Head of Service Accountancy

Wrexham County Borough Council; Wrexham; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

Flexible working

32 days annual leave

Health & wellbeing resources

Discount scheme

Job summary

Wrexham County Borough Council is seeking a highly skilled finance professional as Head of Service Accountancy and Deputy Section 151 Officer. As Head of Service Accountancy, you will lead a professional accountancy service responsible for strategic financial planning, revenue budget preparation, capital programme management and treasury activities.

As Deputy Section 151 Officer, you will support the Chief Officer Finance and ICT in fulfilling statutory duties and you will help safeguard the

Responsibilities

• Lead a professional accountancy service responsible for strategic financial planning and medium-term financial strategy.
• Revenue budget preparation, monitoring and financial reporting.
• Capital programme management and financing.
• Treasury management and investment activities.
• Statutory accounts and financial reporting.
• Financial governance, assurance and compliance.
• VAT and taxation advisory services.
• Financial support and challenge across all service areas.
• Liaison with internal and external auditors, regulators and government bodies.
• Professional finance and governance support to significant schemes supporting the economy and regeneration

Job description

37 hours per week.

Wrexham County Borough Council is seeking a highly skilled finance professional as Head of Service Accountancy and Deputy Section 151 Officer.

As Head of Service Accountancy, you will lead a professional accountancy service responsible for:

• Strategic financial planning and medium-term financial strategy.
• Revenue budget preparation, monitoring and financial reporting.
• Capital programme management and financing.
• Treasury management and investment activities.
• Statutory accounts and financial reporting.
• Financial governance, assurance and compliance.
• VAT and taxation advisory services.
• Financial support and challenge across all service areas.
• Liaison with internal and external auditors, regulators and government bodies.
• Professional finance and governance support to key significant schemes supporting the economy and regeneration

This is a strategically important role at the heart of the Council's financial management and governance arrangements. Working closely with the Section 151 Officer, Chief Executive, Senior Leadership Team, elected members and service leads, you will provide high-quality strategic financial advice that supports the Council's priorities and the delivery of services to our communities.

As Deputy Section 151 Officer, you will support and deputise for the Chief Officer Finance and ICT in fulfilling statutory responsibilities and you will play a key role in ensuring the Council's long-term financial sustainability, supporting sound decision-making and delivering effective stewardship of public resources.

The Council welcomes applications from suitably qualified candidates regardless of race, gender, disability, sexuality, religious belief or age.

The Council is committed to developing its bilingual workforce and welcomes applications from candidates who demonstrate their capability to work in both English and Welsh. Applications submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

About Us

• Grymuso

The County Borough of Wrexham, located in North East Wales, is proud of its Welsh heritage and cultural identity. Over the years it has grown to reflect a population that is multi-religious and multi-ethnic and complements the diversity of our communities.

Centred on the city of Wrexham, which nestles between the Welsh mountains and the Cheshire plains, it’s a location that really can offer you the best of both worlds and we are proud of our city status (awarded in 2022 when we became the seventh city in Wales).

Wrexham County Borough Council is a unitary Council which delivers a wide range of services aimed at improving the lives of Wrexham residents and surrounding communities. We are committed to providing services through collaboration with local and national partners. With a focus on sustainable development, community wellbeing, and improving the lives of Wrexham residents and surrounding communities, Wrexham is a fantastic place to work, live, and learn.

The council is an inclusive employer with a workforce of around 5,500, offering diverse roles, training and development and rewarding career opportunities. Wrexham County Borough Council values innovation, bilingualism in English and Welsh, and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds.

As a Disability Confident Committed Employer, the council ensures accessible recruitment and support for disabled employees including offering a guaranteed interview (where essential person specification items are met). Additionally, veterans will receive guaranteed interviews under the Armed Forces Covenant if eligibility criteria are met (where essential person specification items are met).

Employee benefits include:

• Membership in the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Flexible working arrangements
• Generous annual leave up to 32 days
• Family-friendly policies supporting caring and family commitments
• Work-life balance and flexi time (dependent on role)
• Access to Wrexham Reward Scheme with discounts off leading retailers nationally and locally
• Health & well-being resources, for example:
  • Healthy & Wellbeing Champions
  • Employee assistance programme with advice on staying healthy financially, mentally or physically:
    • Counselling (available 24/7, 365 days a year)
    • In-the-moment emotional support (available 24/7, 365 days a year)
    • Option to set health-boosting goals with small, sustainable lifestyle changes
    • Connect health apps to track physical health and meet progress goals
    • Blogs, videos, recipes and more resources providing inspiration and motivation
    • Identify risks of developing leading lifestyle-related diseases with mental health and financial scores
    • Legal, financial and consumer advice
  • Health and wellbeing events and campaigns throughout the year (e.g., November Health Day, Time to Talk Day, Mental Health Awareness Week, Sun Awareness Week, Menopause Week, Financial Health Week)
  • Menopause Café and guidance
  • Unpaid Carer Café and guidance

Our Council Plan (2023–28) sets out our priorities for this period and we deliver these by following the Nolan Values of public life (selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership) as well as our own Corporate Values: