Management Accountant
Job No:
PEAK360
Location:
Hughenden
- Pivotal Senior Finance Role
- Unique Opportunity to Leverage your Career in NW QLD
- Attractive Salary + Heavily Subsidised Housing + 5 weeks’ Leave + 9-day fortnight
Move to Flinders Shire – a place of discovery, opportunity, and lifestyle…
Overview
Hughenden is situated in North West Queensland half-way between Townsville and Mount Isa on the Flinders Highway and is situated on the banks of Queensland's longest river, the Flinders. The town is located above the Great Artesian Basin and is the business and commercial centre of the Flinders Shire. Other townships in the Shire include Prairie, Torrens Creek and Stamford. It is also located on the Overlanders Way (Flinders Highway) that is a 1550 kilometre driving adventure across the breadth of Queensland and into the Northern Territory linking the wonders of the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef to the rugged Aussie Outback.
Flinders Shire Council currently has a mayor and six councillors and employs approximately 135 staff. Council’s 2020/21 budget provides for total revenue of $59.6 million with total expenses of $45.5 million, ensuring a balanced budget.
This is a genuine opportunity to enjoy the best of both worlds - an enviable lifestyle underpinned by a rewarding position with one of the region’s pre-eminent employers.
For further information on the Council please click HERE
For further information on the Region please click HERE
The Position
Reporting to the Director of Corporate and Financial Services and working closely with the Executive Management team, this is a newly created role resulting from a review and restructure of Council’s operations. The position essentially requires an experienced and astute Management Accountant to supervise Council's Finance Team to deliver ongoing finance support and contribute to Council's future financial plans.
You will join to oversee and ensure end of FY processes are being completed including the drafting of the Annual Financial Statements and end of year Audit. This is a well organised department. They are up to date with statements and budgets – your task will be to bring a dedicated focus to the role and to be very involved in managing the financial duties and requirement of Council.
Key responsibilities of the role include:
- Preparing forecasts and budgets within the prescribed timelines.
- Responsibility for the preparation, maintenance and enhancement of Council’s Long-Term Financial Plan and Model.
- Liaising with Business Unit Managers on their performance against budget and provide specialist financial management advice on budget control and forecast outcomes.
- Undertaking end of month processes in an efficient and timely manner.
- Providing ongoing training and support to staff on Council’s budgeting and reporting system.
- Participating in the capital planning process including the development of the annual capital works program and undertake monitoring and forecasting during the year.
- Preparing quarterly/monthly/fortnightly performance reports including detailed exception analysis.
- Responsibility for the development of the monthly reporting regime, quarterly performance reports, and the Annual Report.
- Undertaking regular (at least monthly) budget variance reviews, budget officer liaison and management reporting to ensure on-going corporate budget control.
- Reviewing, developing, and implementing financial systems, processes, financial models, and reports to provide reliable and useful financial information for the various departments and management.
- Participation in Council’s end of year process and production of the Annual Financial Statements (e.g. control of end of year cut-offs, ledger balancing, account analysis & summaries, asset reporting, budget variance reporting and editing).
Organisational Relationships and Delegations
Reports to: Director of Corporate & Financial Services
Supervises: Finance Officer, Revenue Officer, Creditors Officer, Creditors Administration Officer, Finance Trainee
Internal Liaisons: Chief Executive Officer, Directors and Managers/Supervisors
External Liaisons: Government agencies, QTC, Internal and External Auditors, QAO
Delegations: The Management Accountant works under limited direction, has the skills to manage time and organisational priorities. This position has delegated decision making and purchasing authority in accordance with Council's Delegation Register and Procurement Policy.
An Organisation Chart can be found HERE
About you
As a skilled Management Accountant, you will be able to demonstrate professionalism and a commitment to providing a high level of service and continuous improvement in previous roles. Strong coaching skills together with senior experience in financial accounting, administration and governance are perquisites underpinned by a willingness to adapt to challenges and opportunities and to advocate a positive and constructive organisational culture. The candidate we are looking for will possess the following qualifications and skills:
- Relevant tertiary qualifications and strong experience in Accounting are essential with the ability to manage Local Government financial reporting systems.
- Ability to operate financial accounting software in a Local Government environment.
- High level of problem-solving skills, resourcefulness, and attention to detail.
- Demonstrated ability to produce and analyse financial reports/data, including control and monitoring of data.
- Experience in the preparation and reconciliation of accounting information, financial statements, management reports and audit work papers
- Demonstrated understanding of compliance requirements for Goods and Services Tax (GST), Business Activity Statement (BAS) and Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT).
- Strong stakeholder managements skills and the confidence to deal with all levels of the organisation.
- Excellent time management, organisation, and planning skills with an ability to prioritise and manage your own time and meet critical timeframes.
- Sound knowledge of current best practice standards in relation to financial management, risk management and customer service requirements.
Why this Role?
If you enjoy an inclusive and collaborative environment, want to be part of change in an organisation and enjoy seeing your efforts result in enabling people to realise their potential, you will relish the chance to leverage your career into local government if you have not already done so.
Whilst Hughenden may not be somewhere you have previously considered living and working - for someone further along in their career you will have your ideas supported and a genuine opportunity to further expand your skills. Regardless, you will join a cohesive and high functioning team and the experience will undoubtedly enable you to realise any future career aspirations. This could be simply to have a meaningful role you own or to leverage yourself further in time.
As a permanent employee an attractive salary commensurate with your experience will be negotiated, a 9-day fortnight and other benefits including heavily subsidised, well maintained housing, 5 weeks annual leave, 17.5% annual leave loading, locality allowance and relocation assistance.
How to Apply
PEAK Services is working in conjunction with Flinders Shire Council exclusively on this position. We offer local government expertise across a wide range of professional fields, providing tailored solutions for councils and other similar organisations. We work with our clients to deliver meaningful outcomes in recruitment and contracting services.
You will be required to answer a few questions that relate to the criteria on the online application below. Please note that you cannot submit your application without attaching your resume. A cover letter is not mandatory, but may be added if so desired. When uploading your Resume or documents please ensure file names should only include 'A-z', '0-9', '.' and '-' characters.
PLEASE NOTE: Once you have commenced your application you cannot save and continue at a later stage.
For a confidential conversation, please call Rona Horsfall at Peak Recruitment Services on 0438 943854.