We are seeking a diligent Financial Accountant to join South Wales Fire & Rescue on a permanent basis.
Your skills will be crucial in supporting the financial operations within the organisation.
Client Details
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service is responsible for providing fire protection, emergency response, and safety education across ten local authorities in South Wales, serving over 1.5 million people. The service operates a network of stations with both full-time and retained firefighters, responding to a wide range of incidents including fires, road traffic collisions, and flooding. In addition to emergency response, it focuses heavily on prevention and community engagement to reduce risk and promote public safety.
Description
The Financial Accountant plays a crucial role in maintaining the financial health and efficiency of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS), supporting both day-to-day operations and long-term strategic goals.
This role combines traditional Capital and Financial Accounting, Treasury responsibilities, with specialised duties related to financial, banking, and payment systems.
The responsibilities include (but are not limited to):
Capital Accountancy
* Develop and maintain capital investment plans, including identifying funding sources and prioritising projects.
* Prepare and manage the annual capital budget, including cost forecasts, schedules, and stakeholder coordination to ensure strategic alignment.
* Monitor capital project implementation, ensuring adherence to budgets, and provide regular updates to stakeholders for decision-making.
* Monitor budget performance and prepare variance analysis for Board-level reports.
Financial Accounting
* Support the closure of accounts process and the preparation of statutory financial statements, ensuring completeness and accuracy.
* Ensure compliance with relevant accounting standards (e.g., IFRS), regulations, and CIPFA Codes of Practice.
* Coordinate with auditors during statutory audits and internal audits to ensure compliance and favorable outcomes.
* Manage dealings with HMRC regarding VAT and tax, overseeing timely and accurate submission of relevant returns.
Treasury Operations
* Maintain sufficient liquidity to meet operational and capital funding needs.
* Arrange surplus fund investments in accordance with the Treasury Management Strategy and Delegation Scheme.
System Duties
* Oversee the financial accounting system's functionality and integration with internal systems such as payroll, procurement, and banking.
* Support system maintenance, liaising with providers and stakeholders for upgrades, backups, and security.
* Ensure the integrity of financial data, overseeing routines and maintaining the chart of accounts to reflect reporting requirements.
Profile
The successful Financial Accountant should have:
* Qualified CCAB member (e.g., CIPFA, CIMA, ACCA) with relevant qualifications and/or equivalent experience.
* Proven experience in budgeting, financial control, analysis, and reporting.
* Experience with year-end accounts closure, statutory financial reporting, and fixed asset management.
* Understanding of treasury management, including cash, debt, and investment strategies.
Job Offer
* Salary up to £49,000, increasing to £50,000 after 6 months.
* Flexible working hours from 7:00 to 19:00.
* Two flexi leave days per month.
* Option to work from home 1-2 days per week, depending on workload and team needs.
* 30 days annual leave, increasing to 35 after 5 years, plus statutory holidays.
* Local Government Pension Scheme.
* Additional benefits such as free parking, free gym, and weekly gym support.
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