Positive Employment is currently recruiting for a Accountant for our client a government organisation in Keynsham, Somerset.

The successful post holder will perform a range of advanced professional accounting activities for the organisation, and provide financial advice and guidance, to support the appropriate finance lead in delivering a comprehensive accounting (financial or management) service and advisory service to budget holders, project managers and decision makers. This might involve being a specialist in a complex area of accounting or overseeing the work of an accounting team.

This role is a temporary contract initially for 3 months with the possibility to extend. This role is hybrid working with office attendance maybe once a week.

Duties and Responsibilities but not limited to:

• Provide complex, expert accounting and financial management advice, and advise the organisation's Senior Responsible Officers, Members, governance boards and budget holders on the financial implications of prepared reports, to ensure decisions are made in the full understanding of the financial consequences.
• Take lead on annual revenue and/or capital budgets preparation to ensure timely and accurate financial management, ensuring that spend is aligned to the strategic direction of the service and to support a holistic approach to business planning.
• Monitor expenditure and income across the organisation against budget plans and targets, identifying variations, risks and issues, and resolving these in partnership with the finance lead and the service leadership.
• Prepare the statement of accounts and other formal reports on the financial position of the organisation, to enable the organisation to fulfil its statutory reporting requirements. This includes presenting reports to Committees and other formal governance bodies within the organisation.
• Provide financial impact evaluation and analysis modelling to provide up to date and accurate financial information and reports so that the organisation leadership can make the best value for money judgements and report necessary financial information. This will include providing financial modelling for partnerships, service, projects and programmes where relevant.
• Provide training, advice and guidance to senior officers on the application and implementation of financial standing orders, and financial management arrangements to ensure effective financial controls are put in place so the organisation adheres to all necessary Codes of Practice and relevant statues and regulations.
• Review legislative changes and evaluate the impact on financial policies, guidelines and protocols of the organisation, to ensure compliance with regulations to required standards.
• Resolve complex queries from internal or external stakeholders by providing information on processes and the related policies, to ensure the integrity of the financial systems and controls.
• Plan and oversee the workload of the accounting team so that a full range of financial and accountancy services are delivered effectively and within given organisational standards and timescales.

Personal Requirements:

• Chartered professional accountancy qualification e.g., CIPFA, CIMA, ACCA, ACA, or equivalent.
• Full membership of an accountancy professional body.
• Substantial experience of budget preparation and control, financial reporting, and financial analysis.
• Substantial experience of providing financial advice, training and support to Members and senior officers.
• Advanced and thorough knowledge and understanding of public sector finance and reporting requirements. May include knowledge of a specific area of finance such as companies, taxation, VAT, treasury management and financial systems.
• Advanced knowledge of a Council’s financial regulations and accounting procedures and practices.
• Advanced and thorough knowledge of financial management principals, finance systems, policies and procedures.

Working Hours: 36hrs / Monday - Friday

Pay: £351.83 per day

Please note this role is within the scope of IR35.