This is an exciting opportunity to join a busy and forward thinking finance team. You will be a key individual, having responsibility for the Council’s statutory financial reporting, statement of accounts, collection fund, VAT function and work closely with the Council’s Treasury Management and banking functions. The continued transformation of the Council and its finance function is an integral part of the Deal 2030 Strategy and your role as a finance professional is to ensure that the directorate can deliver its efficiencies, whilst ensuring high quality financial reporting that keeps the Council accountable to the public.

About you:

You will have a CCA qualification or be able to demonstrate technical financial knowledge gained through substantial relevant experience. You will have experience of local authority final accounts, knowledge of collection fund accounting and experience of working with external audit. You will have excellent interpersonal skills to manage a project requiring input from teams across the Council, and the ability to work independently without close supervision. You will be a team player that can display the BeWigan Behaviours positive, accountable and courageous.

In This Job You Will: 

Support the Finance management team to lead the Council through a process of continuous improvement.

Provide professional advice and guidance to service finance teams and service managers where applicable.

Lead on the production of the Council’s Statement of Accounts and statutory budget and outturn reporting.

Lead on the identification and effect of financial accounting changes on the Council and the responsibility to make whatever arrangements necessary to meet any revised accounting standards.

Develop accounting policies to ensure compliance with the CIPFA Code of Practice.

Develop and maintain a good relationship with the Council’s external auditors and lead on the external audit process.

Undertake the Collection Fund accounting for the Council and maintain an up-to-date knowledge of local and national developments affecting local taxation.

Lead on the Council’s VAT compliance function. Job specification • Develop and promote efficient financial practices which support timely and cost-effective production of statutory reporting.

Support the Service Lead in the effective management of the Team.

Ensure you operate within GDPR guidelines by regularly reviewing data held and destroying information in line with retention schedules

You must be able to demonstrate the following essential requirements:

Full Accountancy Qualification or demonstration of highest levels of financial skills gained through substantial relevant experience

Good experience at senior level of Local Authority Final Accounts including Collection Fund

Up to date and extensive knowledge of local authority accounting codes of practice

Up to date knowledge of issues affecting local government

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Ability to work without close supervision

Ability to plan and control the operation of a Finance Team and to effectively manage staff

Ability to work under pressure and deliver workstreams on time

Ability to identify and promote opportunities for the continuous improvement within your team

Good diplomacy, tact and negotiation skills

Experience of working in multi-disciplinary and inter-authority working groups or similar

A basic understanding of local authority VAT

High level and substantial experience in the use of IT systems