Head of Financial reporting

Head of Financial Reporting, South East London – Higher Education, up to £65,000

A London based university is looking for a Head of Financial Reporting and Compliance to manage the Financial Accounting team. Suitable candidates will have an accountancy qualification and substantial management experience. They will also be a strong technical accountant, that is willing to represent the financial directorate to the wider organisation and external stakeholders. This role sits as part of a large finance function, reporting directly into the Assistant Director of Finance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Planning, coordinating and organising the work of the FRC team with an emphasis on quality processes and outcomes.
• Management and development of staff within the team
• Continuous improvement mindset, suggesting and implementing improvements to systems and processes
• Providing proactive advice to senior managers on key risks and financial outcomes at project, business unit and corporate levels
• Providing training to team members and to foster knowledge sharing amongst the team and the wider Finance Directorate
• Representing the Finance Directorate on internal working groups, project teams, committees and external assignments as necessary
• Provision of management information, analysis, forecasts, technical financial accounting input, advice and reporting to senior staff
• Provision and review of monthly balance sheet reconciliations, along with high level analytical summaries to seniors
• Integral role in helping to prepare the consolidated financial statements and maintaining the consolidation model
• A key contact for the external auditors during the year end audit
• Responsible for the collation of data and submitting routine compliance returns to the Office for Students
• Ensuring compliance with the University’s financial regulations, procedures and implementation of audit recommendations
• Responsible for bringing together the treasury forecast and advising on cash requirements
• Work associated with and\or preparation of various compliance and statutory returns
• Compliance: statutory and other compliance requirements; HMRC and Other audits; VAT, Corporation and Other taxation; providing taxation advice; other statutory and compliance returns
• Developing the FRC Team Procedures Manual
• Ensuring the relevant financial reporting standards are followed
• Providing financial reporting advice and modelling the impact of changes to help in the decision-making process
• Development and ownership of the Chart of Accounts

Key Skills & Qualifications:

• Qualified ACA/ACCA/CIMA accountant
• Must have team management experience and enjoy the leadership element to the role
• Not for Profit experience, particularly higher education, would be a bonus but not essential
• Highly computer literate with advanced knowledge of Excel, Word, PowerPoint and computerised accounts systems
• Proactive, solution focussed individual
• Ready to drive for improvements and change within the team
• Strong presenting and interpersonal skills