Description
Business Accountant (Pensions)
London
232.04 p/d (inside)
35 hours per week
3 month rolling
MAIN PURPOSE OF THE JOB
1.Take responsibility for providing an efficient, effective and comprehensive finance service, promoting best practice across the Council.
2.Act as a single point of contact for the financial management support of Divisional Directors, Service Managers and Budget Holders. Develop a thorough understanding of a specific Service Area's business, particularly in relation to the measurement and management of the activities that drive costs and advise on the optimisation of income in accordance with Council policies.
3.Lead on creating and implementing relevant and accurate financial models across a range of cost drivers, ensuring models and any assumptions are agreed and owned by the directorate
4.Contribute and challenge senior management and budget holders to ensure the financial forecasts and future budget plans are based on robust financial and non-financial information, and support prompt responsive and remedial action
5.Work with accountants across the finance function to share learning and best practice across the teams.
6.Contribute to the production of the council's financial annual accounts to be accurate and free of error in accordance with financial standards, and the statutory timetable, including those for the Council's Pension Fund, Group Accounts and Whole Government Accounts.
7.Supporting the delivery of the Medium Term Finance Strategy (MTFS) for revenue and capital
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
1.Act as a single point of contact for the financial management support of Divisional Directors, Service Managers and Budget Holders. Develop a thorough understanding of a specific Service Area's business, particularly in relation to the measurement and management of the activities that drive costs and advise on the optimisation of income in accordance with Council policies
2.Support the Finance Management Team to deliver a proactive finance service to directorates that ensures directorates develop their financial knowledge, skills and capabilities.
3.In conjunction with the Senior Accountant, develop the Council's medium term financial plan and ensure financial risks and opportunities for the future are properly reflected in short, medium and long term sustainable financial planning using option appraisal, scenario building and sensitivity testing for both revenue and capital and represent one version of the truth'
4.Work in partnership with Divisional Directors, Service Managers and Budget Managers in the analysis of costs in relation to performance to reveal opportunities for policy or process change, participating in any subsequent business case development and review of the financial impact of previous policy decisions to learn lessons and assess relative cost benefits.
5.Provide financial support to Divisional Directors, Service Managers and Budget Managers in forecasting both in year and future year income and expenditure, ensuring these are accurate, appropriate and are supported through activity and performance analysis
6.Work in partnership with other support services to identify opportunities to improve value for money and link financial information with activity based information
7.Support the Senior Accountants and contribute to the preparation of financial reports to Corporate Directors, Divisional Directors and Service Managers and Members, including Cabinet
8.Provide Divisional Directors, Service Managers and Budget Managers with strategic financial advice on range of complex financial and commercial issues including investment appraisals, large scale tendering exercises, financial modelling and transformation programmes.
9.Be responsible for Matrix managing staff, focussing on workload management, ensuring deadlines and priorities are met.
10.Deputise for senior finance staff at meetings with senior managers as and when directed.
11.To maintain the Council's medium term financial plan for revenue and capital and income and expenditure and ensure that it reflects all known financial pressures, opportunities and major projects and programmes. Where appropriate make recommendations on how the plan can be approved.
12.To research and understand economic and demographic drivers that will impact on the Council and work with Senior Accountants and other members of the Strategic Finance team to understand how these could affect the medium term financial planning of the Council. Where necessary write impact statements for consideration by relevant stakeholders.
13.Maintain a schedule of sources of funding available to the Council, and ensure that strategies are in place for optimising income in accordance with Council policies and priorities. Ensure that the Council's budgets accurately reflect the funding available and plans are in place to maximise outcomes within the funding available
14.Represent the Council at external events and attend Committees/Member meetings as required.
15.Support the production of the Council's financial accounts, including leading on specific elements, to ensure they are accurate and free of error and completed in accordance with Financial Reporting Standards, other requirements and standards and the statutory timetable, including those for the Council's Pension Fund, Group Accounts and Whole Government Accounts.
16.Support the reporting cycle to the Corporate Leadership team and members for both revenue and capital on monthly and quarterly bases, ensuring the accuracy of the financial information and intelligence and insight is included.
17.Support the development of the Financial Operations function and associated practices, policies and procedures which contribute to a successful, value adding service supporting the finance function, budget managers and other internal and external stakeholders.
18.Research good practice and make improvements to existing processes, policies and financial controls, which support, maintain and enhance the financial standing of the Council.
19.Manage the production of financial returns and reports required for both statutory and nonstatutory purposes.
Depending on the team assigned, the Accountant may have responsibility for:
1.Support and undertake tax and trust fund accountancy tasks.
2.Undertake treasury and cash management functions of the Council as required, subject to financial controls and internal checks including separation of duties. Support the production and ongoing monitoring of the treasury management investment strategy.
3.Prepare a monthly reconciliation of the Pensions Fund bank account, ensuring that arrangements are in place for separate accounting of Pension Fund and Council monies. Liaise with the Pensions Fund custodian and investment managers to resolve any discrepancies in monthly reconciliation.
4.Support the administration of the Council's pension scheme, working with the Pension Administration Team Leader, and gain an in-depth understanding of the local government pension scheme arrangements
5.Support the production and maintenance of the business plan for the Housing Revenue Account
General Terms
To maintain personal and professional development to meet the changing demands of the job and participate in appropriate training/development activities including the council's performance, development and review scheme.
Ensure that all duties and responsibilities are discharged in accordance with the council's policies and procedures, Code of Conduct and relevant regulations and legislation. To comply with the council's equal opportunities and diversity policies ensuring ant discriminatory practice within the service area.
To undertake additional duties that may arise from time to time commensurate with the grade of the post.