Senior Service Accountant, West Lothian Civic Centre, 463.63

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We are keen to employ a diverse workforce that reflects the people of Scotland. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and particularly from groups currently under-represented, including people with disabilities, those from minority ethnic communities or from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds

Finance and Property Services plays a key role within the council including the delivery of frontline services to the public in West Lothian.  As part of Finance and Property Services, the council’s Financial Management Unit (FMU) is recognised as a high performing unit with a key role in ensuring the council makes the most effective use of resources to support delivery of services to customers.

The current economic climate demonstrates the importance of sound financial planning and financial support within local government.  An opportunity has arisen within FMU for the recruitment of a senior service accountant to undertake a strategic role within the unit to provide a comprehensive range of financial management and planning support and advice to council services.  This management post will co-ordinate the work of their team of accounting staff who support service managers to meet the council’s financial objectives.

This senior service accountant role accountant role will act as lead finance officer for a range of complex activities providing guidance to senior managers, elected members, committees and external bodies on financial management, corporate and service issues with budget planning and financial implications. 

As part of a highly motivated and close working unit, the post holder will be able to devise and lead on strategies for service delivery and reconfiguration to meet financial targets and be expected to complete their duties with a minimal level of supervision using considerable initiative and independence.  The post requires a high level of professional accounting expertise to contribute to the overall financial management of the council as a whole, including contributing to cross-cutting developments and projects.

You should also have the ability to prioritise workload and deliver projects and tasks simultaneously within tight timescales and operate successfully in a team environment, managing and motivating staff effectively. The postholder will be expected to set and meet high quality performance standards to ensure continuous improvement and strive to surpass these measures for their own and their team performance.

You must have full membership of a recognised professional body with knowledge of local government finance, wider policy issues and relevant legislation.