Principal Accountant - CANTERBURY

Principal Accountant
Canterbury, Kent
£44,551pa
Permanent, Full time and Hybrid working (2 days in the office)

Our client is looking for a Principal Accountant to join their team. If you want to work in a cultural and vibrant city whilst also being close to the coastal towns of Whitstable and Herne Bay this could be the perfect place for you to develop your career.

Key Responsibilities

• As the Principal Accountant, you'll take a lead role in the strategic risk management, tax management, audit liaison and budget monitoring for the general fund revenue account.
• You will be looking after our statutory obligations in relation to VAT including advising on the correct VAT treatment of supplies and tax planning and overseeing fraud prevention.
• You'll contribute to the financial year end processes relating to the publishing of the Statement of Accounts and the Local Government Transparency Code.
• As an expert in your field, you'll provide financial advice to support our objectives and tax affairs.
• You'll lead on budgeting, forecasting and financial planning processes ensuring accuracy and alignment with corporate plan objectives within a challenging financial environment for local authorities.
• As our new Principal Accountant, you will monitor and analyse financial performance, ensure robust controls are followed and collaborate with stakeholders.

Requirements

• Able to continually develop and improve your specialist knowledge, within the context of Local Government.
• Understanding of Local Government Finance
• Understanding and knowledge of accounting regulations
• Knowledge of financial systems
• Understanding and knowledge of financial legislation
• Understanding of government guidance on specific service areas
• Knowledge of Financial Regulations and Contract Standing Orders
• Experience of preparing and managing budgets
• Experience in managing people
• Experience of writing and presenting finance reports
• Managing changes of processes and procedures within a team setting
• CCAB qualified or substantial work-related experience.
• 5 GCSE's including Maths and English grades C/4 or above

In our company values we aim for equity at all stages of the recruitment process, please let us know if we can do anything to make the process more accessible to you.