Principal Accountant

Positive Employment; Exeter; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site 3 days/week

Job summary

Positive Employment is helping a large local government organisation recruit a Principal Accountant in Exeter. The role is initially a 3-month contract with potential extension based on performance.

You will oversee budgeting, forecasting, and financial strategy, guiding budget managers and liaising with external auditors to ensure compliant accounts.

Qualifications

• Experience leading council or public sector budgeting
• Ability to interpret financial legislation and guidance
• Strong advisory skills for budget holders and projects

Responsibilities

• Take responsibility to evaluate and challenge budget managers' information to draft the annual budget and forecasts.
• Provide professional financial support to operational managers for budgets, forecasts and service planning.
• Advise on financial impacts for new projects and initiatives with options and solutions.
• Lead production of the draft Quarterly Budget Monitoring Return for review by the S151 officer.
• Contribute toMedium-Term Financial Strategy and wider financial planning.
• Keep up-to-date with financial legislation to anticipate future impacts.
• Interpret legislation to ensure the Statement of Accounts is compliant.
• Liaise with external auditors to facilitate statutory audit of accounts and systems.
• Be responsible for key elements of the annual statement of accounts.
• Support in preparing reports for committee meetings.
• Guide Service Managers supplying annual accounts information.
• Liaise with Government Departments to resolve return/claim issues.

Skills

Budgeting

Financial analysis

Governance

Management reporting

Audit liaison

Job description

Our client is a large local government organisation and looking for an experienced Principal Accountant to join their team. This is initially a 3 month contract which may be extended for the right applicant

You will

To take responsibility and critically evaluate and challenge budget managers information provided to compile the Council's annual budget and budget forecasting processes:

• Provide professional financial support and guidance to operational managers with their budgets, forecasts and service planning.
• Provide professional financial advice to support new projects and initiatives identifying financial impacts, offering options and solutions that will enable projects to meet the objectives of the Council.
• Have lead responsibility for the production of the draft Quarterly Budget Monitoring Return for review by S151 officer.

Financial Strategy

To make a major contribution to the wider financial planning activities of the Council, by understanding the bigger picture and how Government Policy and plans impact the Council's financial position and plans.

• Contribute to the wider strategic plans of the Council's finances working with the Finance Manager and s151 Officer developing the Medium-Term Financial Strategy.

Annual Accounts

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant financial legislation and national policies to ensure the Council is prepared for future impacts.
• Interpret legislation and complex guidance to ensure that the Council's Statement of Accounts' are fully compliant.
• Liaising with external auditors to ensure that they are able to complete their statutory audit of the Council's accounts and systems.
• To be personally responsible for key elements of the production of the annual statement of accounts.
• Provide support in the production of reports for committee meetings.
• Provide guidance and support to Service Managers responsible for providing information required for the Council's annual accounts.

Central Government Claims and Returns

• Government returns or grant claims are frequently complex and involve large sums of money and errors or emissions, which could lead to a loss of income for the Council.
• Liaison with Government Departments to resolve issues or problems with returns or claims.

PLEASE NOTE THE SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT WILL BE ON SITE 3 DAYS PER WEEK

THIS ROLE IS INSIDE SCOPE OF IR35