Principal Accountant Treasury PO4

Department Finance and Governance
Division Treasury and Pensions
About Waltham Forest Council

Waltham Forest is a vibrant, open borough rich in culture and diversity, our residents and businesses recognise Waltham Forest as the best place to live and work in London. 

We are a pioneering borough supported by a dynamic workforce. Recent accolades include being London’s first Borough of Culture in 2019, Council of the Year 2019 and Public Finance’s Finance Team of the Year 2020. But we don’t stop there, we have an extensive regeneration programme across the borough; our capital programme is over £500m. We are renewing the Town Hall campus neighbourhood, investing in affordable homes, and developing our ambitious 15-minute city plans. All this ambition needs to be underpinned by a strong, agile finance team and Waltham Forest will be a great place to develop your skills and improve the lives of so many. 

Our Public Service Strategy creates a new, all-encompassing definition of public service. It focuses on the most pressing challenges we face, to allow us to quickly respond to the issues Covid-19 has brought to the borough. This includes new responsibilities to embrace to keep our residents safe but also bold new actions to support our residents while remaining focussed on a long-term positive future for Waltham Forest. It recognises everyone’s role in public service and alters the role of the council from provider to partner. 

The London Borough of Waltham Forest administers the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) on behalf of 25,000 plus members and over 100 employing bodies including schools. The pension benefits administration for the pension fund is carried out by the Pension Shared Services hosted by London Borough of Wandsworth and including Camden, Merton, Richmond, Wandsworth and Waltham Forest. It has assets of £900m plus, managed by 7 external fund managers and the London CIV (the investment pool for London).

The Council also manages Loan balances of £381m and deposits of £74m.

About the role
We have an exciting opportunity for a Principal Accountant Treasury to join our busy treasury and pensions team located at Waltham Forest Town Hall Campus. Due to a recent re-structure this is a newly created role in the Treasury & Pensions Team to develop best practice and would suit a person with the innovation to develop new practices and procedures.

The successful applicant will need to:

To develop and operationally manage the day-to-day Treasury Management service. To ensure quality and value for money at all times. To ensure the service complies with relevant legislation, regulations and policies.

Review business cases for new initiatives to ensure decisions are made with consideration of Treasury Management implications.

To research, analysis, interpret and evaluate financial and other business related information to support service reviews, ensuring senior managers are provided with robust information to make informed decisions.

Coordinate daily dealing of the Treasury Management investments and the Council’s loan portfolio

To prepare the treasury year-end accounting entries for inclusion in the statutory statement of accounts. Timely closure of the Treasury accounts in line with the Council’s close down timetable, produce the relevant accruals, Whole of Government Account (WGA) entries with robust working papers

Assist on the Balance Sheet management review for the production of financial information in relation to loans, investments and cash flow management

Assist in the preparation of treasury policies, annual treasury management strategies, quarterly treasury performance reports and the annual out-turn reports.

To provide financial information and respond to requests for information from senior officers within the Council and internal & external auditors where required.

About you
Part Qualified Accountant (CCAB recognised) or fully qualified AAT,
Significant experience of working in a Public Sector finance environment.
Evidence of Continuous Professional Development
Along with other experience as detailed in the Job description.

What we offer
•    28 days annual leave, plus public and bank holidays
•    Work-life balance options may include flexitime, job share, home working, part-time
•    Generous Local Government Pension Scheme
•    Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
•    Excellent training and development opportunities
•    Employee well- being training programs

How to apply
Read through job description and person specification and complete the online application form. If you would like any further information about the role before applying, please contact:
Debbie Drew 
Head of Treasury and Pensions 
debbie.drew01@walthamforest.gov.uk