Service Management

To assist the Service Lead in providing strong and effective management through:

• Promoting the Council's Corporate Values and ensuring the Council's Vision, Values and Objectives are achieved by providing a clear sense of purpose and direction within the accountancy function.
• Supporting service area projects, as required.
• Participating in corporate projects and initiatives, as required.
• Building positive working relationships with Council Members.
• Promoting equal opportunities, access to services and tackling discrimination both within and outside the Council.
• Interpret, review and present data to give advice on decisions relating to service delivery and procurement issues.
• Ensure that financial management systems and operational procedures comply with statutory, corporate guidance and best practice. Responsible for implementing all legislative changes across the service and Council as a whole. This will include any changes to financial ICT systems, policies, and procedures.
• For ensuring the payment of approximately 62,000 supplier invoices annually.
• For monitoring outstanding debt on the Balance Sheet and ensuring processes and procedures are robust and implemented for debt recovery.
• For ensuring all income and expenditure into the Council is accurately recorded for VAT and accounting purposes. Including responsibility for the Council's partial exemption calculation.
• Ensure service processes and procedures are sufficiently robust to prevent and detect benefits and associated fraud.
• Maintaining strict confidentiality of all personal and computerised data in accordance with legislation.

Team Management

Ensure sound and robust leadership and management of the team through:

• Continuously reviewing opportunities to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the team including the delivery of continuous improvement and best value.
• Ensuring high quality, expert financial advice is provided by supporting the team to develop their skills and knowledge.
• Effective financial management and ensuring effective financial control.
• Effective human resource management, encompassing implementation of the Council's Human Resource Management policies, procedures and guidance.
• Effective performance management, including implementation of the Council's performance management practices.
• Effective Health and Safety management, including implementation of the Council's Health and Safety policies, procedures, and practices.
• Embedding the Council's agreed Risk Assessment practices.

Specific Responsibilities

Financial Accounting: Leading in providing the service area with accurate and effective financial advice, covering all aspects of financial accounting.

• Financial Accounting: Developing and implementing technical advice to the service area. This will involve close liaison and working with lead officers. The post holder will be required to use knowledge and experience to make judgments as to appropriate solutions to problems.
• Financial Accounting: Ensure the resilience and accuracy of data held within the Council's financial management system.
• Financial Accounting: Production of the draft financial statements by deadline and compliant with accountancy guidance. The post holder will be required to maintain CPD.
• Financial Accounting: Ensuring all statutory returns are completed and submitted by the deadline.
• Working with the Service Lead and other finance officers to develop a best practice financial management system to improve service quality.
• Member of the accountancy management team
• Assisting the Service Lead in the management and development of the accountancy function, and deputising when required.
• Preparing committee reports where there are financial implications. Attending committees to present reports as required.
• Liaising with officers and members.
• The post holder will be expected to use their own resources, judgment, and initiative in order to provide a high quality, effective and efficient service to the service area.
• Any other duties commensurate with the grade.

Corporate

Promote equality as an integral part of the role, treating everyone with fairness and dignity.

• Comply with WBC health and safety policies, procedures and rules, taking reasonable care of self and others.
• Adhere to the standards set out in the WBC competency framework.