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Job Title Financial Controller

Post Holder Accountable To Vice Principal – Finance & Corporate Services Responsible For Manage the College’s finance, student funding and procurement

functions. Provide financial management to the College, including management and statutory reporting, and budgetary control, with provision of support to the VP-Finance & Resources.

Department Finance Overall Purpose of Job Responsibility for leading the month and year end planning and closure process to enable reporting of management accounts for the College, prepare periodic returns and annual statutory accounts. Partner with teams in producing the annual budget and regular forecasts. Manage development and improvement initiatives with employees, systems and financial policies, procedures and processes. Ensure the provision of a customer focused service relating to the management and distribution of all student support funds. Main Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Management and Planning

• As an advisor to the VP-Finance & Corporate Services, contribute to College- wide strategy, planning and management

• Act as Finance representative on selected College committees, as required by the VP-Finance & Corporate Services

• Contribute to financial and operational plans for the development of the function • Attend meetings of Executive and SLT, if required • Create and maintain a service management culture and approach within the

finance team • Contribute to financial planning, prepare annual budgets, and ensure regular

forecasts prepared • Report on financial performance to the SLT • Represent the College externally dealing with external/internal auditors, APUC

and other agencies

Financial Management and Control • Proactively manage the financial position of the College • Prepare the annual accounts for the College and all subsidiaries, ensuring

compliance with the Government Financial Reporting Manual, Scottish Public Finance Manual, the Further and Higher Education SORP, other relevant financial reporting standards and the Accounts Direction issued by SFC, and prepare appropriate working papers for the annual external audit

• Prepare appropriate SFC and other external returns in association with the VP- Finance & Corporate Services, including the Financial Forecast, Annual Return, Student Funding and others as required

• Prepare regular financial control reports, ensuring all reconciliations are up to

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date (trial balance, cash flow, debtors and payment performance) • Ensure the College is compliant with VAT requirements and that VAT returns

are prepared accurately and submitted timeously • Compile the timetable for production of quarterly and annual accounts and

ensure compliance with the timetable • Collate the College annual accounts (and working papers) compliant with

accounting and SFC requirements • Responsible towards production of regular forecasts for the College, including

student funding, and management of journal adjustments and reconciliations • Prepare regular finance reports, undertake investigations as to financial

performance, liaising with other College managers as necessary • Ensure compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (GAAP) • Ensure procedures are in place to enable the application of project accounting

principles to externally funded initiatives and internal projects. • Provide guidance, advice, and instruction if necessary to budget managers on

financial performance in line with budgets and projects • Provide support and guidance to colleagues across the College with course and

project costings • Manage delegated departmental budgets • Maintain up to date and accurate signatory list • Manage banking arrangements and cashflow • Ensure compliance with SFC Student Funding policy and procedures. • Produce statistical analysis and data for the College, SFC and other official

bodies and external agencies • Be fully conversant with audit requirements and prepare returns as required by

SFC with regards to student funds disbursed by the College

Leadership, development and improvement of organisational efficiency • Prepare and implement annual enhancement plan for the department • Drive transformational change in financial processes and reporting • Manage the department, including identifying appropriate training and

development needs and leading on developmental activities as appropriate • Collaborate with the wider leadership and finance teams ensuring proper

accounting procedures are maintained and implemented, and that all transactions are correctly accounted for

• Provide information to support decision making in relation to sustainability, economy, efficiency and effectiveness

• Provide training and support for College staff in the management of delegated budgets and the implementation of College finance and procurement policies and procedures

• Ensure that budget managers are aware of their obligations • Develop and implement financial processes, procedures and accounting

systems and software for the College • Ensure the College funding and accounts systems are fully fit for purpose and

all relevant staff are fully trained on an ongoing basis • Represent the College at appropriate external networking events, making

recommendations on the outcomes to College management, as appropriate • Assess the potential impact of external developments, making

recommendations to the College Executive and Senior Leadership Teams • Undertake any other duties appropriate for the efficient and effective

management of the College as directed by the Principal or designated deputy

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Personal and Professional Development

• Ensure behaviour is in line with College Vision, Values and Behavioural standards

• Ensure compliance with College policies, procedures and the implementation of decisions of the College

• Adopt flexible working methods to meet the changing needs of the College • Maintain knowledge of regulatory framework and accounting standards • Develop and maintain professional standards and expertise by undertaking

relevant professional development • Develop and maintain quality standards appropriate to the post

The above mentioned duties and responsibilities represent the current situation and may change over time to reflect the changing needs and requirement of the College. Signed …………………………………………………… Date ……………………… (Staff Member) Signed ………………………………………………….. Date ……………………… (Line Manager)

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PERSON SPECIFICATION

QUALIFICATIONS Essential or Desirable

Member of CCAB or equivalent Accounting Body (SCQF Level 11) Essential

KNOWLEDGE Essential or Desirable

Current knowledge of financial reporting standards Essential Understanding of public sector / government accounting and regulatory frameworks

Essential

Knowledge of Further Education finance in Scotland Desirable Experience of financial planning, budgeting and reporting Essential Knowledge of VAT legislation Desirable Knowledge of Scottish public sector procurement legislation Desirable Knowledge of Welfare benefits and allowances Desirable Knowledge of payroll and taxation Desirable

EXPERIENCE Essential or Desirable

Experience of financial management in a large, multi-functional organisation

Essential

Significant demonstrable post-qualification experience Essential Experience of financial reporting, including management and statutory accounts production

Essential

Experience of leading teams and team building Essential Experience of leading projects across organisations Essential Experience of Further Education Colleges Desirable Experience of working with data systems and creating useful reporting which measures performance

Essential

Experience of managing financial reporting systems Desirable Experience of change management Desirable

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS & ABILITIES

Essential or Desirable

Excellent communication skills Essential Team player Essential Self-motivated individual Essential Solutions focussed mind set Essential Independent and creative thinker Essential Reflective practitioner Essential Effective negotiation skills Essential Able to explain detailed financial information to non-finance professionals

Essential

OTHER ABILITIES/QUALITIES

Essential or Desirable

Resilient Essential