Statutory Reporting Lead

JOB PURPOSE

The Statutory Reporting Lead is the specialist lead, providing the Scottish Police Authority and Police Scotland with a professional, efficient and effective Statutory Reporting Function that supports the strategic vision of the Finance Service and ensures organisational compliance with all Technical, Regulatory, Legislative, Taxation and Pension requirements.

ACCOUNTABILITIES AND MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Contribute as a member of the Finance Senior Management Team to support the Chief Financial Officer's strategy for the Finance Function by leading the development and operation of a best-in-class Statutory Reporting Function, ensuing overall function performance contributes to the strategic aims of the Finance Service and the Wider Organisation.

2. Lead strong and effective engagement with the Police Scotland Executive, Scottish Police Authority, Scottish Government, Audit Scotland, Internal Audit and other stakeholders as appropriate in the development and agreement of all Statutory Reporting.

3. Be accountable for the design, establishment and development of a Statutory Reporting Function, comprising of the following services, and ensuring that all plans and processes are fully documented:

a. Lead the development and delivery of the Scottish Police Authority and PSoS Statutory Reporting, Taxation and Advisory Programmes, setting priorities in support of Scottish Police Authority and Police Scotland objectives.

b. Lead and manage the preparation of the Scottish Police Authority Annual Report & Accounts, ensuring adherence to all statutory requirements, and leading the operational relationship between PSoS Finance and External Audit.

c. Manage the overall quality, accuracy and timely delivery of all Police Scotland and Scottish Police Authority requirements in relation to; VAT Reporting, Corporate Tax Reporting and PAYE, NIC and Pensions Reporting.

d. Manage all financial reporting in relation to Police Scotland, Scottish Police Authority and PSoS Committees and Boards, including the production of Committee and Board papers in conjunction with the other Strategic Finance Leads.

e. Lead and deliver all Tax Planning Activities, liaising with HMRC and tax advisors to manage the organisation’s VAT and Corporation Tax positions.

f. Lead initiatives in relation to other statutory reporting requirements such as Asset and Capital Accounting and Fraud Reporting.

g. Develop and implement corporate accounting policies and procedures in relation to all revenue, expense, asset and liability categories and ensure effective use of underlying systems, in particular, addressing any internal or external audit recommendations as appropriate.

h. Lead the development, implementation and monitoring of relevant performance indicators in order to assess the organisation’s performance.

i. Lead the ongoing administration and development of the finance systems landscape via a finance systems team.

4. Continually demonstrate excellent technical knowledge regarding International Financial Reporting Standards, the Scottish Public Finance Manual, the Government Financial Reporting Manual, Corporation Tax, PAYE, NIC and VAT legislation and regulations.

5. Ensure appropriate continuous professional development, keeping abreast of all internal, legislative and best practice developments, with particular focus on those impacting the Statutory Reporting function. Ensure appropriate interpretation and implementation of required changes in a timely manner.

6. Develop and Lead a Continuous Improvement Plan for the Statutory Reporting Function taking into account changing demands and technology to leverage innovative, risk-aware solutions to drive change towards a continually re-assessed Best Practice Operating Model for the function, its customers, and other stakeholders.

7. Establish and implement month-end Balance Sheet reporting frameworks, ensuring that quality working papers are maintained across the function in support of all reports with supporting documentation and appropriate clear analysis for the purposes of forming an audit trail.

8. As a figurehead for the Statutory Reporting Function with both internal and external Stakeholders, pro-actively lead and develop the Statutory Reporting Function to become a known Centre of Excellence within the Organisation.

9. Lead a strong and accountable performance management culture within Finance that places emphasis on the economic, efficient and effective use of public money.

10. Lead a focus on successful outcomes and delivery of planned objectives, by:

a. Leading a team of professionally qualified and/or experienced staff, setting objectives and agreeing plans for technical and personal development within the personal development framework.

b. Leading and developing a continuous Financial and Taxation Training Plan that will meet the ongoing and changing requirements of the function, including legislative compliance, and updates to regulation, processes and procedures.
Leading by example in internal and external communications and mentoring staff in effective service delivery.

c. Ensuring effective resourcing of the functional area in line with agreed policies and in partnership with the People & Development Directorate

11. Develop a process and reporting structure to identify, monitor and communicate relevant function risks and work with colleagues across the Wider Organisation to mitigate those risks.

12. Initiate, lead, monitor and manage improvement and change projects as appropriate to the role.

13. Be accountable for the implementation and monitoring of all applicable Standard Operating Practices and Policies including Health, Safety & Wellbeing policies.

14. Continually re-evaluate priorities and work in an agile manner to address emerging requirements as applicable.

The above list is illustrative, not exhaustive. Accordingly, there may be a requirement to undertake additional duties, consistent with the grade of the post, as directed by management.