Capital Budget Reporting Lead

On behalf of EANI, we are looking for a Capital Budget Reporting Lead
(Inside IR35) for a 4 Month Contract.
Remote with travel to offices for meetings. (Omagh, Armagh, Ballymena, Dundonald or Belfast)
The overall purpose of the Capital Budget Reporting Lead is to strategically lead, manage and develop EA’s Capital budget reporting function, including liaison across teams and services, and reporting to DE on CMMRs. As a key member of this team, the post holder is accountable for ensuring that service delivery is focused on fostering and driving continuous improvement. The Capital Budget Reporting Lead will be expected to provide strong leadership and direction to ensure the significant ongoing change and harmonisation process to create and implement a fit for purpose Capital Budget Reporting function.
The Capital Budget Reporting Lead will work with EA colleagues across services, directorates, and external stakeholders such as DE, to ensure continuous service improvement, delivery on key performance priorities and emerging priorities are embedded in the programme of work. The post-holder will advise and support the Functional Lead for Capital Reporting and Accounting in the development of the strategic direction for this function to ensure that functional priorities are clearly identified and communicated in line with function requirements.
In acting as an integral member of the Capital Reporting and Accounting Function, the post-holder is required to fully contribute to Accounting and Financial Operations issues related to the corporate plan, operational business plan, service development proposals, savings proposals and risk register to ensure that the Directorate operational plans support the overall strategic direction of the Authority and the achievement of its objectives in line with its vision, mission and values.
The post-holder will be responsible for providing advice, support, information and guidance to the Authority’s Board, its Committees and Service Managers, Senior Finance Service staff and external partners, as appropriate.
The Capital Budget Reporting Lead will be responsible for managing and leading a team of employees within the service, this will include managing employees across all Authority offices.
As a Capital Budget Reporting Lead, your main responsibilities will be:

- Overseeing and coordinating EA capital budget reporting processes, (including cross directorate engagement) in line with monthly reporting requirements, DE CMMR requirements, and other guidance as appropriate to ensure all statutory and regulatory reporting obligations are met.
- Oversight and guidance of Capital Finance Business Partners across all elements of the Capital Budget (Major Works, Minor Works, School Enhancement Projects, and Other Capital), seeking explanations for variances, challenging assumptions and ensuring robust financial data for onward submission to management for review.
- Provide guidance, advice and support across EA in managing capital resources efficiently and effectively to achieve EAs strategic aims, including appropriate challenge.
- Developing annually the Draft Capital Budget Strategy for consideration by senior finance and the Capital Control and Governance Group, and leading on future years exercises for capital budget planning.
- Oversight, support and engagement between Capital finance business partners and capital budget holders to maintain and strengthen relationships with capital budget holders.
- Oversee and coordinate the work required for yearend capital budget reporting procedures, liaising across teams as required, to ensure statutory reporting requirements, such as capital budget outturn reporting, and timescales are met.
- Liaise and coordinate with NIAO on the audit of the EA Annual Report and Accounts, as appropriate, ensuring statutory reporting timescales are met;
- Ensure up-to-date technical knowledge and expertise relevant to the Capital Reporting and Accounting Function, e.g. new technical accounting requirements, and that sound advice is provided to the Functional Lead and Head of Service as required.
- Support the Functional Lead to ensure arrangements are in place to measure the performance of the Capital Reporting and Accounting function through agreed key performance indicators (KPIs), maximising quality, efficiency and overall effectiveness of services.
- Support the Functional Lead in ensuring arrangements are in place to secure EA financial governance and compliance in capital budget related areas.
- Contribute to the design and implementation of appropriate financial procedures to ensure robust controls over capital related transaction processing.
- Support the Functional Lead in identifying and managing the key strategic risks impacting on the delivery of team, directorate and EA objectives.
- To collaborate with Services such as iFS, ICT, Accounts Payable, Procurement Service, Accounts Receivable and Other services to successfully deliver high quality