Closing date: 31st March 2014 (5pm) Interview date: 7 th April 2014

March 2014
Dear Applicant
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTANT (M028)
Thank you for showing an interest in the above position and working with West Cheshire College.
This is an exciting role within the Finance Team, working 37 hours per week, at our state of the art
Campus at Ellesmere Port.
Please note that your completed Application Form, together with the completed Equal
Opportunities Form, must be received electronically to recruitment@west-cheshire.ac.uk
, or by post to Organisational Development & HR, Ellesmere Port Campus, Off Sutton Way, Ellesmere Port, CH65
7BF, no later than 5pm 31st March 2014.
If you are successful in the short-listing then you will be notified and called for interview on 7 th April
2014 so therefore need to be available on that date, however please note that this may be subject to change.
Yours sincerely
Alison Blaxall
Manager – Organisational Development & HR

An Introduction to West Cheshire College
West Cheshire College is an outstanding FE College with
Campuses in Ellesmere Port and Chester. We offer learning opportunities, including Apprenticeships and fulltime programmes, to young people aged 14 to 19 and part – time opportunities to adults, including professional qualifications, HNCs and HNDs, and Foundation Degrees.
The College’s commercial team also deliver bespoke training solutions and Apprenticeships to small to medium-sized enterprises, as well as the region’s largest companies.
We give our students and Apprentices an experience which makes them work ready and employable - the proof of the success of this is that students of all ages and experiences get jobs they want. We also contribute significantly to the local economy spending approximately £7 million a year on products and services and our on-going investment and state-of-theart new Campuses, serve to demonstrate our total commitment to providing an excellent service to our community.
Being a specialist vocational College this means that what, when, how and where we deliver learning reflects the needs of employers as well as individuals. It also means that as a College we actively welcome applicants from the industries and sectors we serve as well as those with an educational background. We are one team recognising that support services are as important to our learners and our business as delivery teams

Enjoy a fabulous staff discount on all hair and beauty treatments at our Francesco Salon!
Get cash back on your everyday dental and healthcare expenses for yourself and your family by joining Medicash today for as little as £6.50 per month!
Staff are entitled to reduced entrance rates at Chester
Zoo, £11.95 for Adults and
£8.95 for children!
No more loose change! All WCC staff has access to a Squid card account, which when topped up with money can be used to purchase food and drink or other items across campus. Squid is convenient, safe and secure.
For more information visit
– www.squidcard.com/wcc
As a member of staff at WCC you are entitled to 50% off all course fees at
Chester University. We value your development!
Enjoy our fantastic fine dining experience for lunch or dinner by visiting our fully licensed
Dining Room restaurant at Ellesmere Port.
Get help with the cost of your everyday healthcare with Simply Health
(previously Healthsure). With both healthcare and dental plans available, this scheme will help you pay your medical bills for both yourself and your family.

The College:
West Cheshire College is an outstanding FE College with Campuses in Ellesmere Port and Chester . We offer learning opportunities, including Apprenticeships and full time programmes, to young people aged 14 to 19 and part-time opportunities to adults, including professional qualifications, HNCs and HNDs, and Foundation Degrees.
The Role:
To work as part of the Finance team to provide a quality service for learners, visitors and staff. You will deal effectively with enquiries and paperwork from learners, staff and external agencies.
The successful candidate will be a qualified CCAB accountant with experience of managing others and developing a high performing financial services team.
You should have experience of working with integrated finance software, and be able to demonstrate how you have improved the use of systems to an organisations benefit.
You should have excellent technical accounting skills and be aware of the year end accounting formats applicable to the Further Education sector. An understanding of funding, especially education funding is highly desirable.
Your application should tell us how you think you can contribute based on the above. If you feel you meet the above requirements, then we would like to receive an application from you.
Please note that your completed Application Form, together with the completed Equal Opportunities Monitoring
Form, must be received electronically to recruitment@west-cheshire.ac.uk
, or by post to Organisational
Development & HR, Ellesmere Port Campus, Off Sutton Way, Ellesmere Port, CH65 7BF, no later than 5pm 31 st
March 2014.
If you are successful in the short-listing then you will be notified and called for interview on 7 th April 2014.
Therefore please ensure you are available on that date, however please note that this may be subject to change.
Should you require any further information on this role, please contact Matthew Brown on 01244 656306.

