Technical Accountant – Epping Forest District Council

Overview

Essex County Council (ECC) is supporting Epping Forest District Council in recruiting a Technical Accountant.

Technical Accountant – Epping Forest District Council

Help shape financial excellence and make a real difference in your community.

Epping Forest District Council is seeking an experienced and motivated Technical Accountant to join our Finance Team. This is an exciting opportunity for a technically strong accounting professional to play a pivotal role in delivering high-quality financial reporting, supporting informed decision-making, and ensuring robust financial governance across the Council.

If you are passionate about technical accounting, thrive on solving complex challenges, and want your expertise to have a meaningful impact on local services, we'd love to hear from you.

• Location:
  
  Civic Offices, Epping (hybrid working available, subject to service requirements)
• Salary:
  Grade J - £61,754 to £64,265 per annum
• Contract:
  
  Permanent
• Hours:
  
  36 hours per week (flexible working arrangements considered)

Reporting directly to the Chief Accountant, you will be responsible for providing expert technical accounting support across the Council. Working closely with colleagues across Finance and wider service areas, you will lead on key specialist accounting functions, support the production of statutory accounts, and contribute to the continuous improvement of financial processes and controls.

This is a highly visible role offering a varied workload, professional challenge, and the opportunity to influence financial reporting and governance across the organisation.

• Provide expert technical accounting advice on complex transactions and accounting treatments across the Council.
• Lead on Collection Fund accounting (Council Tax and Business Rates/NNDR), including estimates, year-end reconciliations, disclosures, supporting papers, and liaison with internal stakeholders and external auditors.
• Take ownership of the Council's Group Accounts, ensuring compliance with accounting requirements and preparing all associated working papers and disclosures.
• Support the preparation and delivery of the annual Statement of Accounts, including high-quality working papers, disclosures, and audit responses.
• Prepare and review key system reconciliations, including payroll and bank reconciliations, ensuring discrepancies are investigated and resolved promptly.
• Contribute to capital accounting, leases, and fixed asset accounting, supporting year-end closedown and responding to audit queries.
• Complete the Whole of Government Accounts (WGA) return and support the preparation of other statutory returns, alongside treasury management and VAT activities.
• Drive improvements to finance systems, reporting processes, templates, controls, and year-end procedures.
• Support and develop team members through effective workload management, coaching, and day-to-day guidance.

We're looking for a positive, proactive, and self-motivated professional who combines strong technical expertise with excellent communication and relationship-building skills.

• A minimum of five years' experience within Local Government in a similar technical accounting role.
• Significant experience in:
  • Collection Fund accounting
  • Group Accounts
  • System reconciliations
  • Completion of statutory returns, including WGA, RA and RO returns
• Experience supporting the closure of accounts process and working with external auditors.
• CCAB-qualified (CIPFA, ACA, ACCA or CIMA) or qualified by experience with substantial technical accounting expertise.
• Strong knowledge of local authority statutory accounting and financial reporting requirements.
• Proven ability to interpret complex accounting guidance and translate it into practical, clear advice.
• Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Outlook and Word.
• Experience using financial systems to support reporting, reconciliations, controls, and year-end processes.
• A commitment to continuous improvement, innovation, and delivering excellent services.