Job description

Assistant Management Accountant - Ongoing Temporary - Ballymena - Mon-Frid 37hpw - £17.36ph

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE JOB

The post holder will assist the Management Accountant with the operational activities for the following areas: -

• Setting annual rates
• Computerised financial systems
• Banking, incomes and payments management
• Management information and budgetary control
• Payroll accounting
• Reconciliation of management and year end accounts

Assist the Management Accountant in planning and implementing a high quality service to meet the needs of the organisation, its customers, its internal policies and relevant legislation and regulations.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Service Delivery

Rates Estimate

• Assist with the preparation of the Council's revenue and capital estimates to enable the Council to agree spending plans and strike the district rate within the statutory framework.

• Provide relevant expenditure and income reports and analysis at various levels of detail to assist Officers in the rates refinement process.

• Attend all rates estimate meetings with senior officers and budget holders.

Management Accounts and Budgetary Control

• Provide timely, accurate and relevant management information to Officers.

• Assist the Management Accountant with the maintenance and development of Council's codified accounting system. Development of this should be done in conjunction with the financial accounting section of council to ensure timely production of year-end financial statements and schedules.

• Liaise with budget holders to provide impartial advice to enable them to understand the financial information produced and effect improved budgetary control.

• Carry out financial projects and assignments as required by the Management Accountant. Ensuring the accounting system is capable of supplying the needs of the budget holder whilst being mindful of financial reporting requirements.

Financial Systems

• Assist the Management Accountant in the Implementation of additional Modules to enhance the suite of Finance software, the project planning and implementation of additional financial modules or upgrades of existing software.

• Ensure that controls and procedures are implemented on finance systems in all trading units of the organisation as appropriate to ensure highest level of governance.

Transactions and Reconciliations

• Assist the Management Accountant in ensuring a smooth and efficient operation of transaction and reconciliation related to the functional area.

• Design and review appropriate cost apportionment system.

Controls

• Assist with the implementation and policing control systems within Finance Department to ensure accurate processing and reconciliation of transactions in all core ledgers.

• Assist the Council to put in place an appropriate control environment and effective internal controls, which provide assurance of effective and efficient operations, internal financial controls and compliance with laws, regulations and guidance.

• Assist the Management Accountant in ensuring an effective internal financial control method covering codified guidance, budgetary systems, supervision, segregation of duties, accounting procedures and information systems.

• Ensure all accounting policies and procedures are adhered to so that they comply with all statutory requirements.

Other Financial Duties

• Assist with year-end production of accounts as and when required.

• As a member of the finance work with both internal and external Auditors to provide information and answer queries as required.

• Assist with all financial matters as part of cross service and inter-departmental working groups.

• Prepare responses to Freedom of Information queries for review by the Head of Finance.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

Hold a professional qualification with a recognised accountancy body (CCAB or CIMA)

CCAB includes:

ICAEW

ACCA

CIPFA

ICAS

ICAI

AND

Must be able to demonstrate, by providing personal and specific examples, that they have 3 years' experience in a finance function. Candidates are required to demonstrate 3 years, experience in at least 2 of 3 following areas.

• Successful preparation of a budget setting process and provision of high quality budgetary information
• Provision of timely, accurate management information to managers for decision making purposes
• Experience of proactively managing financial controls to the highest level of governance.

OR

Be part qualified and demonstrate that they currently hold at least 50% of the qualification (which will be achieved no later than 3 years (from date of appointment).

ICAEW - Professional Level - 3 out of 6 modules

ACCA - Fundamental level - all knowledge and skills modules

CIPFA - Professional Diploma - 3 out of 6 modules

ICAS - Test of Professional Skills - Phase 1

ICAI - CAP 1 and 50% of CAP2

CIMA - Diploma in Management Accounting + 50% of Management level award.

AND

If you do not possess a full professional qualification have 5 years' experience in at least 2 of 3 following areas.

• Preparation of a budget setting process and provision of high quality budgetary information
• Provision of timely, accurate management information to managers for decision making purposes
• Experience of proactively managing financial controls to the highest level of governance.