Finance Manager - Capital & Balance Sheet

Job Description

Job Title: Finance Manager Revenue / Capital and Balance Sheet 

Management Group: Finance and Corporate Services

Department: Finance & Property Section: Financial and Technical

Reports to: Chief Accountant

Responsible for:
Overall day to day responsibility for managing up to 6 FTE.
Main purpose of the job:

• To ensure that revenue and capital accounting entries underpinning the Statement of Accounts are produced in a timely manner, are accurate and in accordance with relevant legislative requirements and professional codes of practice and guidelines.
• To produce the Statement of Accounts, Group Accounts and other related statutory returns 
• To lead on the provision of financial advice and statutory returns relating to taxation and VAT.
• To support and co-ordinate the development of capital strategy as an integral part of the medium term financial strategy, formulating policies and practices across the nominated Council(s).
• To produce high level capital monitoring reports in accordance the timetable established by the Head of Strategy treasury and Pensions.
• To collaborate with the Finance Manager, Treasury & Pensions in developing a Treasury Strategy which reflects the Councils capital spending plans and cashflow forecasting.
• The post is focused on delivering specialist accounting services and the post holder will have a wide understanding of accounting requirements and practical knowledge

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Ensure that the Councils accounts are produced in compliance with all statutory accounting requirements
• Provision of technical accounting advice to other senior Management, Members and Finance staff
• Making use of appropriate financial data analytics in reviewing the overall revenue and capital information that forms the basis of the statement of accounts for accuracy and appropriateness.
• To manage the key reconciliations around balance sheet accounts and ensure that any suspense accounts are cleared in a timely manner.
• To produce and submit any regular VAT and tax returns on behalf of the Council within required deadlines.
• To undertake appropriate reconciliations for the Collection Fund and produce the Collection Fund statement within the Statement of Accounts.
• To draft reports for officers on all capital planning and budgeting issues. To ensure that all relevant issues are reflected in financial plans and budgets.
• Co-ordinate the periodic asset valuation process in consultation with the property team, engineers and valuers to ensure that an asset register is maintained which is compliant with accounting requirements.
• Co-ordinating with finance business partners to maintain up to date projections for all capital spending and funding
• Calculating the revenue impact of new capital schemes and projects.
• Input into the medium term financial strategy and annual revenue budget regarding capital charges and the impact of fifinancing costs.
• Preparation of final accounts complying with the accounting code of practice and statutory requirements relating to all revenue and capital accounting issues.
• Input into financial planning and investment decisions regarding the cost of capital investment.
• To develop the Capital Strategy in consultation with the Finance Manager Strategy.
• To collaborate with the Finance Manager Strategy to ensure that the procedures and systems used for the recording and monitoring of capital expenditure are fit for purpose.
• Formulate and present financing options for capital expenditure, in order to optimise the use of available resources.
• To calculate depreciation, impairment and other capital charges.
• Lead on the corporate grants register ensuring accurate grant records that satisfy both statutory accounting and monitoring requirements.
• Monitoring spending against specific grants and preparing grant claims as appropriate

Person Specification

Education & Formal Training
Qualified CCAB Accountant or Equivalent Relevant Finance Qualification
Participation in Continuing Professional Development

Relevant Technical Experience, Knowledge & Skills/Abilities

• A detailed knowledge of the accounting requirements pertaining
  to capital and revenue expenditure and the key influences on the
  strategic finances of the authority
• Accounting and budgetary experience, sound knowledge of local
  government finance framework, accounting principles and standards, statutory requirements and relevant codes of practice.
• Knowledge of the major issues facing local government, understanding of the national policy context, requirements and future direction for local authorities
• Good interpersonal and communication and presentation skills, with proven ability to communicate effectively to a wide range of audiences both horizontally and vertically, financial and non-financial, throughout the organisation
• Sound knowledge of accounting principles and standards
• Experience of producing year end accounts
• Experience of attending Member Committees and/or other corporate/board meetings
• Experience of financial appraisals, modelling techniques, development of business cases
• Staff management experience with the ability to lead and develop a team
• Experience of delivering change programmes