Head Accountant

Hammond Clarke; Exeter; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial services provider in Exeter is looking for a strategic financial advisor. The role involves providing expert financial advice, leading budget planning, and facilitating organisational change within finance services. Candidates should possess strong interpersonal skills and experience in financial planning. This role supports substantial revenue budgets and requires influencing key stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal skills to influence change.
• Experience in financial planning and strategic advice.

Responsibilities

• Provide financial advice to management and external partners.
• Support budget planning and monitoring processes.
• Lead organisational change within financial services.

Job description

To provide strategic advice and to ensure the provision of comprehensive financial services across a wide range of disparate services.

This will include the analysis of complex financial information; financial monitoring, planning and budgeting; financial advice on operational and strategic plans and their impact; closure of the financial accounts; and the implementation, review and improvement of financial processes.

The role will lead on organisational change within Devon Finance Services and will play a key role in supporting other services through the change agenda.

Financial constraints placed upon the authority from reduced investments and the confirmation of reduced government funding now requires substantial budgetary savings to be achieved. Demand for services continues to grow therefore the need for financial planning and acumen is great and one of the main purposes of this role is to provide financial planning and strategies that will achieve the right balance between Services, Council tax levels and reserves held.

Lead in the provision of specialist professional financial advice to Heads of Service, Senior Managers, Chief Officers, elected Members and external partners in accordance with national and local policy, current legislation and best practice by regular contact with Heads of Service and Chief Officers through formal and informal meetings and information requests.

At key parts of the financial year the role holder will have direct contact with Members through formal meetings. At other times of the year regular contact with members will be through informal meetings and information requests. This involves a high level of interpersonal skills on a constant, day to day basis to influence change and to ensure that the strategic aims of the Authority are implemented through annual budgets, development of Medium Term Financial Strategies and other initiatives such as savings programmes.

Supporting the Deputy Director of Finance - Accounting Services, this role provides Heads of Service and Chief Officers with effective strategic financial support to consider the challenges of current and future service delivery models.

Strategic advice will be given surrounding a gross revenue budget in excess of £65m and up to approximately £750m, depending on the directorates supported.

Number of direct reports between 0 and 4