Principal Accountant
Financial Management
£39,880 - £42,821 per annum
Build strong working relationships with key stakeholders across the Council and take a proactive approach in managing and delivering timely financial and management accounting services; including budgeting, medium and long term financial planning, project support, forecasting, financial reporting and control.
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Managed by: Finance Manager or Business Partner
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Responsible for: Senior Accountant
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Directorate: Resources
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Service area: Finance
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Purpose of the job
The post holder will take a proactive approach in managing and delivering timely financial and management accounting services; including budgeting, medium and long term financial planning, project support, forecasting, financial reporting and control.
Build strong working relationships with key stakeholders across the council and provide directors, heads of service, senior managers and partner organisations with financial information and advice, including identifying opportunities for business improvements and efficiencies.
Review and introduce financial control procedures which aid the identification of risks and in providing financial information, advice and guidance, improve financial management for the council.
Demonstrate your commitment to corporate working by participating in corporate or crosscutting improvement projects and provide financial information, advice and guidance to develop plans that enhance the skills and capabilities of staff, improve individual, team and service performance, identifying and addressing shortfalls quickly.
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Key job outcomes / accountabilities
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Build excellent professional relationships with key senior stakeholders across the council, external partners and government departments as appropriate. Representing the council at appropriate external forums and maintain relationships to ensure that proposed initiatives are financially viable and delivered as effectively as possible.
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Interpretation of financial performance for council wide services or activities and provide options to managers to assist them achieve required efficiencies and spend to budget position on an on-going basis.
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Providing independent analysis and interpretation of complex and technical financial data, to facilitate support and challenge to both internal and external stakeholders and allow decisions to be made following consideration of financial resource and risks implications.
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Ensure the accuracy of forecasts and, , challenge and influence the key stakeholders using a good understanding of the business model and financial drivers
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Ensuring compliance with finance and other regulations including CIPFAs code of practice any operational guidance and grant conditions.
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Drafting and presenting reports on the analysis and interpretation of financial performance and actual or implied changes to legislation for budget holders and senior officers and the public in relation to financial issues and collaborate with external partners and agencies as required.
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On an ad-hoc basis to be a member on tender evaluation and grant panels. Support contract award process, identifying which bids offer the most economically advantageous proposal based on the criteria specified in the relevant documentation and ensure the financial implications (capital and revenue) are fully understood at the outset.
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To undertake appropriate development work as required in response to changing financial regimes, new government legislation and initiatives.
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To manage and motivate staff reporting to the post, ensuring supervisory practices are undertaken, learning and development is proactively supported and provide coaching and mentoring as appropriate.
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The headings below capture specific responsibilities, which will vary depending on the team in which you will be working in.
Strategic financial management
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To provide financial support to projects related to the respective area of the directorate, develop business cases and options appraisals in support of business objectives, investigate and support mechanisms for greater efficiencies or additional income generation and invest to save.
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In accordance with council procedures and delegated level of financial authority, support the development and timely preparation of the key internal and external financial documents for your respective area of the portfolio; quantifying associated costs, benefits, risks and funding solutions and associated sensitivities.
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Acquiring and maintaining comprehensive service specific knowledge to support policy development as appropriate, working with service leads reinforcing the need for corporate governance and financial management best practice.
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General accountabilities
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So far as is reasonably practicable, the post holder must ensure that safe working practices are adopted by employees and in premises/work areas for which the post holder is responsible to maintain a safe working environment for employees and service users. These are defined in the Corporate Health, Safety and Welfare Policy, departmental policies and codes of practice.
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Work in compliance with the Codes of Conduct, Regulations and policies of the City Council.
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To model and promote good equalities practice and value diversity across the service.
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Ensure that output and quality of work is of a high standard and complies with current legislation / standards.
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Ensure that all mandatory training is undertaken as required. For example – Bristol City Council’s Induction, Health and Safety, Equalities, Safeguarding Children and Safeguarding Adults. Please note - this is not a comprehensive list.
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This job description sets out the key outcomes required. It does not specify in detail the activities required to achieve these outcomes.
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