Financial Accountant

35 hours per week
Six month fixed-term contract

The Financial Accountant is a temporary but crucial role for the Diocese, as you will ensure that our processes and financial information are accurate and efficient, in time for next year’s financial end.

As Financial Accountant you will be responsible for the restricted and designated funds of the Diocese, preparing monthly reports and year end schedules whilst proactively reviewing the portfolio of restricted funds to ensure full utilisation against unrestricted expenditure. You will also take the lead on the re-organisation of investment funds to ensure efficient month end processes as well as managing the fixed asset journals and reconciliations, ensuring accuracy.

Reporting to the Head of Finance, you will manage the preparation of VAT Return workings and associated reconciliations whilst delivering the monthly close process, analysing transactions and preparing required journals.

It is expected that you will proactively challenge and improve processes to ensure that currently held information or journals meet the audit standard.

Degree qualified or with a professional accountancy, finance or related qualification, you will have experience in VAT return preparation and compliance.

With the ability to interpret financial entries to understand the nature of the financial transactions, you should have excellent problem-solving abilities and be proactive in reviewing balance sheet reconciliations and clearing/or allocating balances.

Your detail-oriented approach towards accuracy and completeness in financial records and reports will ensure you are able to propose improvements to financial procedures and operations.

An advanced knowledge and understanding of Excel, including pivot tables, sumif/sumifs and vlookups along with a thorough understanding of financial regulations and compliance requirements, are essential.

A natural communicator, you should have excellent interpersonal and organisational skills as well as having the ability to work well in a team and build effective working relationships with colleagues, and external stakeholders, suppliers and customers.

It would be beneficial but not essential for you to be a person in sympathy with the mission and ethos of the Christian Church, the Church of England, the Diocese of Canterbury and the vision and values of our church schools.

Canterbury Diocese is the oldest diocese in England, stretching from Maidstone to Thanet, the Isle of Sheppey to the Romney Marsh. We have 350 miles of coastline with historic ports and seaside resorts, alongside rural communities, market towns and commuter-belt urban developments. Affluent areas often sit alongside pockets of major deprivation, offering an exciting and challenging mission context.

At the heart of all we do is a vision of transformation for ourselves and our communities: no one can encounter God and remain unchanged. In the Diocese of Canterbury, we want to increasingly become a Christian community transformed through encounter with Christ, growing and overflowing to transform and bless the families, homes and communities we serve: Changed Lives, Changing Lives.

Apply using the apply offsite button.

Closing date: 4 October 2024