Main Areas of Responsibility

• To lead on promoting best financial practice for the authority’s revenue accounting, ensuring that the accounting arrangements comply with legislative and accounting standards and requirements (e.g. IFRS), and to manage the production of the annual Statement of Accounts.

• To lead on the liaison with external and internal auditors, ensuring the prompt and effective resolution of queries and contributing to management responses.

• To manage the coordination of the Integrated Plan (the council’s medium-term financial strategy) including the annual budget, maintaining forecasts and ensuring clear and accurate information is presented on a timely basis.

• To lead on the understanding of resources to fund the revenue budget, providing accurate forecasts for the Integrated Plan and monitoring process; calculating and communicating the council tax requirement; and leading on the review, accounting and administration of the Hertfordshire Business Rates Pool.

• To oversee the coordination of the monthly and quarterly corporate budget monitoring processes, ensuring information is of high quality and providing challenge where necessary.

• To ensure sound financial accounting is maintained through the quarterly close process and management of the ledger, and understanding and promoting best practice in this area.

• To ensure statutory and benchmarking returns and Freedom of Information Requests are completed as required, including Whole of Government Accounts, Revenue Outturn and Revenue Account returns; to respond to consultations on accounting and financial matters, on behalf of the Council.

• To influence and promote best financial practice and compliance with the relevant accounting, statutory and Hertfordshire County Council financial regulations and procedures, and contribute to the ongoing review of these regulations and procedures.

• To manage the Financial Planning and Accounts team (currently team of 6), ensuring that effective processes are in place for recruiting, developing, appraising, rewarding and retaining employees, promoting attendance and performance in line with Council policy.

• To identify and contribute to the realisation of opportunities for service improvement and increased efficiency through improved processes and (where relevant) the development, delivery and use of new technology. To communicate such change confidently, persuasively and authoritatively.

• To contribute to the development of the team’s understanding and delivery of the Council’s equalities and diversity agenda

• The duties and responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present. The post holder is expected to accept any reasonable alterations that may from time to time be necessary.

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Person Specification

Fully qualified CCAB, with at least 2 years post qualification experience

Knowledge

Comprehensive knowledge of accounting standards, specifically IFRS, and of financial aspects of local government legislation. Ability to interpret, apply and explain financial policies, procedures, legislation and funding arrangements from Central Government and other sources

Thorough understanding of the structures and relationships of a large local authority and the issues that are currently impacting on the organisation at a Corporate level: political implications, government policy issues and strategic awareness of HCC and its stakeholders. Ability to use that awareness to pick up emerging issues

Skills

Ability to build effective relationships with all levels including senior managers and partner organisations, creating trust and confidence; able to influence positively the social, economic and political environment in support of agreed strategy and plans

Ability to explain more complex financial information/ best practice and to challenge, persuade and negotiate successfully with senior managers

Ability to consider the method of communication adopted, and to create and present thoughts and ideas orally and in written format, demonstrating this using a high level of presentation skills

Ability to achieve results where no direct line-management exists, working alongside others across the finance community to promote best financial practices across the organisation

Ability to build an effective and resilient team, managing the supervision and appraisal process effectively, and recognising and promoting talent, providing opportunities to learn and develop

Experience

Proven track record of ability to consult, influence and advise senior officers. 

Evidence of ability to make effective use of a number of data sources to obtain all appropriate data for a project, and to use available tools (e.g. spreadsheets, financial planning template) to carry out detailed data analysis and present information in a clear and concise manner.

Evidence of ability to prepare reports (incorporating a number of uncertainties and presenting the effect of the inherent risk), including an analysis of non-financial considerations and key stakeholder needs; able to give examples where have made effective use of management information to inform strategy and business decisions.

Evidence of ability to provide innovative solutions/ recommendations, including challenging existing practice and analysing non-financial factors, wider implications (e.g. political, managerial, or equal opportunities) and key stakeholder needs.

Evidence of ability to translate business strategy and plans into clearly defined objectives, and to manage team to deliver these.

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