Finance Analyst - Adult Social Care

City: Wembley, London

The role is for a Finance Analyst providing finance business partnering (FBP) to the Adults Social Care (ASC) service. The Finance Analyst will be responsible for financial support to departments and schools including such areas as the annual budget, monthly monitoring, statutory reporting, Tax and VAT, Exchequer, Controls and supporting over all council functions.

Experience of supporting ASC is ideal however, candidates with FBP experience within other local government departments will be considered. Candidates will need to be AAT qualified, part qualified CCAB or CII with ongoing study or have equivalent experience.

Key Responsibilities:

• Undertake the preparation of budgets, to assist service areas with budget projections and provide critical challenge on a monthly basis, or as required.
• Ensure a system of adequate internal controls exists in respect of financial matters.
• Ensure that accurate financial returns, to both internal and external bodies including CIPFA, are made on a timely basis.
• Advise on the financial viability of new or existing projects and policy proposals.
• Liaise with both Internal and External Auditors.
• Provide advice to service managers on financial matters, including interpretation and compliance with financial regulations.
• Support month end and year end processes, preparing performance and other reports.
• Keep the Council's asset register up to date.
• Support schools and their bursars in their roles and their financial development needs.
• Support the development and maintenance of a full range of buy-back services for schools through effective SLA arrangements in a customer focused way.
• Support the activities supporting the school's forum and provide effective.

Qualifications:

1. AAT qualified, part qualified CCAB or CII + ongoing study OR equivalent experience.

Skills & Experience:

1. Minimum of 12 months recent experience in a similar role, or context and ideally within a public sector organisation.
2. Experience in investigating changes to accounting rules and areas of potential breach, proposing and implementing viable solutions.
3. Experience in producing briefings and reports on specific issues for senior managers. Using information to support arguments and recommendations and able to present complex information verbally as well as in written form.
4. Experience in identifying major issues and proposing solutions.
5. Experience with working with managers to identify potential corrective action in response to significant variances, and to develop appropriate action plans.
6. Experience of providing advice and support to council service departments whilst at the same time monitoring financial activities and standing on behalf of the Operational Director of Finance.
7. Experience analysing information to identify trends and sound inferences from the information. Investigates issues that arise. Able to investigate more open-ended problems
8. Experience using complex financial and non-financial information to project future outcomes and appraise options
9. Strong IT skills including Microsoft packages or equivalent (eg G Suite).

Knowledge:

1. Knowledge of Oracle Financials reporting Business Objects and ADI.
2. Knowledge of accounting principles, policies and practices.
3. Knowledge of financial accounting and control.
4. Knowledge of local government funding arrangements.
5. Knowledge of statutory and regulatory reporting requirements in banking.
6. Knowledge of capital accounting and regulation funding