Durham County Council
Principal Accountancy Assistant
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Principal Accountancy Assistant Positions
We are currently recruiting for two Principal Accountancy Assistant positions, one of the posts is within the Financial Technical Accounting Team, supporting the Council's VAT and Leasing functions, and one is within the School Finance Team.
What is Involved?
Financial Technical Accounting Team
The main responsibilities of the Financial Technical Accounting Team role will include:
- Supporting the Council’s VAT advice and support function, providing advice and support to members of the team, heads of service, Strategic and Operational Managers.
- Working closely with our external VAT and leasing advisors.
- Overseeing the Council’s monthly VAT return.
- Calculating and processing year end VAT postings.
- Involvement in preparing the Council’s annual partial exemption calculation.
- Opting to tax the Council’s land and building where appropriate.
- Managing the Council’s relationship with HMRC and completing VAT compliance checks within the stipulated deadlines.
- Liaising with External Audit queries regarding VAT and Leasing, working closely with other colleagues where crossover requirements occur.
- Overseeing the work of the Senior Accountancy Assistant within the team and delegating appropriate tasks in relation to VAT and Leasing.
- IFRS16 lease accounting for vehicles, property plant and equipment.
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School Finance Team
The main responsibilities of the School Finance Team role will include:
- Supporting schools with annual budget setting and financial planning.
- Assisting school leaders and governors in the preparation, development, and submission of balanced budgets, including payroll cost projections and staffing-related financial adjustments.
- Providing advice on salary costs, pension and national insurance on-costs, workforce planning, and medium to long-term financial sustainability.
- Using EPM budgeting software to develop, maintain, and monitor multi-year budget forecasts.
- Producing and analyse monthly revenue spend against forecast, ensuring all forecast updates are accurately reflected and communicated.
- Providing financial advice and strategic support to school leaders, highlighting key risks, opportunities, and forecast outturn positions to inform decision-making.
- Ensuring financial records, systems, and processes comply with relevant regulations, policies, and best practice requirements.
- Building and maintaining effective working relationships with headteachers, school business managers, governors, and other stakeholders.
- Contributing to the continuous improvement of financial systems, processes, and service delivery across the Schools Finance Team.
- Liaising with Internal and External Audit queries, working closely with other colleagues and schools to assist with data collation and various queries.
- Identifying schools that may be at financial risk, highlighting concerns to senior management, and providing advice and support to help improve financial sustainability and mitigate potential budget pressures.
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We encourage you to contact Alexandra Moore or Sarah Whitehead via email at alexandra.moore@durham.gov.uk / sarah.whitehead@durham.gov.uk to arrange an informal discussion about the role.
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