Chief Accountant

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

Job summary

A public sector recruitment agency is looking for a Chief Accountant in Greater London. The role involves managing the Council's accounts, providing expert financial advice, and overseeing key reconciliations and VAT returns. The ideal candidate must have a CCAB qualification and experience in financial controls. This hybrid position requires weekly office attendance and occasional evening meetings. Competitive package and environment focusing on team management and improvement of financial reporting await the successful applicant.

Qualifications

• CCAB qualification required.
• Experience managing financial accounting functions and external auditors.
• Ability to provide financial advice to diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Manage production of Council's Single entity and Group accounts.
• Advise on financial accounting regulations.
• Liaise with External Auditors at a senior level.
• Oversee VAT returns and corporate advice.

Skills

Financial accounting expertise

Team management

Financial controls

VAT management

Education

CCAB qualification

Job description

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.

Qualifications

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.