Executive Accountant

MINIMUM ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Minimum Eligibility Requirements are the minimum requirements required for the position and are set out by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage for administrative and technical/engineering grades.

For outdoor grades and some specialised grades, the minimum eligibility requirements are set out by Kilkenny County Council Human Resources Department in consultation with the relevant Line Manager as they are not set centrally by the Department.

Applicants will be required to submit scanned images of documentation to establish the applicant meets the following minimum eligibility criteria:

Character

Each candidate shall be of good character.

Health

Each candidate shall be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

Education, Training, Experience etc.

Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed forms:

(a) have obtained at least Grade D (or a pass), in Higher or Ordinary Level in five subjects (or four subjects if Irish is included from the approves list of subjects in the Department of Education Established Leaving Certificate Examination or Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme including Irish and/or English and one of the following: Mathematics, Accounting, Business Organisation or Economics,

And

(b) have obtained at least Grade C (or Honours) in higher level (or Honours) papers in three subjects in that examination (or two subjects if Irish and/or one of the following is included: Mathematics, Accounting, Business Organisation or Economics)

Or

Have obtained a comparable standard in an equivalent examination or NFQ Level 6 Qualification

Or

Hold a third level qualification of at least degree standard

And

Have satisfactory experience in administrative procedures, including adequate practical experience in work of an executive nature, office organisation and control of staff.

And

Possess a professional accountancy qualification and be a member of a recognised body of accountants.

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS

Kilkenny County Council can for any position they advertise, include Desirable Requirements. Desirable Requirements are those that would be beneficial to optimising job performance. Desirable Requirements can be used if necessary to reduce numbers called for interview.

It is desirable that each candidate shall have:

Have extensive experience of accountancy work, including management accounting and/or financial accounting.

Be experienced in the management of staff.

Possess a knowledge of taxation obligations and public sector finance.

Possess a working knowledge of Agresso Financial Management Systems.

Applicants should satisfy themselves they are eligible under the required qualifications. Kilkenny County Council may not be in a position to investigate the eligibility of all candidates in advance of the interview/examination, and hence persons who are ineligible but nevertheless enter, may put themselves to unnecessary expense.

JOB DESCRIPTIONROLE

Kilkenny County Council invites applications from suitably qualified persons, who wish to be considered for inclusion on a panel, from which relevant vacancies for the post of Executive Accountant.

The post holder has a supervisory role in the day-to-day operations of a work area or as a team leader.

The Executive Accountant is expected to carry out their duties in a manner that enhances public trust and confidence and ensures impartial decision making.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIESDUTIES OF THE ROLE SHALL INCLUDE:

The duties may include but are not limited to the following and the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

Assisting in the planning, scheduling and preparing the Annual Financial Statement.

Ensuring that the Council adheres to currently accepted accounting standards and relevant codes of practice.

Develop the accounting skills of staff involved in financial activities throughout the Council and provide financial advice and assistant to all departments.

Liaise with internal and external auditors. Provide information to Auditors during the course of their audits as required.

Assisting in the planning, compilation and preparation of the Local Authority Budgets.

Assist in the management and control of the day-to-day operations of the finance department.

Assist in the preparation of monthly/quarterly revenue and capital financial reports, monitoring and review of same, identification of variances and recommendations for corrective actions if required.

Assist in the preparation, implementation and on-going review of the local authority’s finance plans including management of capital budgets.

Financial planning and analysis including ad-hoc financial analysis and modelling.

Assist in the introduction of reporting structures and systems in line with new requirements of legislation, circulars, value for money reports etc.

Provide financial advice and assistance to all departments to support the achievement of the corporate objectives and support devolved budgeting structures.

Promote and assist the implementation of good practice in: Risk Management; Procurement; Value for Money; Shared Services; Efficiency and Effectiveness.

Dissemination of taxation knowledge and monitor and implement internal contrils to ensure the local authority is tax compliant.

Monitor and implement/improve internal controls and checks to ensure good financial control, safeguarding of assets of the local authority.

Ensuring the rapid, timely and accurate preparation of financial and management reports through the use of automated systems.

Manage and develop the team of staff in the Finance function to ensure the highest standards of proficiency and work with a variety of non-finance teams.

Other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned from time to time.

