Most of my assignments have
been completed in operating companies or operating divisions. Just once, in the
case of Oxfordshire County Council did I occupy a
central finance role that was responsible for consolidating accounts.
This has been a deliberate
ploy as the assignments that use the widest range of my skillsets are the
operational finance roles. In my experience, central finance roles tend to be
reporting roles with little variation, however the Oxfordshire role (which
lasted 20 months) shows that I am quite capable of handling a central finance
role as well as an operational role.
Naturally, in assignments for
operational companies I have been responsible for preparing schedules that go
to make up consolidated accounts and in this there is the important
responsibility for agreeing total transactions values and balances with fellow
subsidiaries.
The other part of central
finance reporting is covered in the section on year
end.