About Us:
Yarriambiack Shire Council has a population of 6,645 people and covers an area of 7,158sq km. Yarriambiack Shire Council stretches from the Wimmera River just north of the Grampians in the south, to the centre of the Mallee in the north. The Yarriambiack Creek is the main natural feature traversing the Shire. The area is also linked by road and rail systems that run in a north-south direction. The area has an almost ideal climate with a short winter and delightful autumn and spring. Warracknabeal is the major service centre in the region and provides a wide range of services. It is complemented by Hopetoun in the north and Minyip, Murtoa and Rupanyup in the south, with another 13 small towns spread throughout the Municipality. Council offers an abundance of services to the region such as maternal and child health, enhanced maternal child health, library services, tourism and area promotion, parks and gardens, kindergarten services, housing support, environmental health services, food inspections, immunisation, youth support, planning and building services, waste services, law, order and public safety, public recreation spaces including swimming pools and sporting stadiums, emergency management, roads, footpaths, bridges, buildings, aerodromes, public halls and saleyards. Council is also engages technical specialists to provide effective governance, accounting and finance, customer service, administration, engineering and asset management and information management services.
About You:
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
- Degree in Commerce or equivalent, with substantial experience in the field.
- Experience in implementing and refining financial systems and processes.
- Experience in ensuring compliance with legislative requirements to meet auditing expectations and standards.
- Experience in Local Government.
KEY SELECTION CRITERIA
- Degree in Commerce or equivalent, with substantial experience in the field.
- CPA, CA, or IPA postgraduate qualification is highly desirable.
- Demonstrated ability to gain cooperation and assistance with stakeholders.
- Demonstrated skills in policy, procedure, and supporting documentation development, review and implementation.
- Well-developed problem-solving skills in a financial analysis setting.
- Well-developed ICT skills and the ability to work across a best of bread system in multiple environments.
Position Summary :
The role of the Senior Financial Accountant is to provide specialist accounting knowledge and skills to the Corporate Services department.
Key Requirements:
ACCOUNTABILITY AND EXTENT OF AUTHORITY
- The Senior Financial Accountant will provide advice and participate in the development of policy.
- The freedom to act is governed by policies, objectives, and budgets with a regular reporting mechanism to ensure the achievement of goals and objectives. Decisions and actions taken at this level may have a significant effect on the programs or projects being managed or on the public perception of the wider organisation.
- The position will develop systems and adhere to compliance obligations based on governing body guidelines and legislative requirements.
JUDGEMENT AND DECISION MAKING
- The nature of the work is specialised with methods, procedures and processes generally developed from theory.
- Make decisions consistent with the level of delegation.
- Develop documentation based on best practice guidelines and legislative requirements.
- Problem-solving will be required to develop documentation and enhance the integrity of business processes.
- Guidance and support are not always available.
SPECIALIST SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
- An understanding of the long-term goals of Council, and the legal and political context in which it operates.
- Familiarity with financial accounting processes and concepts.
- Familiarity with internal audit and external audit practices and processes.
- Ability to assist with the development and implement strategies, policies, procedures, and guideline documentation.
- Familiarity with relevant budgeting and financial procedures.
- Considerable skills and experience in the use of Microsoft Office 365 including Sharepoint, Word, Outlook, and Excel.
- Ability to use specific software programs relevant to the position, including ApprovalMax, Xero, and Key Pay.
MANAGEMENT SKILLS
Require skills in managing time, setting priorities, and planning and organising one's own work and where appropriate that of other employees so as to achieve specific and set objectives in the most efficient way possible within the resources available and within a set timetable despite conflicting pressures.
INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
Ability to liaise and gain co-operation and assistance from staff, suppliers, and contractors in the administration of broadly defined activities.
Ability to liaise with their counterparts in other organisations to discuss and resolve specialist matters to resolve intra-organisational problems.
Job Responsibility:
Duties and Tasks
- Undertaken the monthly general ledger payroll reconciliation processing.
- Review and process the Workflowmax payroll journal.
- Manage the internal plant costing process, from extracting the data to processing the journal entries into Xero and WorkflowMax.
- Coordinate the quarterly Audit and Risk and Councillor financial reporting for review by the Manager Corporate Services.
- Coordinate the compiling and review of the quarterly Financial and Non-Financial Performance Report.
- Analyse financial information to populate the annual budget.
- Ensure compliance with the Finance and Payroll Management requirements.
- Maintain Council's inventory systems.
- Maintain the integrated payroll system environment.
- Undertake quarterly reviews of Council's procurement functions, applying a quality assurance testing process.
- Undertake project reporting, analysis and the financial acquittal process as requested by the Manager Corporate Services.
- Participate in procurement activities, being party to Request for Tender and Quote financial evaluations, and provide assistance as directed with Request for Tender, Quote and Expression of Interest processes.
