Chief Financial Accountant

About The Role

Are you an experienced local government finance professional looking for a strategic role where you can make a significant impact? We are seeking a highly skilled Chief Financial Accountant to lead key corporate finance functions, ensuring the effective stewardship of public funds and compliance with statutory accounting requirements.

As Chief Financial Accountant, you will play a pivotal role in delivering the Council's accountancy and exchequer services. You will lead the annual budget-setting process, coordinate the closure of accounts, manage relationships with external auditors, and provide expert technical accounting advice across the organisation.

You will also help shape the future of local government finance by supporting Local Government Reorganisation initiatives and ensuring the Council responds effectively to legislative and regulatory changes.

Please note that this is a fixed term contract to 31/12/2028.

We are looking for a qualified accountant with experience in local government finance and a strong understanding of the statutory and regulatory environment in which councils operate.

You’ll be a proactive and self-motivated professional who can manage competing priorities, communicate complex financial matters with clarity, and build productive relationships with colleagues, elected members and external stakeholders.

Are you a CCAB- qualified accountant with a degree-level qualification or equivalent?

If you also have:

• Extensive knowledge of local government finance, accounting and relevant legislation.
• Strong understanding of treasury management and capital finance regulations.
• Experience working within a comparable finance environment.
• Excellent analytical, communication and report-writing skills.

• Employee assistance program
• Discounts portal
• Salary sacrifice schemes (bikes, home electricals and EV car leasing - available after completion of probation period).

You will also enjoy:

• A good work-life balance, with many roles following our hybrid approach to work (if your role supports hybrid working, all we ask is that you have a stable and reliable internet connection).
• 25 days' holiday per year, plus bank holidays, increasing to 30 days after 5 years' service (assuming the role is full-time).
• Access to an excellent local government pension scheme based on your local authority career average earnings.

We encourage applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.