Chief Accountant

Raynet Recruitment; Bexleyheath; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is looking for a Chief Accountant in Bexleyheath, England. This hybrid role involves managing the production of single and group accounts while ensuring compliance with financial regulations. Candidates should possess a CCAB qualification and have experience in managing financial teams. Responsibilities include liaising with external auditors, overseeing VAT returns, and improving financial reporting systems. Candidates must be prepared to attend the office once a week and participate in evening meetings as needed.

Qualifications

• Expertise in managing financial accounts and adherence to regulations.
• Ability to manage and lead a finance team effectively.
• Experience in liaising with external auditors.

Responsibilities

• Manage the production of single entity and group accounts.
• Be the primary advisor on financial accounting regulations.
• Ensure timely completion of financial reconciliations.
• Liaise with external auditors at a senior level.
• Manage end-of-year capital accounting processes.
• Present financial matters to directors and councils.
• Provide financial advice to budget holders.
• Complete VAT returns and provide corporate VAT advice.
• Oversee the Balance Sheet.
• Lead system improvements for financial reporting.

Skills

Financial accounting expertise

Management skills

Strong communication skills

Education

CCAB qualification

Job description

Job Title: Chief Accountant

Team: Finance & Technical Accounting

Responsible for: This role has overall responsibility for managing staff up to 10 FTE

Main purpose of the job:

• To manage the production of the Council's Single entity and Group accounts.
• To be the primary expert on financial accounting regulations and be the primary advisor on this subject matter to the Council's statutory section 151 Officer.
• To hold the day-to-day responsibility for the Council's system of financial controls, ensuring that all key reconciliations are produced monthly, quarterly or yearly depending on their importance and the regularity.
• To regularly liaise and manage relationships with the External Auditors at a senior level.
• To manage the end of year capital and asset accounting processes.
• To manage the financial accounting function and present to directors and councillors on the matter, where appropriate.
• To ensure that the team provide specialist financial accounting advice to budget holders and officers in other parts of Finance to support decision-making and financial modelling of major business cases.
• To manage the completion of VAT returns and corporate advice on VAT issues.
• To have overarching responsibility for the Balance Sheet.
• To manage system improvements in the Council's core financial systems and improve reporting capabilities, as the day-to-day system owner.
• CCAB qualification required.

This is a hybrid role and the postholder will be required to come to the office once per week plus attendance at evening meetings as required.