Chief Accountant

Raynet Recruitment; England; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency in the UK is seeking a Chief Accountant to oversee financial accounts, manage a team, and provide expert advice on financial regulations. This hybrid role requires the postholder to be present in the office once per week and attend evening meetings as necessary. Responsibilities include managing financial controls, producing accounts, liaising with external auditors, and advising budget holders. Candidates must hold a CCAB qualification and possess strong management and communication skills.

Qualifications

• Proven knowledge of financial regulations and accounting practices.
• Experience managing a team and providing expert financial advice.
• Ability to liaise with external auditors and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Manage the production of entity and group accounts.
• Oversee financial control systems and ensure timely reconciliations.
• Present financial information to directors and councillors.
• Manage VAT returns and related corporate advice.
• Lead system improvements for financial reporting.

Skills

Financial accounting expertise

Management skills

Excellent communication

Relationship management

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.