Internal Applicants Only - Deputy Head of Financial Accounts - #1701087

Job Description Internal Applicants Only - Deputy Head of Financial Accounts Location Cardiff : Key Duties

• Draft specified sections of the statutory Annual Report & Financial Statements to the agreed timetable, in compliance with relevant accounting standards and regulatory requirements


• Support the preparation of audit briefing papers and Committee papers required as part of the year end


• The provision of information to and liaison with external auditors as part of the in the annual external audit


• Responsible for a range of financial accounting processes, which must be undertaken in a timely manner and in accordance with relevant accounting standards, including continuous improvement of processes and procedures


• Reconciliation of specified Balance Sheet accounts and supporting the management of the Balance Sheet reconciliation process


• Assist with supporting subsidiary company finance teams as and when required


• Review of University accounting policies, and proposing and implementing relevant and appropriate changes to policy


• Document and maintain standard operating procedures for financial accounting activities, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations, and maintaining a cycle of review


• Continually strive to improve the quality and timeliness of financial information and processes to all stakeholders


• Support the preparation of other annual regulatory returns


• Play a key role in the continued development of finance processes and policies


• Play a key role in the establishment and maintenance of a Finance Controllers' Manual for the University


• Instruct and guide other employees across the University in the application of accounting standards as required


• Provide professional advice and guidance on financial accounting processes and procedures to internal and external customers that will have institute wide impacts, using judgement and creativity to suggest the most appropriate course of action where appropriate, and ensuring complex and conceptual issues are understood


• Take responsibility for resolving Financial Accounting issues independently where they fall within set role objectives and providing guidance and support to University colleagues


• Investigate and analyse specific issues within Financial Accounting, creating recommendation reports, supported by advances within Financial Accounting


• Ensure that the provision of Financial Accounting is delivered to the institution, proactively changing the delivery according to customer requirements where appropriate


• Establish working relationships with key contacts, developing appropriate communication links with the University's Schools/Directorates and outside bodies as may be required


• Create specific working groups from colleagues across the University to achieve Financial Accounting objectives


• Plan and deliver specific small scale projects, co-ordinating and supervising project teams created as needed


• Develop and deliver training and mentoring to finance staff as necessary


• Perform other duties as assigned by Head of Financial Accounts and Head of Financial Reporting


• Undertake a variety of administrative duties to support the department

• Ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties


• Abide by University policies on Health and Safety and Equality and Diversity


• Perform other duties occasionally which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role

Person Specification

• Part-qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or similar) or qualified by experience, technically strong, with experience of working at a similar level.


• Able to demonstrate professional technical financial accounting knowledge, to give advice and guidance to Finance and non-Finance customers.


• Able to work with complex datasets.


• Able to demonstrate attention to detail relating to reporting, analysis and the production and outputs of the year end accounts. In addition, well-developed analytical skills including the development and use of spreadsheets and demonstrated ability to use Microsoft Office Suite of software applications.


• Able to demonstrate professional knowledge of financial systems and knowledge of working with Oracle or a similar ERP system.


• Able to demonstrate proven experience in developing new processes and procedures.


• Evidence of ability to explore customers' needs and adapt the service accordingly to ensure that technical financial accounting advice is provided in an understandable way.


• Proven ability to develop networks in order to contribute to long term developments.


• Able to evidence ability to solve technical accounting problems using initiative and creativity; identifying and proposing both practical and innovative solutions.


• Evidence of demonstrable knowledge of key advances within Finance.

• Experience of working in a Higher Education environment


• Fluency in Welsh, written and oral

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Job Category

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