Location - Milton Keynes Pay - £22.68ph Length of Assignment - 3 months/on-going Purpose of the role; - This post will ensure a timely, effective and efficient financial support and advisory service is provided to Milton Keynes Council. - This post will be a key part of the Finance Service and will be expected to operate in a management role, both within the Finance Service and in an advisory capacity to Milton Keynes Council, particularly in relation to the Final Accounts processes, co-ordination of Statutory Financial and Grant returns, and delivery of the monthly Revenue and Capital Monitoring reports. This will apply to both the direct delivery of team objectives and in a wider context of service improvement and enhancement. - Reporting to the Corporate Accounting Manager, this role will lead on the completion of the Statement of Accounts, co-ordinating year end close-down processes, liaising with other areas within the finance service, to produce the final published accounts. The role will lead on the annual audit process; ensuring statutory reporting deadlines are met. - The role will take a lead on the preparation of quarterly financial reporting to Cabinet. Working with Strategic Finance Business Partners, the role will ensure reporting is robust and consistent across all service areas. - This role will be required to provide advice to Milton Keynes Council both from a corporate perspective and by working with the Service Professional Finance Teams. This will require working in partnership with finance colleagues and shared service colleagues to ensure outcomes are delivered; processes are standardised and improved and cost reductions are achieved. - This post will make a significant contribution to the Finance Service Management Team, including driving improvement and consistency across all of Professional Finance; leading the development and enhancement of processes and improving procedures. - This role is required to provide support to the Council, ensuring that financial governance and management is robustly implemented and effective; managing corporate reporting and statutory requirements, both alongside colleagues in LGSS and co-ordinating the Professional Finance Teams. Key Objectives; 1 Acting as the MKC lead on the production of the Council's Accounts ensuring that; statutory reporting requirements and timelines are met; audit queries are addressed; and the Annual Governance statement is completed in coordination with Internal Audit. 2 Ensuring professional accounting standards are maintained and external audit and internal audit requirements are delivered. 3 Managing the preparation of key financial processes (such as regular monthly budget forecasting and reporting, monthly capital reporting and statutory accounting) and working with all Professional Finance Teams to ensure these are delivered in a consistent and timely manner to a good quality standard. 4 Co-ordinating the preparation of Statutory returns, ensure information is provided in line with relevant guidelines and reporting dates 5 Co-ordination and preparation of responses to freedom of information requests 6 Oversee the clearing of all account reconciliations to ensure accurate financial reporting within the financial system 7 Ensuring the financing of the Capital Programme is monitored and funding applied to make best use of available Council resources 8 Managing and delivering individual projects as required by the Service Director, Finance and Resources, Strategic Finance Business Partner (Corporate and Public Realm) and Corporate Accounting Manager. 9 Effectively performance managing staff, which incorporates objective setting, regular appraisals and addressing performance issues where appropriate and participating fully in staff and management development.