Job Description

Post: Systems Accountant

Directorate:Finance

Grade:SM3

Responsible to: Finance Manager

Responsible for:n/a

Purpose of Job

The Systems Accountant will ensure the delivery of an efficient and effective finance service to the Poplar HARCA business, its suppliers and customers, by acting as the prime authority in relation to the strategy, deployment, functionality and effectiveness of the IT systems utilised by the finance team. The post holder will utilise his/her accounting and IT system knowledge and experience to ensure that the Finance IT Systems are fit for purpose and a key enabler in the delivery of financial services.

The Systems Accountant will collaborate with the Senior Information Systems Developer (IT) and software system providers to ensure that key strategies and operational practices are consistent and congruent with the prevailing IT environment and any specific guidance recommended by IT system suppliers.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

System Strategy & Continuous Improvement

  • Lead the strategy for the continuous improvement and effective maintenance and deployment of the Finance IT Systems, ensuring that associated action plans are prepared and delivery against these action plans is monitored.
  • Act as the key point of contact and lead for all system upgrades and changes, ensuring that user requirements are clearly relayed, and implementation plans are delivered.
  • Document and improve system architecture in co-ordination with HARCA IT team.
  • Document and improve the processes and configuration of the systems in place, updating the system configuration with the changing requirements of the business.
  • Set out system and investment requirements for Finance IT systems. Research available product solutions, make recommendations, and provide cost benefit analysis for the identified solutions.
  • Identify and implement system improvements and design reports as necessary to streamline the financial reconciliation routines and other financial practices.
  • Evaluate process changes in the case of changing business activity and new requirements. Plan and implement the process and system changes in co-ordination with HARCA IT.
  • Support integration with feeder systems (EBIS, Orchard, Yardi Voyger) and add value to various reporting needs through assisting in extracting tailor made reports from the system.

System Resolution

  • Work with the finance users to understand IT system issues that impact the delivery of finance services; prioritise these issues appropriately and ensure the efficient resolution of them.
  • Identify system and control weakness and recommend and implement solutions.

Finance Systems Administration

  • Safeguard the Finance IT systems and the sensitivity of the information contained within by managing the licence arrangements, user access, and security for all Finance IT systems maintaining appropriate records and user profiles. Specifically, ensure that starter and leaver access rights are updated at least monthly.
  • Ensure training and appropriate user guides are provided as an integral aspect of all system upgrades and changes.
  • Co-ordinate the routine software upgrades and implementations to the Finance IT systems working with the finance users to test the upgrades and ensure their suitability/acceptability.
  • Document and chart the processes and configurations in place to ensure better and easier understanding of the systems in place and help in making any changes in line with business strategy and growth.

Team Working

  • Work with the finance team to ensure the effective and efficient resourcing, work flow management, and performance management of the finance function.
  • Perform other duties as may be reasonably required by your line manager.

General

  • Conduct yourself in line with Poplar HARCA’s policies, procedures, rules and standards.
  • Deputise for the Finance Manager as and when required.
  • Supervise the workload of temporary agency and support staff to ensure the seamless provision of effective IT finance systems to the Directorate.

Person Specification

Post:Systems Accountant

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Grade:SM3

Team:Finance

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Directorate:Finance

It is essential that your written supporting statement provides evidence, or specific examples, of your skills/knowledge/experience in each of the short-listing criteria. If shortlisted, you should expect all of the criteria to be assessed.

All criteria are essential unless stated otherwise.

Requirements / Criteria / Short-listing Criteria?
1. / Education/
Qualifications/
Training /
  1. ACA / ACCA / ACMA fully qualified with significant system implementation experience
/ a
2. / Skills /
  1. Ability to communicate with multiple stakeholders
  2. Strong understanding of financial and management processes
  3. Good experience with system analysis and implementing changes
  4. Ability to understand and document complex data from multiple sources
  5. Ability to resolve system issues and manage users
/ b, e
3. / Experience /
  1. Audit and process mapping
  2. Financial reporting (to understand the user requirements)
  3. System charting and recommending plus implementing changes
  4. Proven ability of stakeholder management
/ b, c
4. / Knowledge /
  1. Financial and Management Accounting Process
  2. System Architecture and configuration knowledge
  3. Experience of end to end process flows
  4. Risk and risk reduction
  5. Ticket(user issue) management and resolution

5. / Key Competencies /
  1. Achieving Results
  2. Open to change
  3. Informed and informing
  4. Personal Progress
  5. Partnership Working
  6. Problem Solving
  7. Putting others first
/ f