Gateway Standards and Professional Expertise for Grade 7

Gateway

• A member of one of the six Consultative Committees of Accounting Bodies [CCAB] i.e. ACCA; CIMA; CIPFA; ICAEW; ICAI or ICAS, or a European or international equivalent qualification, or someone who has undergone a period of equivalent structured training and accreditation in a specialist area of finance (e.g. investment finance or treasury management). Has a minimum of three years Post Qualification Experience.
  
• Complies with the CPD requirement of their professional accountancy body or, (if no such requirements are set), with continuing professional development equivalent to that of the CIPFA CPD requirements.

Professsional Expertise

Policy or Operational expertise as relevant plus:

• Demonstrates understanding and application of sound principles of corporate governance.
  
• Has practical skills in one or more area of management accounting and cost analysis, investment finance, treasury management, planning and budgeting and financial accounting. Sets and interprets financial policy in these areas and, combining this with sound business knowledge, is able to provide advice and guidance to others.
  
• Understands different financial planning and budgeting techniques and their application in different organisations.
  
• Has understanding of and can apply principles of risk managment and the financial evaluation of risk.
  
• Understands and can apply investment appraisal techniques and analysis in support of decision-making.
  
• Evaluates viable investment and spending options objectively and identifies optimal courses of action:- balancing risk, value for money in the development of sound business cases.
  
• Is able to play a key role in assessing the implications of contracts with suppliers of financial services.
  
• Provides accounting advice, analysis and scrutiny to support business managers in complex situtations and contributes to future business strategies.
  
• Develops systems and processes to meet business needs by clearly interpreting user requirements.
  
• Able to lead and manage a team of professional staff and develop their professional and management capabilities.
  
• Can present complex financial information clearly both verbally and in writing to support organisational decision-making.