Title: Chief Accountant
Rate: £600 per day
Location: Hybrid- 2-3 days in the office across sites. Rochford and Brentwood
Type: Temporary for 9 months

Opus People Solutions are working with Brentwood Borough Council and Rochford District Council to recruit for an interim Chief Accountant to oversee and lead on the Treasury Management function, including the management of the Council's cashflows, its banking, money market and capital market transactions.
Main Responsibilities:

• To have line management responsibility for the Technical Accountant, including
• one to one review meetings, appraisals, leave booking and work allocation.
• Support the implementation of policies and strategies for the financial service to
• support service delivery, value for money and the delivery of the Council's
• priorities and defined outcomes.
• Attend, advise and actively participate in meeting with members, Directors,
• Management teams and working groups as required.
• Prepare the treasury elements of the statement of accounts in accordance with
• statutory requirement.
• Lead in the preparation and publication of the Statement of Accounts including
• producing notes to the accounts and professional working papers.
• Contribute to the MTFS in relation to technical areas.
• Take lead responsibility for technical accounting policies and strategies.
• Lead on the Collection Fund, Pensions, VAT and any other technical/specialist
• requirements of the finance team.
• To build a strong relationship with our internal and external auditors, whilst
• supporting the annual audit programme and in answering issues raised as part
• of the final accounts process.
• Prepare the Capital & Investment Strategy by undertaking relevant research to
• ensure documents remain up to date and ensure best practice is applied.
• Ensure all government returns are completed on time and correctly.
• Provide professional advice and tailored reports to a defined group within the
• Council, on their financial plans and projects.
• Highlight risks, problems, and challenges so the organisation can develop
• solutions to deliver better outcomes and value for money.

The above duties and responsibilities give a broad outline of the functions of the post.
However, by necessity, these duties must be approached in a flexible manner to accommodate the changing needs and demands of the service provide by OneTeam at Brentwood Borough Council and Rochford District Council.