POSITION INFORMATION Position Title: Group: Reports To: Classification: Management Accountant Financial Services Manager Finance AO7 PRIMARY OBJECTIVES OF POSITION Ensure the accurate processing of the Seqwater s financial transactions in accordance with statutes, set procedures and proper standards of internal control. Preparation of monthly management reports with variance analysis and monthly financial statements including profit and loss, balance sheet and cash flow statements for inclusion in CEO report to the Board. Establish and maintain excellent relationships with the executive team and their respective direct reports to ensure high levels of communication for transparent, accurate reporting of variance analysis, forecasting and rolling forecasts. Present significant unusual findings to management team at direction from CEO. Provide high level financial advice and assistance in relation to the preparation of the annual budget in conjunction with Group and Team Managers. ORGANISATIONAL INFORMATION AND OBJECTIVES Seqwater is one of Australia s largest water businesses with the most geographically spread and diverse asset base of any capital city water authority in the country. Seqwater is responsible for ensuring a safe, secure and reliable water supply for almost three million people across South East Queensland and managing more than $10 billion of water supply assets including dams, weirs, water treatment plants and a 600-kilometre pipeline network. This includes managing the natural catchment health of the region s major drinking water sources. The organisation also supplies climate resilient sources of water through the Gold Coast Desalination Plant and the Western Corridor Recycled Water Scheme. In addition Seqwater: Manages recreation facilities which currently provide more than 50 per cent of the green space for South East Queensland. More than two million people visited Seqwater recreation facilities over 2009-2011; Provides essential flood mitigation services across Wivenhoe, Somerset and North Pine dams; Has a strong research and development focus with partnerships with The University of Queensland and Griffith University; Provides irrigation services to around 1,000 rural customers in five water supply schemes; and Is the host institution for the Australian Water Recycling Centre of Excellence.
GROUP OBJECTIVES AND FUNCTION The activities of the Financial Services Group are delivered under a structure that comprises of the following work teams: Property, Fleet and Facilities The Property, Fleet and Facilities team ensures that our real property portfolio is positioned to support the business' operational needs, preserves and enhances the integrity of South East Queensland catchments and to capitalise on the commercial opportunities presented. The team also manages all the mobile plant and fleet assets, which includes vehicles, trucks, watercraft, tractors/mowers and heavy mobile plant such as forklifts and backhoes and are responsible for the office accommodation furniture and fit out. Finance The Finance team is responsible for the delivery of key financial services across the organisation including financial transactions, financial reporting, budgeting and tax transactions. Procurement The Procurement team leads, plans, develops and establishes procurement processes for the provision of goods, works and services as required by Seqwater. The team also provides contract planning advice, facilitates the tendering process and assists with compliance relating to legislation, corporate policy and ethical standards. Process Improvement The Process Improvement team provide services to ensure continuous process improvement initiatives are implemented across the business. WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES Safety at Seqwater is everyone s responsibility. All workers are required by Seqwater to cooperate with any reasonable Seqwater instruction, policy or procedure relating to health and safety at work; use personal protective equipment provided; not to purposefully interfere with or misuse anything provided for workplace health and safety; and to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and to take reasonable care that their acts or omissions do not adversely affect the health and safety of others. KEY ROLE RELATIONSHIPS This position supervises: Key Internal Customers and Contacts: Accountants indirectly; and Consultants/Contractors working for Seqwater. General Managers and Team Managers People and Culture Seqwater staff as required
Key External Customers and Contacts: Internal and External Auditors Taxation and Superannuation Authorities Government Departments Australian Bureau of Statistics Financial Institutions DELEGATIONS As defined in the Seqwater Delegations and Authorisations Manual. KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Management Reporting Ensure the accurate processing and timeliness of the Seqwater s financial transactions in accordance with statutes, set procedures and proper standards of internal control. Prepare monthly Management Reports for Group, Team and Unit Managers and prepare monthly Financial Statements for presentation to the CEO and Board of Directors including variance explanations. Assist management with financial information and advisory services when required. Contribute to the preparation of complex submissions, regulatory reports and variance commentary when required. Provide complex financial assistance for projects, construction projects and partnerships in systems support, value analysis of reporting and financial management. Work closely, mentor and assist the Accountants and Accounts Supervisor to ensure Seqwater s routine financial transactions are recorded accurately and in a timely manner. Support Managers needs in coordinating and integrating the financial aspects of projects and/or initiatives identified in the Operational Plan. Budget Preparation and Management Establish and maintain excellent working relationships with General Managers, Managers and other staff to ensure high levels of communication for transparent and accurate reporting of budgets and forecasts including variance analysis. Liaise with Managers and the Executive team to gain an understanding of operations and issues that may have a material impact on budget achievement. Coordinate through streamlined approach, the data collection and workflow management of the annual budget and quarterly forecast process in consultation with Managers and the Executive team, to report budget savings and/or additional funding required.
Other Maintain a thorough knowledge of standards and legislation appropriate to the role, including the ability to interpret and provide advice on legislation, regulations and policy. Develop and maintain a detailed knowledge and understanding of Seqwater s role, functions, policies and procedures. Liaise, consult and provide high level advice and assistance to both internal and external stakeholders. Develop and implement approved and agreed changes in procedures and/or technology to improve the efficiency of the operations of the Management Accounting sections. Monitor and provide accurate and timely advice, guidance and education to managers and individual staff members on the interpretation and application of relevant Seqwater financial practices, policies and procedures. Undertake other duties and projects as directed by the Senior Management Accountant and Manager Finance. Observe and comply with all Seqwater Occupational Health and Safety standards and practices, Quality Management System Procedures and Environmental Management system procedures In all duties, comply with the behavioural expectations set out in the Seqwater Code of Conduct. KEY SELECTION CRITERIA Qualifications Appropriate Tertiary qualification. Membership (or eligibility to become a member) of CPA Australia or ICAA. Unrestricted drivers licence for a motor vehicle. Knowledge, Experience, Skills and Abilities Knowledge of accounting principles and financial transactions within an accrual accounting environment. Extensive knowledge and appreciation of internal control requirements. Knowledge of Customer Service Principles and an understanding of the Privacy Principles and how they apply to the provision of information to customers and third parties. Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications. Extensive knowledge of, or the ability to quickly acquire a working knowledge of the following statutes and standards, as they relate to the position: (a) Australian Accounting Standards (b) Seqwater Financial policies and procedures; (c) Seqwater Budget Manual; (d) Seqwater Delegations and Authorisations; (e) Fringe Benefits Tax legislation; and (f) Goods and Services Tax legislation.
Experience in preparation of monthly management and annual statutory reporting requirements. Experience in the operation and maintenance of computerised Financial Management Systems. Excellent analytical, numerical, problem solving and negotiation skills, with an ability to adapt those skills to interpret and provide timely advice. Ability to respond effectively to service requests. Highly developed communication, interpersonal skills and proven achievement in providing quality financial advice. Demonstrated ability to maintain open and effective working communication with key Managers. AUTHORISATION This Position Description has been authorised by: / / Chief Financial Officer Date This Position Description has been accepted by: / / Employee Date