Principal Accountant Technical and Tax

This is an exciting opportunity, to join a strong, committed and dedicated finance team at an innovative London borough where we are putting residents at the heart of everything we do. We currently have a vacancy for a Principal Accountant (Technical and Tax) and are looking for a dynamic team member to join us.

Reporting to the Head of Financial Reporting and Controls, you will manage all aspects of the Council’s financial accounting and statutory reporting service for taxation including providing advice to senior managers and services across the Council and ensure that a system of strong financial controls exists.

The Principal Accountant (Technical and Tax) will lead all contact with HMRC and other government departments on Value Added Tax (VAT), Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) and Stamp Duty and Land Tax (SDLT), including digital submissions of monthly claims, annual partial exemption calculations, opting to tax and voluntary disclosures. They will manage one member of staff.

Key responsibilities include;

• Leading on all financial accounting and reporting in respect of the Council’s VAT, CIS and SDLT matters including providing an internal service helpline for routine queries and advising on complex matters and service delivery options that maximise benefits to the Council and maintaining the Council’s VAT guidance manuals and knowledge articles.
• Managing the contract with specialist VAT advisors to maximise benefit of the service and lead on retendering to ensure Value for Money is obtained. Leading on configuration of withholding tax, AP and AR product categories, tax registers and other taxation related areas of the main accounting system, ensuring these are kept up to date for any changes in legislation and business reporting requirements.
• Leading on all CIS activity including supplier checks to HMRC records, reconciling deductions taken, submitting payments to HMRC, and notifying contractors of deductions in line with statutory requirements.
• Completing monthly reconciliation of VAT and CIS GL control accounts to claims submitted and ensure subsequent HMRC receipts are correctly accounted for and perform annual partial exemption calculations, seeking satisfactory explanations for any significant variances and take action to ensure the 5% threshold is not breached.
• Leading on the preparation of the Council’s bank reconciliations.

To be suitable for the role you need to be a qualified accountant (preferably CIPFA) or have substantial experience of local authority tax accounting. You will understand HMRC taxation rules and processes and be proactive in maintaining and improving the Council’s financial systems and processes to support effective tax compliance, reporting and reconciliation. In addition, you will have experience of successfully delivering strategic financial support and advice to senior managers. You will also have knowledge of major factors, influences and legislation facing local government.

We offer a flexible hybrid working environment, with the expectation to be based in the office 60% of the time.

For an informal conversation or to find out more about the opportunity, please contact Jack Murphy on 07921 335 786 or by email RBKC@allenlane.co.uk for details of how to apply.

Applications must be completed (full application consists of CV and supporting statement -no more than 2 sides) by 23.59pm on Sunday 19 January 2025.