Executive Accountant

Asidefromtheexcitingrangeofopportunitiestomakearealdifferencetoyourcommunityand county, South Dublin County Council is a great place to work and for many people already provides an attractive career and working environment. Working for South Dublin County Councilwillgiveyoutheopportunitytogainexperienceattheheartoflocalgovernmentandto developyourcareerinadiverseworkenvironment.Werecognisethevalueofouremployees, can offer a diverse range of job and career options, can provide plenty of scope for career progression and can provide structured training and personal development We also offer flexible working arrangements including blended working arrangements, a positive work environment,traininganddevelopmentopportunities,adefinedcareerpathandtheopportunity to make a difference. The role This position is a senior position with dual a reporting function to the relevant Director of Services and Director of Finance. The successful candidate will be responsible for the co- ordination, preparation, monitoring, modelling, analysing and reporting on significant revenue and capital expenditure budgets, budgetary control, debtor management, assist in the completion of the annual financial statement, operation of the organisations financial management system and support strategic and operational planning. They will also be an integral part of the wider organisation financial discipline and will be working with multidisciplinary teams. It would suit an ambitious, qualified accountant with a range of experience dealing with multidisciplinary teams and with experience in managing and motivating staff. Theofficeiswholetime,permanentandpensionable.Apanelwillbeformedtofillpermanent andtemporaryvacancies.Personsemployedwillberequiredtoworkinanylocationwithinthe South Dublin administrative area. Salary €58,252-€59,677-€61,341-€63,011-€64,680-€66,172-€67,700-€69,179-€70,656- €73,185(LSI1)-€75,728(LSI2) Hours of Work The successful candidates normal hours of work will be 35 hours per week. The Council reserves the right to alter your hours of work from time to time. Annual Leave Annual leave entitlement for this position is 30 days. Only applications received electronically through the Councils e-Recruitment system will be accepted and must be received no later than midnight on Thursday, 6thFebruary 2025 Qualifications Character Candidateswillbeofgoodcharacter. Health Eachcandidatemustbeinastateofhealthsuchaswouldindicateareasonableprospectofability to render regularand efficient service. Essential Education, training, experience Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms: a) have obtained at least Grade D ( or a pass), in Higher or Ordinary Level in five subjects (or four subjects if Irish is included) from the approved list of subjects in the Department of Education Established Leaving Certificate Examination or Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme including Irish and / or English and one of the following: Mathematics, Accounting, Business Organisation or Economics, and (b)haveobtainedatleastGradeC(orHonours)inhigherlevel(orHonours)papersin three subjectsin that examination (or two subjects if Irish and / orone of the following is included: Mathematics, Accounting, Business Organisation or Economics), or Have obtained a comparable standard in an equivalent examination, or Hold a third level qualification of at least degree standard Possessaprofessionalaccountancyqualificationandbeamemberofarecognised body of accountants. Havenotlessthantwoyearssatisfactoryexperienceofaccountancywork, includingmanagementaccountingand/orfinancialaccounting. Beexperiencedinthemanagementofstaff. Possessaknowledgeofpublicsectorfinance. HaveanexcellentworkingknowledgeofintegratedFinancialManagement Systems and Microsoft Office; knowledge of the Agresso FMS would be desirable but not essential. Havesatisfactoryexperienceinadministrativeprocedures,includingadequate practical experience in work of an executive nature, office organisation and control of staff. The successful candidate must demonstrate the following competencies: Highlydevelopedoralandwrittencommunicationskills,includingnegotiation,report writing, and presentation skills. Ahighdegreeofanalytical,conceptual,andproblem-solvingskills. Highlydevelopedrelationshipmanagementandinterpersonalskillsandacapacityto promote co-operation, trust, and openness amongst staff and customers. Abilitytodetermineprioritiesandorganiseworkloadsinordertoproducequalityoutput within tight timeframes. Provenabilitytoworkunderpressureandthinklaterallyindealingwithawiderangeof issues. Abilitytoeffectivelymanagerisk,procurement,andresources. Abilitytoeffectivelymanageateamofemployees,includingundertakingperformance management processes. Extensiveexperienceinleading,developingandimplementingfinancialandresource allocation strategies. Knowledgeofaccountingmethods,procedures,processesandcontemporary management accounting techniques and principles. Experienceintheidentificationofcritical/significantfinancialissuesandbriefing management of same. Excellent working knowledge of integrated financial management systems, Microsoft software, and other relevant software packages. Desirable Education, training, experience Keycompetencies/skills Managementandchange Deliveringresults Performancemanagement Personaleffectiveness Localgovernmentknowledgeandunderstanding Candidates are requested to give an example of a situation which highlights the behaviour, skills and attitude that underpin effective performance in these areas and which demonstrates their suitability to meet the challenges of this role. Candidates should ensure the example used clearly demonstrates their ability in this area and that the scale and scope of the example given is appropriate to the post and level of the post. Duties Thedutiesinclude,butarenotlimitedtothefollowing: Responsibilityforthemanagementofanumberofsectionswithintheassigned Department and responsibility for the day-to-day operations of these sections. Assistingintheplanning,schedulingandpreparingtheAnnualFinancialStatement. MakingsurethattheCounciladherestocurrentlyacceptedaccountingstandards and relevant codes of practice. Developtheaccounting andfinanceskillsofstaffinvolvedinfinancialactivities throughout the Council and provide financial advice and assistant to all departments. Liaisewithinternalandexternalauditors.ProvideinformationtoAuditorsduringthe course of their audits as required. Assistingintheplanning,compilationandpreparationofLocalAuthority revenue and capital budgets. Assistinthepreparationofmonthly/quarterlyrevenueandcapitalfinancialreports, monitoringandreviewofsame,identificationofvariancesandrecommendationsfor corrective actions if required. Monitoringandcollectionofoutstandingdebtorsonamonthlybasisto reduce impact of same on the organisations cashflow. Assistinthepreparation,implementationandon-goingreviewofthelocal authoritys finance plans including management of capital budgets. Financialplanningandanalysisincludingad-hocfinancialanalysisandmodelling. Assistintheintroductionofreportingstructuresandsystemsinlinewithnew requirements of legislation, circulars, value for money reports and so on. Provide financial advice and assistance to all departments to support the achievement of the corporate objectives and support devolved budgeting structures. Promoteandassisttheimplementationofgoodpracticein:RiskManagement; Procurement;ValueforMoney;SharedServices;EfficiencyandEffectiveness. Disseminationoftaxationknowledgeandmonitorandimplementinternalcontrols to make sure that the local authority is tax compliant. Monitorandimplement/improveinternalcontrolsandcheckstoensuregood financial control, safeguarding of assets of the local authority. Makingsuretherapid,timelyandaccuratepreparationoffinancialand management reports through the use of automated systems. ManageanddeveloptheteamofstaffintheFinancefunctiontoensurethehighest standards of proficiency and work with a variety of non-finance teams. Other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned from time to time. Persons employed will be required to work in any directorate/location within the South Dublin administrative area.