Risk and OHS Management / Staff Authority and Responsibility
The following authorities and responsibilities are assigned to the levels of management
and staff as shown and are based on those in the Occupational Health & Safety Act 2004.
Employees - Occupational Health and Safety
- Comply with all Risk and OHS Management procedures and requirements.
- Work safely and not place at risk the health and safety of other employees, contractors, volunteers or the general public.
- Visually monitor and report risk and safety management issues to your relevant Supervisor or Manager.
- Assist your Supervisor or Manager to rectify risk and safety issues to make the workplace/worksite safe.
- Ensure asset-related damage, hazards, or potential hazards are reported to your manager, supervisor, or OHS representative.
- Encourage other employees to consider safety factors within the working environment.
- Attend Risk and OHS compliance training as directed.
- Be an active member of your OHS designated working group.
- Show commitment to risk and safety through participation in formal and informal discussions/ meetings on risk and OHS issues.
- Cooperate with your employer and fellow employees with respect to any action taken by the employer to comply with the OHS Act.
- Attend safety meetings, toolbox meetings, and safety training as directed by your Supervisor or Manager.
Council Assets Responsibilities
Take reasonable care of any council property or assets that you may use, have access to, or have overall responsibility for. Record and report to your Supervisor/Manager, any damage or potential for damage, to property or assets that you may use, have access to, or overall responsibility for. This may include risks such as accidental fire, arson, storm, flood, or security.
ORGANISATION ENVIRONMENT:
Reports to: Manager Corporate Services
Supervises: Nil
KEY COMMUNICATIONS:
Internal: CEO, COO, Corporate Services and Department Managers and Supervisors.
External: Internal Auditors, External Auditors, VAGO.
CHILD SAFE STANDARDS:
Yarriambiack Shire Council is committed to creating a child-safe and child-friendly environment where children and young people are respected, valued, and encouraged to reach their full potential. All staff must adhere to Council’s Child Safe Policy and procedures and ensure that any reasonable suspicion of abuse to children or young people is reported.
ORGANISATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
- At all times, behave in a manner consistent with Council’s Employee Code of Conduct and Human Resource policies and guidelines (including Bullying / Equal Opportunity / Discrimination / Sexual Harassment Guidelines).
- Ensure compliance to relevant OHS regulatory requirements and implement, promote and maintain Council’s OHS and Return to Work policies, procedures, training programs, and initiatives.
- Ensure compliance to relevant regulatory or legislative requirements; including but not limited to Information Privacy and Freedom of Information.
ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REVIEW:
Every staff member is required to actively participate in the annual performance review/appraisal process with the line manager.
VARIATIONS TO CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
This position description is subject to change from time to time as Yarriambiack Shire Council’s organisation may be developed or restructured. Any such reorganisation of duties shall be the subject of discussion with the position incumbent.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY:
Yarriambiack Shire Council offers a work environment free from discrimination, sexual or other harassment, victimisation, vilification, and bullying. Employees are expected to contribute to the maintenance of such a work environment.
PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY:
Employees must respect and protect the privacy and confidentiality of information gained or accessed during the course of their employment. Employees are required to comply with the
Information Privacy Act, the Health Records Act, and Council’s Confidentiality policies.
Both during and after employment with Council, employees must not:
- Communicate confidential or private information to third parties.
- Make use of any information gained through employment at the Shire for any purpose
- other than the discharge of official duties.
RECORD KEEPING:
Recordkeeping responsibilities for all staff members:
- Creating and capturing full and accurate records of Council business.
- Adhering to Council’s Records Management Policies and Procedures.
Recordkeeping responsibilities for staff members with specialist skills in relevant areas:
- Implementing and supporting the Council records management strategy (such as change management, training, communications, project management, and information technology).
PERSONAL HEALTH INFORMATION:
Personal and Health Information collected by Council is used for recruitment and if the applicant is successful will be used for Human Resources. The Personal and Health Information
will be used solely by Council for this purpose and/or directly related purposes. The council may disclose this information to other organisations if required by legislation. The applicant
understands that the Personal and Health Information provided is for the above purpose and that he or she may apply to the Council for access to and/or amendment of the information after finalisation of the appeals process. Information relating to unsuccessful applicants may be destroyed by Council after 12 months from this time. Requests for access and/or correction should be made to Council’s Privacy Officer.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
As part of the Council's recruitment and selection process a pre-employment medical assessment, satisfactory Police check, Working with Children's Check (VIC), and a current
Victorian Drivers Licence is required for this position.
Police Check every three years.
Job Functions:
Local
Job Benefits:
Join a positive and inclusive team, who values work-life balance and supporting our team members to advance, grown and thrive in their careers.
Selling Point:
We embrace a flexible working environment and the ability to work from home.