JOB DESCRIPTION

Service area

Finance Directorate – Accounting and Financial Services – Corporate and Capital Accounting Service

Responsible to

Capital Accountant

Responsible for

The Capital Accounting Deputy will support the Capital Accountant in developing and moving forward a range of key initiatives and assignments within the Corporate and Capital Accounting Service. They will be responsible for EA capital accounting processes, including management and maintenance of the EA Fixed Asset Register, whilst ensuring compliance with the Government Financial Reporting Manual (FreM), Managing Public Money NI (MPMNI) and other relevant guidance. They will contribute to the improvement of business processes, financial control, and financial planning activities across directorate services. The Capital Accounting Deputy will build and maintain clear lines of communication within and across the Directorate and establish effective working partnerships with relevant stakeholders and service user groups. The post holder will also be expected to have knowledge across all sections within the Capital Reporting and Accounting function to allow them to provide support and/or cover any vacant posts which may be required at this grade. The post holder will be expected to manage staff within their team across all EA offices as appropriate.

Job Purpose

The overall purpose of the role is to support the Capital Accountant to develop and lead on all aspects of the Capital Accounting function. The overall purpose of the role is to assist the Functional Lead and Capital Accountant in leading, managing and developing the portfolio of services for the relevant Directorate. As a key member of this team, the post holder is accountable for ensuring that service delivery is focused on fostering and driving continuous improvement. The Post Holder will be expected to provide strong leadership and direction to ensure the significant ongoing change and harmonisation process to create and implement a fit for purpose Capital Accounting function.

The post holder will work with relevant Directorate EA colleagues and internal/external stakeholders to ensure continuous service improvement and delivery on key performance priorities to ensure that current and emerging priorities are embedded in the programme of work. The post-holder will advise and support the Functional Lead and the Capital Accountant in the development of the strategic direction for this service to ensure that function priorities are clearly identified and communicated in line with overall service requirements.

In acting as an integral member of the Capital Reporting and Accounting Team, the post-holder is required to fully contribute to all Capital Reporting and Accounting function issues related to the corporate plan, operational business plan, service development proposals, savings proposals and risk register to ensure that the Directorate operational plans support the overall strategic direction of the Authority and the achievement of its objectives in line with its vision, mission and values.

The post-holder will contribute to the achievement of the EA’s overall corporate objectives. The post-holder will be responsible for providing advice, support, information and guidance to the Functional Lead and Capital Accountant, Senior Finance Service staff and relevant EA Directorate colleagues.

Service-Specific Responsibilities

The Capital Accounting Deputy will be responsible for assisting with the development and advancement of a range of key initiatives and assignments within the Capital Reporting and Accounting function, such as:

• Provide clear, strategic leadership to staff to ensure the function has a highly skilled, flexible, and motivated workforce.
• Oversee reconciliation between capital budget expenditure and fixed asset additions monthly and engage with Capital Finance Business Partners on assets in the course of construction which are complete and require transfer to the asset register.
• Oversee the monthly mass allocation exercise and engagement with the general ledger team as required.
• Assisting with the oversight and coordination of EA capital accounting processes, engaging with key stakeholders as appropriate to ensure all statutory and regulatory reporting obligations are met.
• Maintaining the EA Fixed Asset Register through the use of asset verification exercises, accurate and timely recording of disposals, acquisitions and valuations, asset splits, revaluation exercises, etc., to ensure the integrity of EA asset information for reporting purposes and accurate reconciliation to the finance system.
• Assisting in the management of the LPS revaluation engagement and leading on day to day LPS engagement.
• Investigate and resolve discrepancies in the EA Fixed Asset Register through cross directorate engagement.
• Assist the Capital Accountant in the development and maintenance of a Capital Accounting Manual to include capital accounting policies for EA, engaging across directorates to ensure it is fit for purpose within EA and compliance with financial reporting standards.
• Responding to queries and providing assistance and advice within the team and to other internal/external stakeholders on capital accounting issues.
• Assisting with the reporting of EA PFI/PPP schemes, Lease arrangements, ensuring compliance with relevant financial guidance (including the Financial Reporting Manual), and year end reporting requirements.
• Completing yearend capital accounting procedures, including updating of the EA Fixed Asset Register, liaising across teams as required, to ensure statutory reporting requirements and timescales (such as those set out in the EA DE Accounts Directions), are met.
• Assist the Capital Accountant in responding to internal and external audit queries, and the review and implementation of audit recommendations regarding policies and processes.
• In conjunction with the Functional Lead and Capital Accountant, contribute to the development of new processes and procedures to improve Service delivery.
• Preparation of detailed and complex reports to support analysis of the Service performance in meeting KPI, corporate targets and the Directorates long term strategic plans.
• Integration of service performance data as appropriate, to develop management information on EA assets to support the Functional Lead and Capital Accountant in assessing the current position, any associated risks and actions to mitigate.
• Manage the provision of capital accounting to support and monitor delivery of organisational objectives.
• Provide advice and training to the capital accounting and reporting team, EA Directorate and other Service users.
• Play a key role in the identification, management, and reporting of strategic risks to the Directorate.
• Ensure Assembly questions and other requests for information are dealt with promptly and accurately within the timeframe.
• Provide technical guidance to internal/external stakeholders for all aspects of the Capital Accounting function.
• Provide accurate, timely and relevant advice and front-line support to relevant Directorate on all matters relating to the Capital Accounting function.
• To promote and develop a strong and consistent service delivery culture throughout the service.
• To ensure that Capital Accounting function is delivered to a high quality, provide value for money, support the delivery of Departmental policy and is consistent and integrated in approach across all areas of the EA.
• To assist the Functional Lead and Capital Accountant, in the achievement of functional, Service, Directorate and Corporate objectives and to contribute where required to the development of the Finance & ICT Directorate strategies, supporting policies and the implementation of processes, procedures and new ways of working.
• Support the Functional Lead and Capital Accountant and other Departmental leads to ensure a co-ordinated and integrated approach to planning that is aligned with all long-term strategic plans for the Finance Directorate.
• To develop and maintain effective working relationships with internal stakeholders across Directorates, and external stakeholders in the strategic planning, management, in the delivery of the EA’s corporate priorities.
• To assist and support high standards of governance including contributing to the establishment and implementation of effective accountability processes and systems to monitor, measure, control and report on the work of the service, to take account of changes in the internal and external environments, which may impact on and influence priorities and needs. This will include appropriate use of benchmarks and key performance indicators (KPI) to demonstrate the achievement of value for money.
• To represent the EA on internal and external working groups and committees and to represent the Functional Lead and Capital Accountant on such groups.
• Develop expertise as appropriate of specific statutory, contractual, commercial requirements or other financial management guidance for the Directorate services.
• To deputise and undertake additional duties for the Functional Lead and Capital Accountant as required.
• Maintain awareness of financial accounting standards, FReM, and MPMNI.