Home / Head of Finance: Various / Head of Finance: Chief Accountant

Head of Finance: Chief Accountant

£75,949 - £85,313 per annum

Reports to: Deputy Director of Finance

Grade: 7

Location: Colindale

Purpose of job

As a member of the senior finance management team, work with Members and senior officers to develop the vision and values for the London Borough of Barnet and to be responsible for the delivery of that vision through sound financial management in the Council, particularly through delivery of the corporate plan and financial strategy.

As a senior finance manager you are expected to be a professional lead within your respective area of finance, provide expertise and high quality financial services to senior stakeholders, proactively contribute to the achievement of the finance service’s vision, and contribute towards an innovative, high performance and continuous improvement culture.

This role helps discharge Section 151 responsibilities, and will lead by example, striving to help build a sustainable, highly effective service that delivers exceptional value for its residents through leadership on financial stewardship, insight and innovation.

Provide outstanding leadership and direction to the service, driving service transformation and ensuring excellent joint working with Members, senior officers and other stakeholders.

Key accountabilities

Strategic Advisory:

Support development of a strategic vision for the service to enable the council to meet its future challenges, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.
Lead in the development and implementation of the Council’s financial strategy, fundamentally ensuring sustainability over the medium term
Work closely with all senior stakeholders to ensure best use of limited financial resources, providing the strategic financial advice, insight, intelligence and support needed
Continually review, update and report on financial risks and opportunities, advising how the risks can be mitigated and the opportunities exploited
Contribute to the development, implementation and monitoring of the finance business plan
Proactively identify trends and changes in the operating environment (e.g. legislation, technology, policy, etc.) that could financially impact service delivery; provide advice and collaborate on potential solutions
Help shape the direction of the council to ensure delivery of its priorities and value to residents

Financial Management:

Take a lead on the financial management of the council’s capital programme, ensuring that all proposals are evaluated robustly, projects are effectively monitored and that all the necessary financial information is made available to relevant stakeholders
Advise on investment and funding strategies including investment risk and performance
Instigate, develop and support the attainment of alternative sources of funding that contribute towards identified funding gaps
Establish longer-term council-wide financial position and develop financial strategies with senior stakeholders
Draw on an in-depth knowledge of Council services and the related financial complexities, to ensure the provision of systems and procedures that enable effective budgetary control and value for money
Advise the Chief Financial Officer in their S151 role (and act as their advocate) on funding, financial management and accounting requirements
Drive and/or support the development of outcome based commissioning models to better ensure strong price competition and transfer of risks through contracts with third parties
Effectively manage performance indicators and relationships within service contracts towards continued service improvement, value for money and social value

Financial Reporting:

To lead and be responsible for the annual coordinating and closure of the Council’s and Pension Fund’s Accounts in consultation with the senior finance leadership team
To coordinate and ensure quality assurance over other corporate reports including statutory returns
To lead and be responsible for the interpretation of the accounting standards, incorporating professional codes of practice, IFRS, the accounts and audit regulations, the accounting code of practice, the best value code and any other relevant regulations
To manage and determine technical treatment of complex accounting rules including determination of capital financing strategy
Act as principal adviser for accounting for tax liabilities
Take responsibility for the development and maintenance of the financial systems supporting the chart of accounts and the integrity of the general ledger
Develop appropriate financial models and analytics to determine and communicate the impact of changes to technical accounting requirements
Prepare and present informative, high quality reports to members and other senior stakeholders that aid in informed service and corporate decision making

Customer Focus:

To act as a ‘bridge’ between financial reporting requirements for statutory purposes and financial reporting for decision making (management accounting)
Act as a key financial advisor and service delivery partner, providing strategic support and constructive challenge through superior negotiation and influencing skills
Contribute to the delivery of a high performing, customer focused finance service that is proactive and creative, looking for ways to shape and influence service decisions and taking joint responsibility for the outcomes achieved
Actively engage, communicate and influence within the council, across partners and with the wider local and central government community to champion a unified public service approach
Foster the development of social value and community-based organisations to reduce demand and help communities more independently support themselves

Compliance:

Ensure policies, procedures and controls are compliant with all relevant legislation, codes, regulations, guidelines, standards and best practice.
Together with the senior finance leadership, team take ownership of the Council’s financial control environment including the proactive assessment, monitoring and implementation of effective financial controls
To oversee the final accounts audit process acting as the Council’s operational relationship manager with external audit including responsibility for the implementation and resolution of audit findings and recommendations
Ensure there is effective integration between internal and external audit activities
Together with the senior finance leadership team take ownership of the Council’s financial risk management process, leading on financial reporting risks and coordinating other financial risk management activities
Ensure that all activities within the service comply with the council’s constitution, Standing Orders, financial regulations, health and safety and safeguarding responsibilities and that effective systems operate within the service to manage performance and risk.

