We urgently seek a Chief Accountant for a public sector client to manage the closure of the Accounts team ensuring the accounts and related notes are produced in line with the statutory deadline and act as the main liaison point between the clients and its external auditors.

The chief Accountant will manage Finance Managers who look after capital accounting, and the closedown timetable plus act as the interface between the closing team, the rest of finance and other clients' departments.

Specific responsibilities will include:

• Promotion, co-ordination and management of the Council’s Corporate Closure of Accounts Programme, ensuring all tasks are completed on time
• Identify & pre-empt any potential issues, problems and areas of non-compliance
• Regular progress reporting to the Director Finance / Executive Management Team
• Attendance at External Audit Liaison Meetings
• Attendance at weekly Finance Manager Meetings
• Undertake training for staff involved in closing in closedown procedures and technical requirements
• Production, publication, inspection and audit of the Council’s Statement of Accounts, including Single Entity Accounts and Group Accounts
• Co-ordinate a quality control review of the draft SoA before release to External Auditors
• Complete the Cycle 1 Whole of Government Accounts DCT
• Provide advice & guidance on technical accounting and reporting issues
• Lead on the External Audit of the Statement of Accounts.