Our local authority client is looking for an Interim Accountant of Projects to support the closure of accounts corporate team to co-ordinate the closure process for the council's 2021-22 preparation of year-end accounts.



Responsibilities include:



* Supporting the closure of accounts corporate team as a key point of contact for the external auditors in terms of managing and addressing audit queries relating to the external audit of the draft 2020-21 council accounts.
* Working collaboratively with senior accountants and senior management providing specialist professional or technical expertise to support the closure of accounts year-end process.
* Being able to both challenge and support the wider finance department to ensure that adequate and accurate audit working papers are prepared to support the disclosures within the council's accounts and for the external audit processes. Key challenge and review areas will include;

-Balance sheet reconciliations
-Year on Year analytic and variance explanations across the financial statements both for income and expenditure and balance sheet items
-Accruals supporting documentation
-Recharges consolidation and postings
-loss allowance and impairment calculations
-Schools consolidation and postings
-Working papers to support estimates and judgements within the accounts

* Be able to support the large scale project management and monitoring of the year-end closure process and the delivery of the financial statements.



Skills and experience required:

* Strong technical knowledge of CIPFA code of practice for local authority accounting
* Excellent technical skills relating to closure of accounts and end of year statements
* Experience of acting as main point of contact for auditors
* Stakeholder engagement experience
* Experience of accounting system, particular, Agresso would be desirable
* CCAB qualified or appropriate equivalent qualification and/or experience

Connect2Staff/Connect2Kent, part of Commercial Services Trading/Kent Ltd, is an equal opportunities Employment Agency & Business and positively encourages applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates.