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- Tasks: Lead finance business partnering and provide strategic financial advice to senior managers.
- Company: Join a London local authority with a focus on strong financial governance.
- Benefits: Competitive hourly rates, flexible home-based work, and potential for contract extension.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth and to promote financial best practices.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in local governance while developing your financial expertise.
- Qualifications: Experience in accounting and confidence in influencing senior stakeholders.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Location: Home-based (office attendance once per month max - Ealing - London)
Contract: 3 months initially (very likely extension)
Start: ASAP
Rates: £36.37 per hour (PAYE) / £47.74 per hour (Umbrella)
The Opportunity
We're looking for an experienced Principal Accountant to join a London local authority on an interim basis. Reporting into a Finance Manager and working closely with the Section 151 Officer, you'll provide senior-level financial advice and business partnering support across key council services. This role suits someone confident operating at a strategic level, influencing senior stakeholders, and ensuring strong financial governance.
What You'll Be Doing:
- Lead finance business partnering for allocated service areas
- Provide strategic and operational financial advice to senior managers
- Support capital revenue budget setting, monitoring and forecasting
- Contribute to delivery of the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS)
- Identify, manage and escalate financial risks
- Support year-end accounts closure and audit requirements
- Deputise for the Finance Manager when required
- Promote financial best practice
Interim Principal Accountant employer: Adecco
Contact Detail:
Adecco Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Interim Principal Accountant
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the finance sector, especially those who have experience with local authorities. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings or even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your strategic financial advice skills. Be ready to discuss how you've influenced senior stakeholders in the past. We want you to showcase your ability to provide top-notch business partnering support!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t forget to research the council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS). Knowing their goals and challenges will help you tailor your discussions and show that you're genuinely interested in contributing to their success.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we’re always looking for talented individuals like you to join our community and make an impact in roles like this one.
We think you need these skills to ace Interim Principal Accountant
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience in financial governance and business partnering. We want to see how you've influenced senior stakeholders and contributed to strategic financial advice in previous roles.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for the Interim Principal Accountant role. Share specific examples of your past achievements that align with the job description.
Showcase Relevant Skills: Don’t forget to emphasise your skills in budget setting, monitoring, and forecasting. We’re looking for someone who can hit the ground running, so make sure these skills are front and centre in your application.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Adecco
✨Know Your Numbers
As an Interim Principal Accountant, you'll need to demonstrate your financial acumen. Brush up on key financial metrics and be ready to discuss how you've used them in past roles. This shows you can provide the strategic and operational advice they’re looking for.
✨Understand the Council's Financial Landscape
Research the local authority’s financial strategies and recent developments. Being able to reference specific initiatives or challenges during your interview will show that you're not just knowledgeable but also genuinely interested in their operations.
✨Prepare for Stakeholder Engagement
Since this role involves influencing senior stakeholders, think of examples where you've successfully navigated complex stakeholder relationships. Be ready to discuss your approach to business partnering and how you ensure strong financial governance.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Be prepared to discuss how you've identified and managed financial risks in previous roles. Use specific examples to illustrate your ability to support budget setting and contribute to financial strategies, as this will resonate well with the interviewers.