Management Accountant

Management Accountant

Temporary, Full Time

£450 - £500 Umbrella Per Day

Location:

Chelmsford

Working Style:
Anywhere worker

Closing Date:
Tuesday 13th January 2026

Essex County Council are seeking an experienced finance professional to join their high‑performing finance team.

The Management Accountant for PPEPH supports a diverse range of services – from Public Health to Property, Major Capital Programmes, and Capital Delivery – offering variety and breadth in the role. Its a pivotal position in providing insightful financial analysis and robust financial reporting across both Revenue and Capital, with a 4‑year Capital programme totalling circa £570m.

In addition, this function is at the forefront of devolution.

You will build strong relationships with internal and external partners and be able to competently influence, contribute and challenge at a broad range of senior management forums to ensure financial forecasts and future budget plans are based on robust financial information.

You will be a qualified professional with strong technical and systems knowledge to actively contribute and influence the decision‑making process in relation to medium‑term planning.

• Responsible for the preparation, quality assurance, detailed analytics and trend analysis in the development of financial forecasts and future budget plans for services across the financial cycle ensuring they reflect operational and strategic objectives.
• Leads, manages and motivates a finance team to deliver high quality financial information, analysis and provide constructive challenge to support budget holders; understands customer needs and provides a greatly valued service.
• Ensures timely and accurate information and advice is in accordance with Financial Regulations and all accounting standards to ensure the effective management of budgets and future budget planning by all budget holders.
• Works collaboratively with the Financial Systems & Processes Manager to support the Finance Hub arrangements and identify and develop system and process improvements to ensure the finance function delivers high quality outputs and information.
• Maintains a high level of service/function understanding across a function to be able to constructively challenge and influence internal and external partners; advises on the development of cost drivers, the preparation of relevant and accurate financial models, estimates and forecasts to enable the function to highlight opportunities as well as potential risks.
• Acts as the Finance expert coordinating understanding of a function’s financial forecasting, modelling and budget planning processes across the financial cycle.
• Implements and maintains effective financial management arrangements and promotes the improvement of financial awareness, capability and practice to empower budget holders to deliver value for money services.
• Supports budget holders and finance business partners to prepare robust business cases, identifying and quantifying associated costs, benefits and risks.
• Co‑ordinates the annual accounts closure for a functional area through active engagement, training and support with budget holders to ensure all relevant timescales are met.
• Manages the analysis, interpretation and support of financial and performance data to complete financial returns, questionnaires and information requests as required.

• Full CCAB and evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in relevant professional area.
• Knowledge & understanding of financial management and financial frameworks in a large organisation, preferably within the public sector.
• Experience of delivering improvements within a finance setting.
• Providing financial advice & support to management teams.
• Experience of evaluating and supporting innovative and effective means of financing the delivery of large‑scale services.
• Experience of working with others to build effective working relationships with finance colleagues and other senior managers.

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and…