Group Accountant Technical

Hatched Recruitment Group; Hengoed; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Hatched Recruitment Group is seeking an experienced Group Accountant (Technical) to join a Local Government financial services team on a hybrid basis. This senior role covers revenue, capital and treasury accounting, and the corporate year-end processes.

You will coordinate the final accounts, provide technical guidance on Local Government accounting standards, and lead a team to ensure accurate accounts, budgets and statutory returns within tight deadlines.

Qualifications

• An accountancy qualification or equivalent, such as AAT, with a CCAB-recognised qualification desirable.
• Extensive experience of Local Authority Accounting and relevant legislation and Codes of Practice.
• Strong knowledge of the CIPFA Code of Practice, Service Reporting Code, Prudential Code and Treasury Management Code.
• Experience preparing Local Authority statutory accounts and managing year-end closure.
• Strong knowledge of ledger systems, taxation and financial reporting.
• Experience of treasury management, capital accounting and budget monitoring.
• Previous experience of managing, motivating and developing a finance team.
• Excellent analytical, communication and organisational skills, with strong attention to detail.
• The ability to interpret changes in legislation and accounting guidance and clearly explain their impact to others.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate the corporate year-end and final accounts process, including preparation of the Statement of Accounts and consolidated accounts.
• Provide technical advice on Local Government accounting standards, legislation and best practice.
• Lead and oversee revenue and capital accounting, including budget preparation, monitoring and year-end closure.
• Support and oversee Treasury Management, including borrowing, investments, banking and cash management.
• Prepare and contribute to the Treasury Management Strategy and Capital Strategy.
• Oversee ledger management, reconciliations and the integrity of the corporate financial ledger.
• Provide advice on VAT, CIS and other taxation matters within a local government environment.
• Liaise with internal and external auditors, treasury advisors and other external organisations.
• Ensure statutory and regulatory returns are completed accurately and within required deadlines.
• Provide financial advice and guidance to finance colleagues and budget holders.
• Lead, manage and develop a team of up to 15 staff, ensuring workloads, performance and deadlines are effectively managed.

Job description

Group Accountant Technical

A local authority is looking for an experienced Group Accountant Technical to join its Financial Services team. This is a senior technical accounting role with responsibility across revenue, capital and treasury accounting, as well as the corporate year-end accounts process.

You'll play a key role in ensuring the authority's financial accounts, budgets and statutory returns are accurate, compliant and delivered within tight deadlines.

The Role

You will:

• Coordinate the corporate year-end and final accounts process, including preparation of the Statement of Accounts and consolidated accounts.
• Provide technical advice on Local Government accounting standards, legislation and best practice.
• Lead and oversee revenue and capital accounting, including budget preparation, monitoring and year-end closure.
• Support and oversee Treasury Management, including borrowing, investments, banking and cash management.
• Prepare and contribute to the Treasury Management Strategy and Capital Strategy.
• Oversee ledger management, reconciliations and the integrity of the corporate financial ledger.
• Provide advice on VAT, CIS and other taxation matters within a local government environment.
• Liaise with internal and external auditors, treasury advisors and other external organisations.
• Ensure statutory and regulatory returns are completed accurately and within required deadlines.
• Provide financial advice and guidance to finance colleagues and budget holders.
• Lead, manage and develop a team of up to 15 staff, ensuring workloads, performance and deadlines are effectively managed.

About You

You’ll have:

• An accountancy qualification or equivalent, such as AAT, with a CCAB-recognised qualification desirable.
• Extensive experience of Local Authority Accounting and relevant legislation and Codes of Practice.
• Strong knowledge of the CIPFA Code of Practice, Service Reporting Code, Prudential Code and Treasury Management Code.
• Experience preparing Local Authority statutory accounts and managing year-end closure.
• Strong knowledge of ledger systems, taxation and financial reporting.
• Experience of treasury management, capital accounting and budget monitoring.
• Previous experience of managing, motivating and developing a finance team.
• Excellent analytical, communication and organisational skills, with strong attention to detail.
• The ability to interpret changes in legislation and accounting guidance and clearly explain their impact to others.

Working Arrangement

The role is offered on an hybrid basis - office attendance required 2 days a week. There may also be occasional travel to other authority sites and attendance at meetings or seminars.