Interim Group Accountant - Collection Fund

My Local Government client is looking to recruit an experienced and qualified finance interim to join the team and manage the collection fund and business rates on behalf of the council. Working as part of the Council's Accounting & Technical team you will be the lead accountant for Collection Fund accounting, statutory returns and associated financial reporting.

This 12-month requirement and day to day you will take the lead on business rates and council tax accounting, surplus and deficit calculations, tax base processes, statutory returns and year-end reporting. Working closely with colleagues across Finance and Revenues & Benefits, you will provide specialist technical advice that supports key financial decisions and statutory compliance.

This is a specialist role so you will need to be able demonstrate experience of:

Collection Fund accounting within a local authority environment.
Business rates retention and council tax accounting.
Preparation and submission of NNDR1, NNDR3 and other statutory returns.
Collection Fund forecasting, tax base calculations and surplus/deficit processes.
Supporting external audit and statutory reporting requirements.
Providing technical accounting advice to senior stakeholders. ,
the role will include:

Leading the Council's Collection Fund accounting function.
Preparing statutory returns and disclosures.
Producing forecasts and financial analysis to support medium-term financial planning.
Providing specialist advice on Collection Fund legislation and accounting requirements.
Leading responses to Collection Fund audit queries.
Coordinating work across Finance, Revenues & Benefits, preceptors and external stakeholders. This is being offered on a hybrid basis with some office presence required and with a day rate of £500 a day
Only candidates based in UK and eligible to work in UK are allowed