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- Tasks: Lead financial support for housing, providing insights and budget management.
- Company: Join the vibrant London Borough of Waltham Forest, a diverse and inclusive workplace.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career progression, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Dynamic team environment focused on innovation and resident needs.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in your community while advancing your finance career.
- Qualifications: Part-qualified accountant or equivalent experience with strong analytical skills.
The predicted salary is between 54267 - 57402 £ per year.
Organisation: London Borough of Waltham Forest
Salary: PO6 £54,267- £57,402
Contract Type: Full-time/Permanent
Working hours per week: 36
Application Deadline: 24/05/2026
Proposed Interview Date(s): 28th & 29th May 2026
Reference: 2074
About Us:
Bursting with culture, energy, and opportunity, the London Borough of Waltham Forest is a fantastic and exciting place to work. We are a highly ambitious borough. Driven by culture and the innate creativity of our residents, we have developed new and innovative ways to build our communities. Our Council is relentlessly resident-focused, insight-led, digitally driven and commercially minded; a Council focused on meeting the needs of our existing and future residents.
London Borough of Waltham Forest is one of the Mayor of London’s Good Work Standard employers. This accreditation is proof of our commitment to creating a healthy, fair and inclusive workplace. This includes fair pay and conditions, workplace well-being, skills and progression and diversity and recruitment.
About the role:
This is a key role responsible for delivering high quality financial management information to support effective decision making across housing. You will work closely with service managers, providing expert financial advice, budget monitoring and strategic insight to help drive performance and value for money.
Key Responsibilities:
- Leading on financial support for the Housing Service
- Providing timely and accurate financial management information
- Supporting budget planning, monitoring and forecasting
- Contributing to strategic decision making and service improvement
Qualifications and Requirements:
We are looking for a fully or part-qualified accountant, or equivalent experience, with strong analytical skills, excellent communication, and the ability to influence and challenge constructively. This is an excellent opportunity for career progression within a supportive and forward-thinking finance team.
Terms and conditions:
- Satisfactory employment references and CIFAS identity checks
- Satisfactory declaration of interest
- Continued professional body registration
- As a public authority, we must ensure that members of staff in public-facing roles are able to speak fluent English.
How to Apply:
Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications online by pressing the ‘Apply’ button below. This includes a supporting statement that outlines how your skills and experience make you a good candidate for this vacancy. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
Equal Opportunity Employer:
Waltham Forest is a diverse borough where diversity is valued and is integral to both service delivery and employment of its staff. The Council is proud of its rich mix of communities and as the largest employer in the area, it works hard to respond to the changing needs of its population. We use our statutory duties on race, gender and disability equality and best practice in respect of age, faith and sexual orientation to ensure equality of opportunity in the workplace.
The Council is committed to meeting its 4 equality objectives:
- Promoting equality of opportunity
- Opposing all forms of discrimination, intolerance and disadvantage
- Ensuring our workforce reflects the diverse communities of Waltham Forest at all levels
- Providing fair, appropriate, accessible and excellent services to all
Respecting Diversity is a core Council value.
To support the above and reduce the risk of bias in its recruitment activities, the council is operating an anonymous shortlisting process, which hides personal information that can identify individuals until their application has been considered for shortlisting. The council also operates a scheme whereby, for jobs graded up to and including scale SO2, internal candidates are considered first. This includes those candidates who self-identify as having a disability for the purposes of the Disability Confident scheme.
We are keen to support employees to balance their working life with other commitments. Therefore, wherever possible, we will consider working arrangements that suit an individual's personal circumstances whilst still meeting the needs of the Council. If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role, please contact the person named below or feel free to discuss this during your interview.
Contact Information:
If you have any questions about this vacancy or the application process, please contact Ann James, Head of Housing Finance, at ann.james@walthamforest.gov.uk or Peter Taylor, Finance Business Partner at peter.taylor@walthamforest.gov.uk.
If you have any technical issues when trying to apply for this post, please contact our Recruitment Team via email at recruitment@walthamforest.gov.uk.
The Council’s preference is for online application. However, if you have a disability and are unable to complete an online application, please email recruitment@walthamforest.gov.uk so we can arrange an alternative application method.
Fraud Awareness Notice: The London Borough of Waltham Forest only advertises vacancies via our official website and approved recruitment platforms. We will never ask for payment or request sensitive personal or financial information as part of our recruitment process.
Principal Accountant in Walthamstow employer: Borough of Waltham Forest
Contact Detail:
Borough of Waltham Forest Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Accountant in Walthamstow
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the finance sector, especially those who work in local councils. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about the role and even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching the London Borough of Waltham Forest. Understand their values and recent projects. This will help you tailor your answers and show you're genuinely interested in contributing to their goals.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your responses to common interview questions, especially around financial management and strategic decision-making. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers effectively.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can leave a lasting impression and shows your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it keeps you on their radar as they make their decision.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Accountant in Walthamstow
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Supporting Statement: Make sure to customise your supporting statement to highlight how your skills and experience align with the role of Principal Accountant. We want to see how you can contribute to our ambitious borough!
Show Off Your Analytical Skills: Since this role requires strong analytical skills, don’t shy away from showcasing specific examples where you've used these skills effectively. We love seeing real-life applications of your expertise!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. We appreciate straightforward communication, so make sure your key points stand out without unnecessary fluff.
Apply Early!: Don’t wait until the last minute to submit your application. We might close the vacancy early if we get enough applications, so get yours in as soon as you can through our website!
How to prepare for a job interview at Borough of Waltham Forest
✨Know Your Numbers
As a 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 data to drive decision-making in previous roles. This shows you can provide the timely and accurate financial management information they’re looking for.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
Since the role involves providing expert financial advice to service managers, practice articulating complex financial concepts in simple terms. Prepare examples of how you've influenced stakeholders or improved processes through effective communication. This will highlight your ability to challenge constructively.
✨Research the Organisation
Familiarise yourself with the London Borough of Waltham Forest’s values and recent initiatives. Understanding their focus on community and innovation will help you align your answers with their goals, showing that you're not just a fit for the role but also for their culture.
✨Prepare Thoughtful Questions
Interviews are a two-way street! Prepare insightful questions about the Housing Service's current challenges or future projects. This demonstrates your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if this is the right fit for you too.