PARTICULARS OF OFFICESALARY

The salary shall be fully inclusive and shall be as determined from time to time. The holder of the office shall pay to Kilkenny County Council any fees or other monies (other than inclusive salary) payable to and received by him/her by virtue of his/her office or in respect of services which he/she is required by or under any enactment to perform.

In accordance with EL02/2011 persons who are not serving Local Authority employees must be placed on the minimum of the scale. Where a person being appointed is a serving Local Authority employee normal starting pay rules will apply.

The rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with government policy.

The current salary scale for the position is €61,217 minimum of the scale to €79,583 Maximum of the scale inclusive of LSI’s.

CITIZENSHIP

Candidates must, by the date of any job offer, be:

(a) A citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; or

(b) A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK); or

(c) A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or

(d) A non-EEA citizen who is a spouse or child of an EEA or UK or Swiss citizen and has a stamp 4 visa; or

(e) A person awarded international protection under the International Protection Act 2015 or any family member entitled to remain in the State as a result of family reunification and has a stamp 4 visa or

(f) A non-EEA citizen who is a parent of a dependent child who is a citizen of, and resident in, an EEA member state or the UK or Switzerland and has a Stamp 4 visa.

SUPERANNUATION CONTRIBUTIONPublic Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012

New members joining the public sector on or after 1st January 2013 will be required to join the Single Public Service Pension Scheme. It applies to all first-time entrants to the Public Service as well as former public servants returning to the public sector after a break of more than 26 weeks. Your contributions will be made up of 3% of your gross pensionable remuneration and 3.5% of your net pensionable remuneration (your gross pensionable remuneration less twice the value of the Contributory State Pension).

Your normal retirement age under this scheme is the same age at which you can claim the Contributory State Pension. The minimum age for receipt of this pension is Age 66. There is a compulsory retirement age of 70 years.

Persons who commenced in Public Service Employment after 6th April 1995 and prior to 1st January 2013:

Persons who became pensionable employees after 6th April 1995 and prior to 1st of January 2013, without a break in employment, will join the Local Government (Superannuation) (Consolidation) Scheme 1998. Contributions are payable at the rate of 1.5% of your basic salary, 3.5% of basic salary less twice two times the value of the Contributory State Pension and a further 1.5% is payable for spouse and children’s contributions (*non-officer grades pay a co-ordinated contribution:

‘Non-New Entrants’ (those who became pensionable after 6th of April 1995 and prior to 1st April 2004) have a minimum retirement age of 60 and a compulsory retirement age of 70.

‘New Entrants’ (those who became pensionable after 1st April 2004 and prior to 1st January 2013) have minimum retirement age of 65 with no compulsory retirement age.

Persons who commenced in Public Service Employment before 6th April 1995:

Their minimum retirement age is 60 and they have a compulsory retirement age of 70 as per Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government Circular Letter CL/2/2019. Contributions are 5% of basic salary and 1.5% of basic salary towards Widow’s & Orphan’s or Spouse & Children’s Scheme.

PENSION ABATEMENT

If the appointee was previously employed in the Civil Service or in the Public Service please note that the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 (Section 52) includes a provision which extends abatement of pension for all Civil and Public Servants who are re-employed where a Public Service Pension is in payment.

This provision to apply abatement across the wider public service came into effect on 1 November 2012. This may have pension implications for any person appointed to this position that is currently in receipt of a Civil or Public Service pension or has a preserved Civil or Public Service pension which will come into payment during his/her employment in this position.

Prior to appointment, successful applicants will be obliged to complete a declaration in relation to previous Public Service pensionable employment. Please note: In applying for this position you are acknowledging that you understand the abatement provisions, where relevant, will apply. It is not envisaged that the employing Department/Office will support an application for an abatement waiver in respect of appointments to this position.

PENSION ACRUAL

A 40-year limit on total service that can be counted towards pension where a person has been a member of more than one pre-existing public service pension scheme (i.e. non-Single Scheme) as per the 2012 Act shall apply. This 40-year limit is provided for in the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012. This may have implications for any appointee who has acquired pension rights in a previous public service employment.

PROBATION

The following provisions shall apply:

There shall be a period after such appointments take effect during which such persons shall hold such office on probation;

Such period shall be 12 months but the Chief Executive may at his/her discretion extend such period;

Such persons shall cease to hold such employment at end of the period of probation unless during such period the Chief Executive has certified that the service of such persons is satisfactory.