Are you a team leader, manager, or senior accountant with experience in local authority accounting? Or do you have high level experience in year-end close down, capital accounting, or in treasury management? If yes, we invite you to consider the opportunities we have at the London Borough of Richmond and Wandsworth Borough Council Shared Staffing Arrangement.

An exciting development opportunity has arisen to appoint a Corporate Accountancy Manager in the central Accountancy Team after successful external promotion of the previous post holder.

About the role

Leadership and Management

The Corporate Accountancy Manager posts (2 in total) provide invaluable experience across the board of technical accounting and give the opportunity to manage sub teams of Senior Accountants whilst supporting the Chief Accountant (Section Head). These posts provide a great opportunity for talented and ambitious professionals to gain experience in a wide breadth of accounting areas and are the perfect stepping stone position before senior management with the added bonus of working for two London Councils in a single role.  

Technical Accountancy Team’s Function

The Accountancy team’s primary task is to close the Accounts for both Councils, which includes the production of the Statement of Accounts and leading the team and wider finance colleagues through the subsequent external audit. The team also has the day-to-day responsibility for capital (strategy and reporting, in-year monitoring, and financing), financial accounting, the Collection Fund, a large combined investment portfolio of £850m, treasury and cashflow management, banking administration, asset accounting, and VAT accounting and advice.

Quality Improvement

The Corporate Accountancy Managers support and work closely with the Chief Accountant in providing high quality technical work year-round including day to day development of the Senior Accountants (6 in total) who together support the ambition to be a high-level technical knowledge hub. The post holders will also support the continuous improvement in the wider Financial Management Service alongside the Director of Financial Management through project work, and the planning and implementation of quality improvement initiatives.

Regulatory compliance

Complying with reporting requirements and financial regulations combined with experience of local authority accounting which is essential. As a member of this technical team, you will have an analytical mind, be a well-developed communicator, be self-motivated and be committed to providing financial data to an excellent standard.

Official

Qualifications, Skills, and Experience

• Ideally be CCAB/or equivalent qualified however applicants are welcomed who are actively studying and are near to qualification, for which the Councils would continue to support in completion.
• Good interpersonal skills to liaise with Directors, Auditors, Service Managers and Members.
• Experience of leading or in a senior position within a Statement of Accounts closedown cycle (essential).
• Experience of capital or treasury in a local authority setting with ambitious capital and treasury strategies.
• An understanding of why effective management is essential in achieving value for money in a local authority environment.
• Ability to demonstrate a track record of applying good analytical skills and lateral thinking to develop creative and innovative system solutions.
• Experience of leading a multi-disciplinary project (e.g. experience of managing a project with another department or organisation).
• The ability to compile and present financial data in way that ensures effective feedback to the stakeholder (i.e. Members, Senior Managers, Auditors).
• Proficient IT skills to use spreadsheets, financial systems and other relevant packages for analysis and presentation.

If you thrive in a challenging yet highly rewarding environment, we invite you to apply for this opportunity today.

Additional Information

Our offices are in the Grade II listed building of Wandsworth Town Hall which is centrally located in the heart of vibrant Wandsworth Town. Just a 10 minute bus journey from Clapham Junction, or under a 10 minute walk to Wandsworth Town Station where direct trains are 15 minutes to London Waterloo. The Accountancy Service is currently working between home locations and the office. 

Closing date: Tuesday 13th  August 2024 
Shortlisting Date: Wednesday 14th  August 2024
Tests/Presentation Interview date: Wednesday 21st  August 2024 (Wandsworth Town Hall)  

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services.

Please note this campaign is anonymised.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer, if you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please let us know.

We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to attract, develop, and reward our employees such as 40 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays), flexible working and a generous pension plan. For more details click here