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Financial Controller

Up to £55,000 per annum

Reports to: Head of Finance

Directorate: Corporate Services

Salary Band: D

No. of Direct Reports: 2

No. of indirect Reports: 6

Security Clearance: CTC

Financial Management: None

Management of People: Yes

Decision Making: Empowered to take all decisions appropriate to the scope of the role and escalate, as appropriate.

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Job purpose

A key role driving the integrity of IPSA’s financial accounts and promoting one version of the truth, with accountability for the day to day financial accounting and cash management of the organisation. Performing, maintaining and validating monthly and annual accounting processes and reporting, the role holder leads the financial accounting team and is responsible for developing the team and creating robust practices and processes aligned to IPSA’s corporate financial objectives, working with internal and external auditors and liaising with statutory and regulatory bodies including HMRC, HMT and HoC.

Job context

An integral part of the Finance leadership team and visible across the organisation, the role supports the Head of Finance to improve customer service and deliver financial value, driving the team to ensure financial data is current and accurate to enable IPSA’s MP facing teams to deliver accurate, consistent advice to MPs. The role drives strong financial management, planning and control across the organisation and is responsible for change and improvement, anticipating risks and building successful, productive partnerships internally and externally.

Key areas of responsibility

Accountable for the integrity of MP and IPSA finances through robust administration, processing and monitoring aligned to the Managing Public Money, Government Financial Reporting Manual and relevant accounting standards, ensuring compliance with current financial procedures and internal controls.
Oversight of robust financial controls across the organisation with a particular focus on banking, payments and receipts, driving continuous improvements to financial processes, controls and governance.
Production and review of the Annual Report and Accounts, leading on the financial validation of all MP and IPSA underlying transactions and data preparation of Q3 and year-end accounts in accordance with HM Treasury guidelines. Working the Head of Finance and the National Audit Office to ensure that all IPSA accounting matters are addressed.
Managing and maintaining the integrity and probity of IPSA’s accounting system, general ledger and sub ledgers and the balance sheet through monthly reconciliations and completion of all delegated month end activities and variance analysis for reviews. Developing and maintaining the system month end timetable and close for all internal and external users, ensuring accuracy of transactions and compliance with all controls and legislation.
Leading the financial accounting team to deliver high standards of work and behaviour, ensuring day-to-day functions including reviewing and authorising IPSA and MP transactions for various purchase and nominal ledgers, payroll, income and reconciliation are performed well, within financial controls and to deadline.
Leading and developing a professional, high performing and efficient finance team capable of supporting colleagues in their knowledge, understanding and adherence to financial processes and responsibilities, as defined by legislation.
Ensuring compliance and regular review and updating of appropriate financial systems, policies, procedures and governance frameworks.
Working with other teams to ensure robust, consistent and timely monthly reporting.
Driving sound decision making and high performance through relevant KPIs, data and reporting.
Demonstrating technical and political understanding, representing the Finance team at internal and external stakeholder meetings.
Bringing IPSA’s core values of Staying Connected, Seeing The Bigger Picture, Being Open, Doing The Right Thing and Making A Difference to life through behaviours and actions.

Person specification

Professional qualifications and experience

Qualified CCAB or equivalent Accountant with minimum 3 years or more experience in the public sector
Sound financial control, management, planning, monitoring and reporting skills
Public sector and regulatory experience

Leadership

Inspiring leadership capable of creating a high performing team
Effective delegation skills to support people development and workflow
Strong coaching and feedback skills to help develop others
Being accountable for own team’s performance and their impact on others
Confident in decision making, coaching and empowering others to do the right
Utilises knowledge to help shape organisation strategy

Data and Analytical skills

Exceptionally strong attention to detail and strong data skills with the ability to interrogate and interpret complex financial data and translate into meaningful insights for others
Takes pride in the finance data to ensure it’s right first time every time

Achieves results

Able to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously
Able to work collaboratively and be accountable for achieving great results through others
Resilient and performs well under pressure, responding constructively to setbacks
Desire to improve financial awareness and acumen across the organisation
Proven relationship building skills with internal and external stakeholders

Interpersonal skills

Ability to challenge constructively
Adept at communicating complex and challenging financial information to people of all levels
Passionate about sharing knowledge to improve others financial awareness and acumen
Excellent communication skills, able to cultivate effective working relationships across the organisation
Ability to bring passion, energy and commitment to the Finance function

Self-management

Proactive and flexible self-starter, adapting quickly to changing situations and taking the initiative to respond to the needs and priorities of others
To be self-aware, recognising own limits, acting on feedback from others and knowing when to seek support and guidance
Flexibility to support ad hoc work across the organisation
High initiative and a flexible approach to work and change

Technical Competencies / Job specific competencies

Expert knowledge required in the following:

Qualified CCAB or equivalent Accountant with minimum 3 years or more experience in the public sector
Significant public sector and regulatory experience including central government finance principles and processes
Sound financial and balance sheet control, management, planning, monitoring and reporting skills and extensive knowledge of Statutory Accounts production.
Understands IPSA context – knowledge, understanding and able to interpret IPSA policies and how they relate to financial transactions
Ability to continuously improve IPSA’s processes and systems, particularly Finance
Ability to manipulate and interrogate large quantities of data.
Accuracy and attention to detail to all tasks, monitoring accuracy and attention to detail of others work
Excellent communication skills, written and verbal, with the ability to present to others
IT literacy (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and ability to work with large, complex and varied data

Knowledge, skills and experience

Graduate level and may possess a fully qualified professional qualification
Considerable relevant experience within area of responsibility or specialism
Possesses an understanding of the public sector and or the regulatory environment
Alternatively has deep technical specialist knowledge for a key area within a corporate function
May be the subject matter expert for their area

Scope of responsibility

Responsible for a specialist area or a broad programme
Uses depth of knowledge to inform and contribute to strategy for immediate area of responsibility
Inputs ideas to overall organisation strategy with respect to specialist area

Autonomy / Decision making

Works independently within a framework of policies and procedures, determining their own work plan
Will make operational decisions within policies and procedures, using knowledge and experience, but will refer upwards on more complex issues if necessary
Will be able to exercise judgement and deal with a reasonable level of complexity and non-routine issues

Resource management

May manage a small team
Alternatively operates in a stand-alone specialist role
Unlikely to have budgetary responsibility other than ensuring that project budgets are met
Unlikely to have any sign-off authority

Interfaces

Strong verbal and written communication skills
Will possess the skills to manage relationships effectively both internally with peers and the Senior Team and externally with MPs offices, service providers, contractors and the public
Maintains a level of personal credibility that ensures the reputation of the organisation is not put at risk

IPSA competencies

Working together: Team working, Communication

Leadership: Supporting teams

Planning and resource management: Good financial management, planning and monitoring, reporting

Managing myself: Taking personal responsibility.

Working to deliver: Achieving results, being accountable.

Strategy and Business Planning: Preparing for the future, being aware of future potential opportunities.