Leadership and management

Provide leadership that encourages staff to recognise their contribution to the strategic objectives the council has set
Foster a high-performance culture including carrying out internal service reviews to improve value for money and efficiency
Lead and effectively motivate staff by providing coaching, mentoring, training, professional development opportunities, and appropriate performance management
Build a credible and responsive team who are respected for their depth of knowledge, expertise and customer focus
Deputise for the Assistant Director of Finance as required
Manage the delivery of cross cutting projects through matrix management
Enable and encourage a flexible working environment

Change and improvement

Lead, develop and ensure implementation and review of change management programmes to deliver continual improvement
Proactively seek and identify commercial opportunities that generate income and provide innovative solutions to service delivery challenges
Proactively seek and take responsibility for implementing internal process improvements, demonstrating the business case for change and benefits achieved
Instigate, develop and support opportunities for council-wide transformation and alternative service delivery models
Contribute to the creation of a new digital culture within the service by embracing technology in every-day activities and actively seeking digital improvement opportunities in support of a service-wide digital strategy

Responsibilities

Staff:

Managing 10 staff members

Financial:

Indirect responsibility for managing the Council’s gross expenditure of approximately £982m shared with all members of the service

Health and safety:

Ensure safe and efficient delivery of service by achieving high standards of health and safety and reducing risk.

Promotion of corporate values

To ensure that customer care is maintained to the agreed standards according to the council’s values. To ensure that a high level of confidentiality is maintained in all aspects of work.

Flexibility

Work with a degree of flexibility required to perform work not specifically referred to above although falling within the scope of the post at the appropriate grade.

The Council’s commitment to equality

Work with a degree of flexibility required to perform work not specifically referred to above although falling within the scope of the post at the appropriate grade.

Person Specification

Essential Qualifications required

Professional qualifications/memberships:

Full member of CCAB, (preferably CIPFA), CFA, or ACT with significant post qualification experience
Evidence of significant relevant Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

Education:

Educated to degree level or equivalent
Post-graduate qualification (eg MBA, Masters degree) (Desirable)

Experience & Knowledge

Strategic management experience, including translating organisational drivers into strategic objectives, longer term plans, new ways of working and specific outcomes, for a service in a large public sector organisation (preferably local government)
Significant relevant experience managing technical and financial accounting issues in relation to public sector funding arrangements
Knowledge of the major issues facing local government, understanding of the national policy context, requirements and future direction for relevant service areas
Proven ability to drive through and deliver effective performance management within own organisation
Experience in persuading a wide range of stakeholders to work together, encouraging an organisational focus on the needs of the community
Excellent interpersonal and communication and presentation skills, with proven ability to communicate effectively to a wide range of audiences both horizontally and vertically, financial and non- financial, throughout the organisation
Evidence of successful resources management in a multi- disciplinary environment, as well as a successful track record in managing large budgets, business planning, quality and performance management including formulating budgets and financial models, resolution of conflicting priorities, applying rigorous planning challenge and appropriate control procedures
Managing and successfully delivering a number of projects simultaneously, a knowledge of project management and of implementing and operating major changes to service provision;
Experience advising on and preparing business cases for investment decisions including the ability to apply options appraisals and evaluation techniques
Experience of working effectively in an area with competing demands and tight time-scales.
Practical experience of the final accounts process

Skills & Abilities

Able to lead, inspire and motivate a range of employees and generate a positive working environment
Ability to think critically, apply innovative and creative thinking to address complex service challenges
Committed to corporate and collegiate working across the service
Well-developed IT skills (MS Office suite, financial systems, data visualisation tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau)
Resilience, not easily deterred in the face of challenges
Demonstrate the ability to communicate, both written and oral, complex financial issues to members, non-financial managers, senior officers and external organisations

Behavioural Competencies

Communicating and influencing:

Ability to clearly communicate with and influence Members, executive directors, other staff members and external stakeholders
Delivers professional and persuasive presentations to large internal and external groups.
Ability to develop effective relationships with internal and external partners at senior levels, to secure results
Strong interpersonal skills and able to challenge, support, influence and engage senior management and peers.
Strong influencing and negotiation tools and techniques to achieve positive contractual outcomes for the Council.

Respecting others:

Champions a culture that values equality and diversity, and ensures these are built into the delivery of services

Striving for excellence:

Demonstrates a high level of personal drive and energy that sets an example to others
Fosters a dynamic, achievement orientated culture

Political awareness:

Ability to work effectively in a political environment and establish positive relationships with councillors, senior managers, staff, external partners and interest groups in a way that establishes confidence, credibility and trust.

Setting direction:

Lead the organisation in regard to all financial matters
Ensures there is a culture of continuous improvement and responsiveness to change
Promotes a vision for the future that inspires others

Managing performance:

Managerial experience with a track record of high performing teams

Developing talent:

Promotes a culture that values continuous personal and professional development

Change management:

Track record of supporting transformational change in a complex organisational environment.

Project Management:

Effective user of consultancy and project management tools and techniques

Team working:

Work collaboratively with peers and stakeholders
Creates a positive team spirit where team members work together to achieve shared goals
Constructively uses conflict as an opportunity to generate innovative solutions

Cross Barnet working:

Identifies opportunities for co-operation and interdependency across groups and delivery units
A solid understanding of the relevant legal, commercial, political, operational and social community aspects of a similar diverse and complex environment.

External partnership working:

Practical evidence of developing and maintaining good working relationships with a wide range of customers/stakeholders, developing a positive personal and organisational profile and building partnerships

Customer service:

Delivers service objectives with professional excellence, expertise and efficiency, taking account of diverse customer needs.

Critical thinking:

Analyses information objectively, considering the facts and differing perspectives to reach a sound, logical conclusion.

Problem solving:

Highly developed problem solving and analytical skills
Ability to analyse data , identify current and future trends to produce meaningful reports
Ability to interpret reports in order to produce findings and recommendations for actions/areas of improvement

Delivering at pace:

Takes responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.