Financial Professional in City of London

Location: Haringey

Contract: £317.86 per day PAYE or £436.83 per day limited paid via umbrella company inside IR35. 2 days in the office.

Responsibilities:

• Assist the Chief Accountant and Deputy Chief Accountant with the annual production of the Statement of Accounts.
• Support the Deputy Chief Accountant with day‑to‑day activities within the team, including design and implementation of processes and procedures for staff.
• Maintain the integrity of the chart of accounts, balances and transactions to facilitate statutory and management reporting.
• Provide technical accounting advice to Council staff to ensure that best practice and relevant accounting standards and guidance is adhered to.
• Deputise for the Deputy Chief Accountant as reasonably required from time to time.
• Lead on Collection Fund, Revenue Accounting, Chart of Accounts, Balance Sheet Management, VAT and ensure the efficient and timely completion of related returns.
• Ensure robust, accurate and compliant collection fund accounting and record keeping, including compiling working papers that satisfy audit requirements.
• Liaise with LG Futures on all collection fund matters and review information supporting the estimation of the collection fund surplus/deficit during the year.
• Advise senior management on collection fund matters and act as the collection fund contact with external bodies such as preceptors, experts and the collection fund network.
• Oversight of information provided by Revenue Service Teams to ensure all collection fund returns are accurate and completed on time.
• Support tasks such as the setting of council tax.
• Lead on annual closure of all revenue activities, including preparation of reconciling general ledger accounts and reserves.
• Maintain oversight of the Council’s Balance Sheet to ensure all balances are understood, supported and represent real assets or liabilities.
• Complete statutory and non‑government returns such as the NNDR1‑3, CTR1, Revenue Outturn Returns and Whole Government Accounts.
• Consolidate accounts for group companies and related bodies, and oversee accounting for schools and related party organisations.
• Oversee accounting processes around Debtors (including capital loans, bad debts provision) and Creditors.
• Lead on Grant accounting.
• Lead on completion of statutory and non‑government returns such as WGA and RO.
• Lead on strategic VAT issues and ensure Council’s financial processes comply with changes in VAT legislation.
• Support council‑wide service initiatives with complex VAT implications, obtaining specialist advice and building a library of advice from tax experts.
• Review monthly VAT Returns and provide VAT advice to senior leadership.
• Undertake Partial Exemption calculations annually.
• Ensure finance colleagues and services are aware of the closure timetable and protocols to action year‑end adjustments.
• Prepare Collection Fund Statement at year‑end and aspects of the Core Financial Statement such as the Cash Flow Statement and group accounts, including notes to the accounts.
• Respond to complex internal and external audit queries and recommendations, continually improving financial management and reporting.
• Ensure all work undertaken complies with Council financial regulations, standing orders, policies and practice, statutory requirements and CIPFA guidance.
• Process all relevant virements on SAP, obtaining appropriate authorisation for each item.
• Prepare accounting guidance, briefing papers, electronic templates, audit working papers and committee reports as required.
• Document and review procedures and processes regularly, keeping the Line Manager informed of any situation.

Equal Opportunity: Colbern Limited is an equal opportunities employer.