Lead Assistant Accountant

Lead Assistant Accountant - Finance Systems

Job title:

Lead Assistant Accountant - Finance Systems
Salary: POA £41,487 – £44,700 per annum

Contract:

Permanent, full time

Location:

Wakefield

We are seeking a Lead Assistant Accountant to join our Financial Systems Integrity Team. This role is suited to a technically minded professional with proven experience in automation, process improvement, and finance-related projects.

The successful candidate will be solutions-focused, with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a specialist team. They will demonstrate strong capability in managing complex financial systems and data with a high degree of accuracy, control, and assurance.

You will lead on improving system integrity, automation, and reporting, providing support to Finance and Accounting teams across the Force. You will act as a subject matter expert, ensuring data quality, maintaining system security, and delivering reliable management information to support informed decision-making.

As a member of the Systems Integrity Team, this key senior position sits within West Yorkshire Police’s Finance Directorate, part of the Business Development team. The role plays a vital part in optimising and developing the financial systems that underpin policing services across West Yorkshire.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with relevant experience to take on a position with real responsibility, influence, and purpose within a public service environment.

Essential Criteria

• AAT Level 4 qualification with substantial post-qualification experience working within finance teams (experience within a finance systems team is desirable but not essential)

• Strong working knowledge of financial processes, controls, and procedures

• Advanced skills in spreadsheet and database management

• Excellent analytical, communication, and problem-solving abilities

Desirable Criteria

• Experience using Sun Accounts and/or Proactis Spend Control

Role and Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, coordination, and delivery of data quality, management information, and analytics activity across the Directorate

• Provide expert advice, guidance, and technical support to financial system users

• Design and deliver financial systems training to enhance user capability and confidence

• Develop, enhance, and maintain financial systems, processes, and reporting outputs

• Support the ongoing development of Force-wide finance systems, ensuring effective integration with other platforms

• Analyse and monitor system inputs and outputs to ensure accuracy, consistency, and compliance with financial controls and policies

• Oversee supplier payment processing and support debt recovery activity

• Act as a subject matter expert for system access, master data management, and workflow configuration

• Support system upgrades, testing, and implementations, including data mapping, cleansing, and reconciliation

• Mentor and support Assistant Accountants and Apprentice Accounting Technicians, contributing to their development

• Build and maintain effective working relationships with external consultants and digital policing specialists

There may be occasional requirements to work flexibly within the 7am–7pm flexi bandwidth to support essential operational needs.

Expectations
To succeed in this role, you will be expected to:

• Communicate confidently and effectively with finance colleagues, system users, and senior stakeholders

• Apply strong analytical skills to identify issues, risks, and opportunities for improvement

• Investigate, diagnose, and resolve complex system and data anomalies

• Manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality work within deadlines

• Work collaboratively while providing leadership, guidance, and technical expertise within the team

Benefits /

What We Offer

• Access to Project Management training and development opportunities, where required, to support your ongoing professional growth.

• The opportunity to develop specialist expertise within financial systems and process improvement in a public service environment.

West Yorkshire Police staff can access a wide range of benefits designed to support work–life balance,…