WEST CHESHIRE COLLEGE
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title: Financial Accountant
Salary : Harmonised scale points 36
– 40
Reporting to : Management Accountant
Main Purpose of the role:
To provide robust, accurate and timely financial information on departmental and College performance, and ensures the effective application of the College’s Financial Regulations.
Principal duties:
1. To prepare statutory accounts in line with financial regulations and timescales to meet funding body requirements
2. To ensure the timely and accurate production of monthly management accounts, co-ordinating the month end close down timetable across the Finance Department and other departments.
3. To have up to date knowledge of financial, governance, tax and audit developments within the FE sector to ensure the College is in full compliance with all legal and accounting requirements
4. To review and propose updates to the Financial Regulations to ensure that the College complies at all times with all legislative and governance requirements
5. To e nsure Finance Department procedures and processes comply with the College’s Financial
Regulations.
6. To provide excellent customer service for all stakeholders by maintenance of consistently high standards of information and responsiveness.
7. To support the Management Accountant in ensuring that management decision making is based on accurate and timely information
8. To develop models and tools to accurately forecast income and expenditure and balance sheet for the year.
9. To ensure that regular reconciliation and checks are made on the finance system to ensure systems are working and being used efficiently and effectively.
10. To ensure College compliance with statutory and other returns to external agencies by the timely and accurate provision of data.
11. To provide tax advice to the Management Accountant and Director of Finance as appropriate.
12. To build a dynamic team through effective people management which ensures accountability and clarity of objectives and which utilises and develops skills, knowledge and competencies of all staff members.

13. To support the development of leadership talent across the College by encouraging on-going career development; ensuring effective succession for key organisational posts
14. To develop processes and systems enabling the college to work effectively to provide a high quality service to students, staff and external customers.
15. To work with other departments to develop systems integration to develop the sharing of data to improve the efficiency of College processes.
16. To ensure effective and efficient use of the finance system to enable the college to collate and interpret data to inform management decisions.
17. To ensure that processes and systems are regularly reviewed to ensure a cycle of continuous improvement and maximum efficiency and effectiveness
18. To manage the transaction accounting functions of Purchase Ledger and Sales Ledger and cashbook.
19. To monitor the cash position daily and ensure debtors and creditors terms are met,
20. To apply the College’s treasury management policy in determining the investment of the College’s cash resources
21. To manage and maintain fixed asset and depreciation records
22. To contribute to the preparation of monthly reports of the College’s financial performance including rolling cash flow forecasts, for presentation to the College Management Team, Finance and
Resources Committee and the College Board of Governors
23. To prepare other financial forecasts, analysis and reports as requested.
West Cheshire College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Employment to this post is therefore subject to a Disclosure Barring Service Check.

Person Specification for the Financial Accountant
Proven ability to work proactively, using financial data to support business development
Demonstrable ability to collate, interpret and convey complex finance information requirements for implementation within the College.
Proven ability to prepare statutory year end accounts in a timely and accurate manner.
Familiarity with the relevant statutory and regulatory frameworks that underpin the financial reporting regime, such as the HE & FE SORP.
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Proven experience of dealing with internal and external auditors
Understanding and demonstrable evidence of establishing, monitoring and improving finance processes, systems and standards
Demonstrable knowledge of funding agencies’ methodologies, ideally further education funding
Demonstrable evidence of managing the financial impacts of capital programmes.
Demonstrable evidence of a flexible approach to work
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Demonstrable evidence of the ability to contribute to departmental planning to meet the corporate objectives
Demonstrable management of operational teams to ensure timely, accurate and meaningful financial transactions and information in order to support corporate aims and objectives
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Proven ability to write clear reports and present data to a wide range of people including Board of Governors and Directorate.
Proven ability to develop and lead a high performing team
Proven understanding of VAT and Corporation Tax issues and proven experience of  completion of tax returns
Proven ability to coach and develop colleagues and delegate accountability to
 encourage staff responsibility and engagement
Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of complex finance data within a  medium size, multi-department organisation
Demonstrable experience of managing and maintaining an integrated finance system
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Proven experience of managing sales ledger, purchase ledger and/or payroll functions 
Proven experience of managing cash resources, including ensuring bank  reconciliations are performed effectively, cash flow is accurately forecasted, and surplus cash is invested appropriately.
Demonstrable experience of problem solving supported by analytical information
Strong IT Skills and the ability to learn software packages to ensure full and efficient utilisation
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A commitment to equal opportunities
Commitment to continuous professional development
Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young adults and vulnerable adults
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To undergo a Disclosure & Barring Service check
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Essential
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Desirable