Title: Principal Accountant
Rate: £450 per day
Location: Hybrid- Brentwood Borough Council, Town Hall, Brentwood, Essex CM15 8AY
Type: Temporary- 9 months

Opus People Solutions are working with Brentwood Borough Council to recruit for an interim Principal Accountant to plan and co-ordinate the final accounts process including liaison with external audit Act as the lead advisor on technical accounting, including Collection Fund, Pensions and VAT.

• 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.