Senior Finance Officer in Brecon)

Senior Finance Officer

Location: Brecon

Salary: £35,235 - £40,476 per annum

The Role

Working under the leadership of the Chief Finance Officer (Section 151) to deliver a cohesive finance function through working in partnership with budget holders and managers across the business.

1. Support the timely and accurate reporting of capital and revenue, income and expenditure through budget monitoring, budget setting and producing the authority's final accounts.
2. Work effectively with budget holders and teams to provide high quality financial advice so that priorities are delivered within available resources.
3. Support delivery of the Authority's project work.
4. Work collaboratively with the leadership team to ensure the core financial functions make a valuable contribution to the Authority and the communities it serves.
5. Lead and line manage the finance team enabling staff to be motivated and high performing and supporting continuing professional development.
6. Provide support and additional resource for the duties undertaken by Finance Assistants, including invoice processing, bank reconciliations, Bacs payments, producing VAT returns, issuing budget reports and other ad hoc duties.
7. Promote and lead the implementation of a business partnering model.
8. Provide strategic advice to teams so that the financial aspects of operational and strategic plans, the corporate plan and Authority projects promote and demonstrate best practice, sound financial governance, and deliver value for money.
9. Support the work to develop the Authority's capital strategy and pipeline and diversify its sources of income.
10. Develop reports for and provide commentary to support the work of the National Park Authority and Committees and responses to Members' enquiries in relation to all aspects of the finance function as directed by the Chief Finance (Section 151) Officer.
11. Advise the Chief Finance (Section 151) Officer of all financial risks resulting from business areas decision making, escalating any concerns or issues in a timely manner whilst offering solutions.
12. Represent the interests of the Chief Finance (Section 151) Officer and the Finance service across the authority's leadership team, delivering the strategic financial vision and direction.
13. Understand, interpret and communicate the impact of new accounting policies and procedures in line with government, accountancy bodies, the Chief Finance (Section 151) Officer and authority initiatives and objectives.
14. Promote financial literacy throughout the organisation.
15. Manage own professional development, keeping up to date with accounting and relevant statutory legislation, regulations, standards, service developments and initiatives and the Authority's policies and procedures to provide high-level accountancy and financial advice that is consistent in regard to both technical accuracy and meets the financial objectives of the Chief Finance (Section 151) Officer.
16. Ensure the provision of appropriate, accurate and timely ad hoc management information, verbal and written advice and guidance to all levels of staff, in relation to all aspects of the finance function and in accordance with the Authority's policies and procedures and promote awareness of good financial practice and control.
17. Monitor performance against revenue budgets and review budget forecast information, in conjunction with budget holders to ensure the delivery of high quality financial reporting, advising the Head of Accountancy of all financial risks related to services' decision making, escalating any concerns or issues in a timely manner.
18. Manage and co-ordinate the closure of accounts from a Finance perspective to ensure that statutory and Authority requirements and deadlines are met and that accounts are prepared at a level to obtain an unqualified audit opinion, liaising with business areas to ensure the required work is received on time and prioritising work, where necessary, to manage conflicting deadlines.

Skills and Qualifications

1. Knowledge and understanding of legislation, accounting standards and accounting codes of practice governing local authority accounts and financial procedures.
2. Good team leadership skills, including performance management to achieve stated outcomes.
3. Ability to present complex financial issues to non-accountants.
4. Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with staff and managers including at a high level to achieve organisational objectives.
5. Ability to deliver customer focused services and service improvement, managing demands and pressures on the service and tight deadlines.
6. Ability to implement business process improvement projects and deliver financial savings.
7. Ability to exercise initiative and good judgement in delivering organisational aims and objectives.
8. Ability to deliver strategic finance support and advice to senior management.
9. ICT literate with the ability to use all Microsoft Office applications including Excel, Outlook and Word.
10. Full / Part CIPFA, CCAB or CIMA qualification.
11. Experience of working and influencing at a senior level and of working with Members.
12. Experience at leading, inspiring and developing a finance team which is driven by excellence, continuous improvement and customer focus.
13. Experience at operating in a business partnering model.
14. Enthusiasm for and a wish to contribute to delivering towards the aims and objectives of the National Park.
15. Level 0 Welsh Language Skill.

Benefits

1. 25 days annual leave plus 8 public bank holidays and 2 extra statutory days, pro rata. Leave entitlement rises annually to 30 days per annum after 5 years' service.
2. Pension scheme.

To Apply

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Application Link