Financial Accountant - #2191685

Your new company
Hays is delighted to be partnering with a high-profile public sector organisation in Birmingham to recruit a Financial Accountant into its established finance function.This is an excellent opportunity for a qualified accountant looking for a broad, hands-on role combining technical accounting, statutory reporting, audit, financial controls and team leadership. Joining at an important time for the organisation, you will have the opportunity to take real ownership of the financial accounting function while helping develop and improve the team and its processes.
Your new role
Reporting to a senior finance leader, you will take responsibility for the organisation's financial accounting and reporting requirements, including the production of the annual financial statements and leading the year-end audit process.You will manage a team of three, including two Assistant Accountants and a Business Support colleague, providing technical guidance and developing capability within the team.Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading the preparation of the annual financial statements and supporting monthly and year-end reporting
• Acting as a key point of contact for external auditors and managing the audit process
• Ensuring the integrity of the general ledger and maintaining strong financial controls
• Overseeing key balance sheet reconciliations, accruals, prepayments and accounting adjustments
• Providing technical accounting advice in line with relevant reporting requirements
• Overseeing transactional finance activity and ensuring effective processes and controls are maintained
• Managing, supporting and developing a small finance team
• Identifying opportunities to improve processes, controls and ways of working
• Supporting the ongoing development and optimisation of Oracle Fusion and other finance processes
• Working collaboratively with stakeholders across finance and the wider organisation

This is very much a role for someone who enjoys taking ownership and making improvements, rather than simply maintaining existing processes.

What you'll need to succeed
You will be a fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or CIPFA) with a strong technical financial accounting background.Crucially, you will have experience of producing a full set of financial statements and will have led, or played a significant role in, the year-end audit process, including working directly with external auditors.You will also be able to demonstrate:

• Strong technical accounting and financial reporting knowledge
• Experience of managing or supervising finance staff, including an understanding of transactional accounting
• A track record of implementing improvements or change within a finance function
• Strong financial controls and balance sheet experience
• The confidence to challenge existing processes and introduce more effective ways of working
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills
• Experience of a large ERP finance system, with Oracle Fusion experience particularly advantageous

Previous public sector or government financial reporting experience would be beneficial, although candidates from other complex organisations with strong technical accounting experience are also encouraged to apply.

What you'll get in return
This is an opportunity to join an organisation undertaking significant change and to take ownership of a broad, visible financial accounting remit.Alongside a salary of up to circa £59,000, the organisation offers hybrid and flexible working, a strong public sector benefits package and the opportunity to build valuable experience across technical accounting, audit, systems and finance transformation.The appointment is initially on a fixed-term basis until December 2027, providing a substantial period in which to make an impact and deliver meaningful improvements across the finance function.
What you need to do now
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV.If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.I

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