Finance function which is fit for our new organisation and the future challenges in Local Government.

 

About us

 

 

 

Corporate Finance sits at the very centre of the Council, supporting our Corporate Management Team, Cabinet, and key member committees. From this position we have line of sight across all the Council. From this position we are integral to the successful financial management of the council, from developing the key financial strategies and policies, horizon scanning and Budget Setting, through budget monitoring, oversight of the corporate financial position including our Collection Fund, to outturn reporting and production and presentation of our statutory accounts and completion of our external audit.

 

 

As a new Unitary authority formed in April 2020, we have managed our initial transition to Unitary status during the pandemic. We are currently working on the next steps of our transformation journey both to recover from the pandemic and to develop the Finance service to be an exemplar of best practice for the future.

The Corporate Finance Management Team includes the Head of Corporate Finance, Chief Accountant, Strategic Finance Manager and Capital Programme Manager, and operates as a collaborative group to ensure that Corporate views and requirements are represented across all relevant boards and projects, and that matters pertinent to all areas of corporate Finance are discussed and agreed in and open and collaborative way.

The structure of the Corporate Finance service is under review as part of our transformation journey, and this post will be key to developing our future structures and operating framework.

 

About the role

 

 

 

This role reports to the Head of Corporate Finance and will lead and direct the Financial Accounting & Control function. Primary responsibilities are;

 

 

• Delivering high quality, timely and transparent statutory accounts, including Collection Fund accounts
• Ensuring the financial control environment is efficient and effective in supporting the closure of the accounts
• Providing professional advice on the financial accounting implications of service proposals and legislative changes
• Ensuring consistency in our accounting activities, in line with statutory requirements, professional best practice, and our operating framework
• To support and contribute to the delivery of our Finance Service offer across the full cycle of budget setting, budget monitoring and closure of the accounts.

This role is crucial to the development and delivery of our emerging model of financial management, delivering a Finance function which is fit to our new organisation and the future challenges in Local Government.

The Council is currently operating a hybrid working model, with an expectation that staff are in the office an average of 2 days per week for meetings and collaborative activities, with the remainder working from home.

Any-Desk:

As an 'any-desk' worker, you'll need to be connected to our network to access digital folders and resources, but this can either be from home or an office location when required. You will be required to work from the office a couple of times a week, depending on your role and team requirements*.

*subject to current Government Covid-19 Guidance

 

About you

 

 

 

We are looking for qualified Accountant with significant experience in delivering a successful closure of accounts and Audit for a large organisation (preferably a Local Authority), preferably with experience of working with Collection Fund accounts and associated government returns.

 

 

You will have a strong grasp of the accounting standards applicable to Local Government and be confident in advising officers and members on all technical accounting matters. Alongside this you will be able to identify and quantify the consequences of changing standards and the management skills to plan and implement any changes required in an efficient and effective manner.

You will have a firm understanding of the control environment required to ensure the accuracy and timeliness of our financial data, to ensure the accuracy and completeness of our financial reporting and will work with colleagues across the Finance service to ensure the control framework is efficient and effective and responds to changes in the organisation.

You will be able to balance multiple priorities and involvement in projects with delivering the core business as usual activities, work in a collaborative way with other senior staff across the organisation, whilst providing support, development and coaching to your teams.

 

Other Information and Benefits

 

 

 

If you would like to have an informal conversation with the recruiting manager, please contact: Matt Strevens (Head of Corporate Finance), 01296 383181 / matthew.strevens@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

 

 

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That's why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/