<p>Positive Employment is currently recruiting for a Senior Accountant for our client, a local government organisation based in Newbury.</p><p>The successful post holder will provide accountancy support to services, liaising with and advising budget managers on compliance with accountancy regulations, local guidelines and financial processes, ensuring a robust financial control framework is maintained across the organisation.</p><p>They will ensure management receives timely, accurate and relevant financial advice, guidance and information to support statutory compliance, sound financial management and strategic decision-making.</p><p>This role is a temporary contract with an initial contract length 6 weeks with the possibility to extend. Hybrid working, ideally 2 days per week in the office.</p><p><strong>Duties and Responsibilities but not limited to:</strong></p><ul><li>Implement financial policies and procedures set by the Section 151 Officer and Deputy, ensuring compliance across assigned service areas.</li><li>Design and develop financial systems and processes to meet the operational requirements of individual service areas and budget managers.</li><li>Support the Finance Manager in maintaining high standards of financial management, ensuring services remain compliant with changing legislation and organisational requirements.</li><li>Provide detailed financial and management accounting advice to service managers on both a planned and ad hoc basis.</li><li>Advise on budget setting, budget monitoring, financial planning and year-end accounting requirements.</li><li>Monitor compliance with financial regulations and standing orders, providing financial advice during the development of new projects and initiatives.</li><li>Prepare and coordinate annual revenue estimates, ensuring agreed budget strategies are fully implemented.</li><li>Produce final accounts for designated service areas, ensuring accurate and comprehensive supporting documentation is prepared.</li><li>Ensure key financial control functions, including reconciliations and other control processes, are completed accurately and within required timescales.</li><li>Develop, analyse and interpret management information to support operational and strategic decision-making.</li><li>Produce financial reports using a range of accounting techniques, spreadsheets and financial systems.</li><li>Complete statutory financial returns accurately and within required deadlines.</li><li>Identify opportunities to improve financial processes, service efficiency and value for money.</li><li>Lead, support and develop members of the finance team, promoting continuous improvement and high performance.</li><li>Contribute to effective financial, performance, risk, health and safety and people management within the team.</li><li>Support recruitment, induction, performance management and staff development activities.</li><li>Build effective working relationships with managers and stakeholders across the organisation.</li></ul><p><strong>Personal Requirements:</strong></p><ul><li>Part-qualified accountant or fully qualified AAT.</li><li>At least three years' experience working within an accounting environment.</li><li>Experience managing accounting staff within a finance environment.</li><li>Experience training and developing staff within a finance environment.</li><li>Experience working with and advising senior managers.</li><li>Knowledge of demand-led services and financial modelling.</li><li>Knowledge of local government finance.</li><li>Knowledge of capital and fixed asset accounting.</li><li>Knowledge of grant accounting.</li><li>Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.</li><li>Ability to manage staff supporting technical and regulatory finance functions.</li><li>Strong influencing and negotiation skills.</li><li>Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain financial information to a wide range of audiences.</li><li>Ability to develop new financial systems, processes and deliver training to finance and non-finance users.</li><li>Experience building effective working relationships with managers at all levels.</li><li>Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise a complex workload and meet strict deadlines.</li></ul><p><strong>Working Hours:</strong> 36 hours per week, Monday to Friday.</p><p><strong>Pay:</strong> £51.75 per hour.</p><p><strong><em>Please note this role is within the scope of IR35.</em></strong></p>