Finance Manager - Strategic Finance & Accounting

Title: Interim Finance Manager - Strategic Finance & Accounting

Job Ref: E Cheshire 5258880

Pay Rate: £33.18 per hour PAYE

Hours per week: 37 Monday – Friday, 09:00 - 16:20

Role Length: This opening assignment is for 2-3 months

City: CREWE

Hybrid working

The team looks after the budget setting process, in-year reporting, capital programme coordination, closure of accounts and treasury management. The candidate could be involved in a range of those areas.

Key responsibilities:

• Provide advice, guidance and support to the Chief Finance Officer in managing the Medium Term Financial Strategy and fulfilling statutory duties related to the annual financial cycle; creating and leading appropriate strategies and processes to meet statutory requirements, including preparing a robust and sustainable balanced annual budget; leading the Finance Service in the financial planning and reporting timetable of budget setting and in-year reviews, delivering financial reports and associated analysis and interpretation to senior management and Members.
• Lead on the annual review and preparation of the Council’s Reserves Strategy; including the assessment of the adequacy and appropriate levels of reserves in response to increasing risk and the robustness of the estimates within the MTFS.
• Lead on the preparation of the annual statutory Statement of Accounts, directing the Finance Service in the closure of accounts processes and timetable, in accordance with the technical requirements of the CIPFA Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting in the UK, other applicable accounting standards and guidance, providing information to and working with the Council’s external auditors, and delivering financial reports and associated analysis and interpretation to senior management and Members.
• Lead on the annual review and preparation of the Council’s Capital Strategy and related in-year reporting, developing and advising on: the determination of financial parameters for capital expenditure in the medium term, including whole-life costing and benefits analyses, the options appraisal and prioritisation processes for approval of projects in the Capital Programme; consideration of capital financing options, including flexible use of capital receipts, and the setting of the Minimum Revenue Provision and Prudential Indicators for capital investment and financing; and associated financial controls, risk management and governance processes.
• Lead on the annual review and preparation of the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy and related in-year performance reporting, developing and advising on the management of the authority’s cash flows, its investment and borrowing strategies, setting Prudential Indicators, and commissioning external professional treasury management advice, managing risk to optimise the position of the Council with regard to its financial investment portfolio; commissioning the Council’s banking contract, and managing day-to-day treasury management activities.
• Lead on Technical Accounting advisory, management and reporting functions, in respect of taxation, VAT, pensions and other complex financial issues, seeking to optimise the Council’s financial position, having regard to legislation, accounting codes of practice and financial reporting standards, and local government pension scheme regulations; liaising with HM Revenue & Customs, Cheshire Pension Fund, and other external bodies as required.
• Lead on the development of the Council’s Finance Procedures Rules and provide advice on the preparation of Schemes of Financial Delegation, communicating and providing related training and advice to Directors, Senior Management and other senior/business administrative staff on their financial management responsibilities.
• Lead and manage a wide range of strategic financial management services for the Council, making a key contribution to the development and sustainability of the Medium Term Financial Strategy; the setting of the annual budget; in-year financial performance monitoring and forecasting; year-end reporting internally and externally; and the provision of professional advice and support to senior management, other internal and external customers, partners and stakeholders.
• Lead the delivery of a wide range of financial management, advisory and support services to front-line and corporate budget managers and financial decision makers; including the provision of specialist research, strategic advice and information to elected Members, senior managers and partners that promotes excellence in long-term financial strategies.
• Deliver professional financial advice and support to elected Members in committee meetings, as relating to the assigned role in respect of services or functions supported, or as otherwise required by the Head of Finance.

Key requirements:

• Qualified Accountant (member of CCAB)
• Expert knowledge and experience of best practice in financial planning, management and reporting, and emerging trends and innovations in local authority financial management
• Expert knowledge of finance and accounting legislation and relevant national and local policy and strategy
• Knowledge of all Council services, their service proposition and their impact on local residents and businesses
• Expert knowledge of staff management and development of multi-functional teams
• Knowledge of VAT and other relevant taxation regimes
• Processes for key reports and decisions