Interim Accountant

Role: Interim Accountant.Rate: £200 - £300 per day.Area: Devon.Info: Hybrid working, full-time accountant position.Start : ASAP.Hays are currently recruiting for an interim Accountant role within the Financial Services Team, supporting a Housing Services team in Devon for a local government organisation. Experience and knowledge in this area are desirable but not essential.Service Purpose:To provide timely and accurate financial advice, support, and information to managers to help them meet their objectives. The post will work alongside and within the Housing Service, which manages housing stock within a Housing Revenue Account. Responsibilities include maintaining and publishing records of the Council's financial position in accordance with legislation and professional codes.Job Purpose:To support the Financial Services Manager in delivering a finance function that achieves the Council's priorities and objectives. The post will report to the Finance Service Manager to ensure professional and corporate financial standards and processes are maintained, while being assigned to the Housing Service to work with management in delivering service objectives.

• Provide financial advice and support to the Service, ensuring compliance with the Housing Revenue Account accountancy regime and Council Financial Regulations and Contract Standing Orders.
• Work alongside the Housing Management Team to ensure the service is delivered efficiently and effectively, offering good value for money to tenants. This includes support in benchmarking analysis and project work.

Core Accountabilities:

• Support the Financial Services Manager in providing an excellent, efficient, and effective accountancy service.
• Prepare and monitor Council budgets; provide monthly budget monitoring reports to managers, Executive and Senior Leadership Teams, relevant Portfolio Holders, the Housing Review Board, and the Cabinet. Attend relevant meetings to explain the financial position.
• Provide financial advice and produce financial and management reports for client officers, senior officers, and Council Committees.
• Complete grant claims and statistical returns related to the Housing Service, including Right to Buy data.
• Provide financial advice and support for service reviews and special projects.
• Assist in the closure and production of the Authority's Final Accounts.
• Assist in support service recharges and service charges to tenants.
• Ensure all necessary reconciliations of key controls are performed.
• Provide training and support to non-financial staff.
• Authorise committee reports for financial implications.
• Support the Financial Services Manager in performance management of the Accountancy Team using service planning, risk assessment, annual appraisal, and team meetings.
• Manage the financial monitoring and performance of budgets and resources effectively and in accordance with the Council's Financial Regulations. Ensure the service operates within agreed financial criteria and achieves the best value in procurement and tender exercises.
• Participate in or lead multi-disciplinary and corporate teams to identify and improve service delivery and performance.
• Ensure the Accounting Team offers a customer-focused service.
• Support the Council's approach to equalities and diversity, ensuring services and policies identify, address, and promote the needs of the diverse community, including the safety of children and other vulnerable people.
• Take personal responsibility for relevant aspects of the Council's Health and Safety Policy.
• Ensure awareness and compliance with the Council's policies, Code of Conduct, and Constitution.
• Evaluate and assist in managing risk within the service.

Requirements:Education/Training:

• A CCAB recognised qualification (ideally CIPFA), or CCAB part qualification with significant relevant finance expertise.

Knowledge:

• Excellent knowledge of the role of an accountancy service.
• Understanding of Local Authority finance and current issues in local government.
• Understanding and experience of Local Authority Housing Services, particularly the Housing Revenue Account.

Skills and Abilities:

• Organisational and time management skills.
• High level of written and verbal communication skills, able to apply plain English principles and adapt to different audiences.
• Accuracy and attention to detail, especially when working to tight deadlines.
• The ability to work on their own initiative as well as be part of a team.
• Diplomacy, tact, influencing, and negotiation skills.
• Capacity for innovation, a broad outlook, and strategic thinking.
• Political awareness and sensitivity.
• Presentation and facilitation skills.
• Service planning and risk assessment.

Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at hays.co.uk