Principal Accountant

This new Principal Accountant post sits in the Finance Department of Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, leading financial planning and business partnering. The work centres on monthly forecasting, annual budgeting and medium-term planning, so that resources follow the risks and priorities in the Service's Community Risk Management Plan. The postholder leads a small planning team, manages an Assistant Accountant and works with budget holders, reporting colleagues and the Deputy Head of Finance on capital, pay and workforce forecasts.

Applicants need a CCAB qualification with current professional membership.

• Leading the planning and monitoring calendar, covering monthly forecasting, annual budget preparation and medium-term financial planning
• Providing finance business partnering to senior managers and complex service portfolios, challenging assumptions and advising on corrective action
• Consolidating revenue forecasts and explaining movements, risks, opportunities and action ownership
• Coordinating pay and establishment forecasting with People and payroll colleagues, using validated workforce data and avoiding double-counted savings
• Leading financial monitoring of the capital programme and linking cost, timing, financing and revenue consequences
• Assessing business cases, savings proposals and investment options using whole-life costing, risk analysis and sensitivity testing
• Producing clear reports, briefings and committee papers for senior leaders, setting out uncertainty and required actions
• Line managing and developing the Assistant Accountant and coordinating planning support across the Finance Department
• Improving Technology One and Power BI reporting with finance systems and digital colleagues, ensuring reports reconcile to the ledger
• Leading finance-literacy support for budget holders through induction, workshops, guidance and advice

• CCAB-qualified accountant
• Current professional membership
• Evidence of continuing professional development

• Substantial experience of budget preparation, management accounting and forecasting with multiple budget holders
• Evidence of constructive business partnering and influencing managers to address financial risks

• Strong financial modelling
• Pay forecasting and scenario analysis
• Connecting revenue, capital and workforce implications
• Explaining complex financial issues clearly