Job info	Job info details
Job title	Principal Accountant – Adult Social Care
Strategic team/Directorate	Finance
Service	Finance
Business unit	Finance Business Partnering
Responsible to (day to day issues)	Deputy Director of Finance
Accountable to (line manager)	Deputy Director of Finance
Salary grade	K
JE ref	FIN20

1. Key purpose of job

• To provide a range of professional accountancy services to Adult Social Care and to assist the Deputy Director of Finance in providing key financial support, advice and expertise to ensure we understand the financial implications of transformation projects and workstreams, currently being developed. This includes undertaking processes with the Annual Financial Cycle (AFC), supporting Service Managers in regular budget setting, budget monitoring and forecasting, ensuring high standards of financial management and control in the stewardship of funds allocated for Adult Social care services.

2. Anticipated outcomes of post

• To meet all corporate and statutory deadlines in relation to AFC including budget setting, closure of the accounts, budget monitoring, and completion of statutory returns.
• To work with all stakeholders in calculating the funding formulae and providing funding allocation in line with statutory and Council set guidelines.
• To support Service Managers and provide financial modelling, data and interpretation of financial and technical data as required.

3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post

• As an Employee of Torbay Council all roles are expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. The Designated Senior Lead for Safeguarding is the Chief Executive and Director of Children’s Services.
• To model and calculate funding resulting in the production of the annual funding allocation. Includes representation at Adult Social Care working groups as required.
• To provide relevant financial guidance, advice and information to stakeholders and management. This may include working on requests for a wide variety of information from other managers within the Council. In particular, the post supports providing financial information and advice relating to Adult Social Care including multi agency working.
• Attendance as required at working parties or any meeting with external agencies and carrying out specific projects and actions at the request of senior management within the service.
• To undertake annual budget preparation and provide advice and support to the Adult Social Care Service to enable effective partnership working with other Services in the production of the medium-term financial planning information.
• The co-ordination and production of regular budget monitoring reports for Service Managers and regular liaison to produce forecasts and associated financial data.
• To undertake various tasks, as appropriate, associated with the Closure of Accounts, including preparation of working papers and action year end accounting entries.
• The completion of the Section 52 statement and other statutory returns include grant claims as appropriate and within the required deadlines. The information required will be of a financial nature and is largely derived from the financial information systems of the Council.
• To maintain a thorough understanding of the Service Directorate’s business processes.
• To input into the preparation of Financial Reports to members.
• To review that Audit recommendations relating to financial processes are implemented as appropriate.
• To contribute to the development and maintenance of all Corporate Policies, Procedures and objectives.
• To contribute to the operation and review of appropriate financial management and administrative systems and develop the use of PC/IT systems in providing financial data.
• To ensure that Torbay Council’s Standing Orders and in particular the Financial Regulations are compiled with at all times and the effective communication of this to all staff in the Service.

4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post

• No direct budget responsibilities.

5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post

• The post holder will not be responsible for the direct line management of any staff but will lead staff across the council in relation to financial reporting and analysis. 

6. Working environment and conditions of the post

• Normal working conditions.

7. Physical demands of the post

• Normal physical demands.

8. Specific resources used by the post

•  Normal Resources.

9. Key contacts and relationships

External:

• Public and private sector organisations, government agencies, adult social care organisations, the Health Trust, media agencies, other local authorities, public. 

Internal:

• Elected Members and all teams within the Council, including the Director and Divisional Directors for Adult Services as well as colleagues within the Health Trust and our transformation partner.

10. Other duties

• To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.

Other Information

• All staff must commit to Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discriminatory Practice.
• Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.
• The post holder is expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. And are aware that the Chief Executive and the Director for Children's Services are the Safeguarding Leads for the Council.
• The post is eligible for both hybrid working and permanent home working. 
• You will be asked to complete a Criminal Records Self Declaration Form. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post. You will only be asked to disclose ‘unspent’ convictions.
• The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements. Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement. 
• The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
• The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
• The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees – “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity”. Evidence will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.
• If this post is customer facing, it will require the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
• If you are required to access a government system such as HMRC, DWP or The Public services network (PSN) as part of your role with the Council you will be required to complete a basic disclose with your line manager before you can access these systems. Your manager will be required to complete a verification form that confirms your identity, nationality and immigration status, employment history and unspent convictions (third party).
• If you are required to use your own vehicle on Council business or drive a council vehicle you will be asked to provide information on any driving endorsements by accessing gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.

Person Specification

Note for Candidate

All Candidates

The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement. In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.

Candidates who consider that they have a disability

Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.

If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.

Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.

If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.

Job info	Job info details
Job Title	Principal Accountant – Adult Social Care
Strategic team/Directorate	Finance
Service	Finance
Business unit	Finance Business Partnering

Skills and effectiveness

Essential skills and effectiveness

• A very effective working knowledge of Excel and Word.
• Able to convey information accurately and simply in a manner that is easily understood by all recipients and in accordance with relevant guidance and regulations.
• Able to manage significant pieces of work ensuring that all milestones are achieved, and deadlines are met.
• Able to research, prepare and present reports to others.
• Able to manage and motivate ensuring that competing demands are prioritised and properly resourced.
• Ability to examine and interpret financial information and use judgement to solve associated problems.
• Ability to influence and persuade others in a non-confrontational manner.
• Able to provide key financial support, advice and expertise to ensure we understand the financial implications of transformation projects and workstreams, currently being developed.
• Able to be involved with budget setting, budget monitoring and forecasting, ensuring high standards of financial management and control in the stewardship of funds allocated for Adult Social care services.
• This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.

Desirable skills and effectiveness

• A working knowledge of using Microsoft PowerPoint.
• A working knowledge of Microsoft Access.

Knowledge

Essential knowledge

• Understanding the purpose of a Local Authority.
• Detailed knowledge of significant financial functions/processes within a large public sector organisation.
• Significant experience of working within Finance in a business partnering or management accounting role.
• Significant experience of Adult Social Care services and their finances.

Desirable knowledge

• Knowledge of the current key financial issues relating to a Local Authority.

Experience and achievements

Essential experience and achievements

• Direct experience of budgeting and accounting within a large multi-faceted organisation.
• Evidence of critically evaluations and explaining financial information.
• Evidence of thinking “outside the box” – evaluating and improving how a task is completed. 

Desirable experience and achievements

• Previous working experience within a Adult Social Care finance environment within the last 5 years.
• Direct experience of working with senior management.

Qualifications/professional memberships

Essential qualifications/professional memberships

• Qualified member of Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) or equivalent or studying towards a full CCAB accountancy qualification (e.g. CIPFA or equivalent).

Desirable qualifications/professional memberships

• Full CCAB accountancy qualification (e.g. CIPFA or equivalent), part qualified CCAB accountant.

Other requirements

Other requirements of the job role

• Ability to travel efficiently around Torbay/South West in order to carry out duties.
• Ability to accommodate unsociable hours.
• Ability to accommodate occasional/permanent home-working.