(Financial Accounting Team)

Job Title:

Accounting Technician

(Financial Accounting Team)

Directorate: Finance

Job Reference Number: P02279

The Role

As part of the Financial Compliance Team, you will report to a Senior Financial Accountant and will work closely with colleagues to support the provision of advice and interpretation to a team of high performing, customer facing, finance professionals to underpin effective decision making, promote compliance with best professional practice and ensure the highest standards of financial governance are achieved.

Job Purpose

The Accounting Technician will support the Financial Accounting Group to promote compliance with accounting policies and procedure rules, to meet the Council's statutory financial reporting requirements and to effectively manage its treasury management activities.

The post holder is expected to build strong relationships with finance colleagues and with internal partners.

Specifically, the purpose of the role is to:

 Assist in the delivery of the Council’s statutory financial accounting and reporting requirements, treasury management or other regulatory requirements.

 Assist in the delivery of practical advice and guidance consistent with the Council’s accounting policies and internal financial controls.

 Understand the needs of customers and colleagues provide them with a service they value.

 To support the delivery of projects as requested. Key Accountabilities

 Provide timely and accurate advice to other finance professionals to assist them to carry out their duties. Constructively challenging as appropriate.

 Provide information and analysis to support the implementation of changes to accounting practice or other regulatory requirements.

 Analyse, interpret and communicate financial and performance data, and provide financial advice in the form of management information

 Understand unit costs and drivers and interpret financial variances robustly. Accurately prepare, monitor and control estimates and forecasts

 Interpret and implement changes required within finance as a result of new legislation or change in policy/guidance.

 Deliver the timely preparation of information for projects ensuring that the information is accurate and quality assured.

 Deliver information to support the annual accounts closure programme (including the external audit of the accounts) or other statutory reporting requirements as requested, and in accordance with the agreed timetable.

 Ensure compliance with the Council’s accounting policies, financial procedure rules and performance standards. Operate to a framework of working practices.

 Maintain financial systems and processes, ensuring proper reconciliation and control procedures are in place. Implement requested changes.

 Support the financial management of the Revenue Budget and Capital Programme and help to ensure that appropriate links are in place between management and statutory financial reporting.

 Prepare timely and accurate information to facilitate the delivery of an effective treasury management function.

 Complete statutory government returns, benchmarking and other questionnaires.  Contribute to the work involved in achieving the objectives in Financial Professional

Services annual plan and ensuring the benefits are realised.

 Support the delivery of new initiatives and financial projects, as requested. Knowledge, Skills and Experience

 Full AAT qualification or equivalent.

 Knowledge and understanding of financial accounting issues.

 Engagement with non-finance professionals and external partners to secure their input into meeting statutory financial reporting requirements and to facilitate the effective external audit of the Council’s annual accounts.

 Provision of advice and support to other finance professionals.

 Working with a range of financial systems, processes and practices, and supporting their development.

 Supporting the assessment of proposed alternatives to the financing of services.  Understanding of financial planning and management principles.

 Supporting multi-disciplinary teams to achieve service outcomes.  Working with colleagues across the finance function.

 Ability to establish credibility with other finance professionals and other stakeholders.

 Strong delivery/performance focus.

 Ability to contribute effectively in a large complex organisation with plans for radical change and improvement.

 Ability to build effective working relationships with finance professionals in other teams, including the commissioning of work and quality assurance of outputs  Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills.

VALUES AND BEHAVIOURS

CUSTOMER FOCUSSED AND PROACTIVE

Working together we proactively engage with our customers and listen to their needs in order to continuously improve our service.

 Understands customers’ needs and takes ownership for the outcome  Proactively looks for ways to improve service delivery by seeking customer

feedback

 Work with the customer to implement solutions & challenge process for a positive customer outcome

 Make decisions that are appropriate to the role, and provide recommendations when escalating decisions upwards

ENABLING AND EMPOWERING

Working together, we provide confidence and trust to support the delivery of the right services for our customers.

 Makes the appropriate decisions through consultation with internal and external stakeholders /customers

 Influences an environment of trust and co-operation through personal demonstration of the corporate values

 Prepared to share own decisions and be considerate of the opinion of others  Quickly and effectively adjust to new situations and environments, focussing on

 Prioritise the needs of the group / organisation ahead of your own EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT

Working together we will achieve our objectives in the best possible way, so that we deliver the results that make the biggest difference to the people we serve.

 Takes responsibility for delivering and managing work within timelines and expectations

 Regularly challenge the status quo, looking for ways to improve both the customer experience and value for money

 Demonstrates personal accountability, focusing on the outcomes achieved versus the effort required

 Works collaboratively to provide effective service delivery Safeguarding

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

Pre-Employment Checks appropriate to this Job Profile

Essex County Council (ECC) is committed to ensuring all recruitment is undertaken fairly, effectively, safely and in accordance with legislation.

The information below provides pre-employment screening guidance for candidates applying to this job at Essex County Council.

Role Requirement:

Not working with children or vulnerable adults, not in a specified place and with no access to sensitive information relating to children or vulnerable adults

Pre-Employment Check

Definition Self Declaration

(Unspent convictions only)

A declaration of unspent convictions must be completed by all employees who do not work directly with vulnerable adults or children

References A minimum of two employer references will be required -one of which must be the last employer.

Any gaps of 4 weeks or more will be explored by the manager at interview stage. Where requested by the manager additional character references will be taken up

Medical All new recruits and employees whose role changes

significantly are required to complete a medical health declaration

Eligibility /

Right to work in the UK

Proof is required and original documentation will be sought i.e. passport or full birth certificate

Regulatory

qualifications and professional registration (subject to role)

Original qualification certificates and proof of registration with a professional body is required (if applicable)