Senior Financial Accountant

About Our Client

The Senior Financial Accountant is a pivotal member of the Finance team and will support the department in delivering an excellent service to all its internal & external stakeholders. The Senior Institute Accountant will support the Head of Finance by leading the operational day-to-day elements involved with running an effective management accounts team, and will also play a vital role in managing, with the Senior Financial Accountant, the preparation of the year end annual report and accounts and audit thereof.

Job Description

• Lead in the preparation to completion of the Year End Statutory accounts and annual report.
• Collaborate with external auditors during the year-end audit, ensuring full compliance with the Charity SORP FRS102.

• Ownership of monthly management accounts for all internal operational stakeholders, including clear commentary explaining variances against budgets/forecasts.
• Review of work completed by management accountants.
• Preparation of monthly and quarterly Stakeholder packs.
• Attendance to Stakeholder meetings.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities and provide financial analysis to improve operational efficiency of the Institute.
• Production of monthly Finance dashboard.

• Lead the budgeting process, financial forecasting, and long-term planning to ensure financial efficiency and effectiveness with the internal operational stakeholders.
• Overseeing preparation and forecasting of annual budget including salary budget.
• Effective monitoring of budgets.
• Lead the Institute Assessment exercise to obtain funding from the Institute's main funder and prepare all reporting required as part of that funding.

• Your team consists of three management accountants in the overall Finance team of fourteen.
• Manage, develop, and mentor your team to be the 'easiest team to work with' both within the Institute and amongst our funders.

• Assist in ensuring a strong internal control environment, with clear and well-defined segregation of duties is developed and maintained.
• Prepare and update system and process documentation.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of streamlined financial policies and procedures for smooth, efficient operations.
• Seek to continuously improve all existing systems, processes, and controls.

• Liaise across the Institute to build relationships between finance and other departments.
• Act as the Head of Finance Deputy in meetings and managing the team in the absence of the Head of Finance.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for financial matters with key stakeholders, including internal & external customers.
• Ensure budget holders are kept up to date with their progress against budget and maintain a dialogue regarding potential issues and risks which would then be highlighted to the Head of Finance.
• Undertake ad hoc financial analysis as required to support Institute partners.
• Undertake ad hoc financial analysis as required from time to time.

• Knowledge of Public Sector, SORP, FRS102, Charities and Companies Act requirements financial requirements.
• Qualified Accountant in either CIMA, ACCA or ACA.
• Good and proven management skills.
• Ability to produce statutory accounts from preparation to completion, ready for auditing.
• Knowledge of management and project accounting.
• Advanced skills for excel and word.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of Access Financials accounting software.
• Knowledge of Charity law, Company Law and VAT.
• Proven track record of providing internal financial reports and analyis.
• Experience of dealing with organisational change.
• To work well under pressure, in particular due to competing deadlines.
• To be able to work independently and with little direct supervision.
• To be able to work as part of a team whilst managing their own work.
• Understanding of Powerpoint.

• 25 days annual leave per annum, pro rata, plus 10.5 public and privilege days.
• Hybrid working
• Buy and sell annual leave.
• Option to carry over up to two weeks annual leave.
• Gym with subsidised membership.
• Social club.
• Lifestyle Hub (employee discount site).
• Cycle to work.
• Subsidised employee restaurant.
• Childcare allowance.
• Free onsite parking.
• Electric car charging facilities.