At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead financial oversight for a major ERP transformation and council-wide projects.
- Company: Join Connect2Dorset, a trusted partner to Dorset Council, focused on ethical recruitment.
- Benefits: Competitive daily rate, flexible hybrid working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with a focus on governance and financial strategy in a supportive environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in transforming local services while enhancing your finance skills.
- Qualifications: Qualified accountant with experience in programme finance and strong analytical skills.
The Transformation Accountant provides senior financial leadership across two major areas:
- The ERP Transformation Programme - managing the full programme budget, financial governance, cost control and forecasting across all ERP lifecycle phases (design, build, test, cutover, go-live, hypercare).
- The whole council Transformation Portfolio - leading financial planning, monitoring and reporting for the organisation's broader transformation activity, ensuring alignment and clear traceability back to the Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP).
As a qualified and experienced finance professional, the post holder ensures all programme and portfolio activity is financially robust, compliant with internal processes, and supported by accurate, timely and strategic financial insight. They will work collaboratively with Finance Business Partners, PMO, Benefits Realisation colleagues and Programme Managers to maintain financial discipline and governance across multiple workstreams.
Context of the Role: Dorset Council is delivering a significant and complex organisational change programme through Our Future Council (OFC). This includes whole council service redesign and the implementation of a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, which will be a core enabler of future efficiency, financial sustainability and operational transformation. The Transformation Programme Accountant plays a pivotal role in maintaining strong financial oversight across this multi-year investment. This includes building and managing programme and portfolio budgets, ensuring sound financial governance, and ensuring all transformation financial activity is clearly aligned to, and reflected within, the MTFP. The role provides an authoritative source of financial control, analysis and reporting that underpins effective decision-making across the transformation portfolio.
Key Responsibilities
- Budget Definition & Baseline Control: Establish and maintain budget baselines for both the ERP Programme and Transformation Portfolio. Build and maintain the cost breakdown structure (CBS) including internal resources, suppliers, and contingency. Maintain budget version control and phased forecasting aligned to programme plans and milestones.
- Actuals Tracking & Month-End Control: Reconcile actuals through council finance systems, ensuring accurate allocation to work-streams and cost categories. Produce monthly variance analysis with clear narrative and recommended actions. Support the year end cycle including accruals, prepayments and recharges.
- Forecasting (ETC / EAC): Own the programme and portfolio Forecast to Complete (ETC) and Estimate at Completion (EAC). Work with PMO and Workstream Leads to refine assumptions, phasing, and cost drivers. Quantify financial impacts of risks, delays, scope changes or extensions.
- Supplier Spend Governance & Invoice Assurance: Maintain supplier spend trackers and invoice logs for SI partners and all vendors. Validate invoices against contractual terms, POs, milestones, deliverables and agreed rates. Track commitments and remaining contract values to support forward planning. Maintain audit ready documentation for all approvals and spend decisions.
- Change Control Financial Management: Maintain a financial impact log for all Change Requests (CRs). Support the Change Control Board (CCB) with affordability analysis and funding recommendations. Update budgets, forecasts, POs and reporting following CR approval.
- Programme Financial Reporting: Produce monthly finance packs for programme board, TMO and steering group. Provide clear narrative explaining variances, forecast movements, risks, mitigations and decisions required. Maintain dashboards and KPIs to monitor financial health.
- Controls, Audit & Assurance: Maintain complete audit ready evidence packs including approvals, reconciliations and spend assurance. Support internal/external audit requests. Ensure compliance with financial policies, processes, and programme governance standards.
- Benefits Tracking Support: Provide cost evidence to support benefits realisation and business case tracking. Report programme spend to date and cost to achieve benefits.
Key Deliverables
- ERP Programme and Transformation Portfolio Budget Baselines
- Monthly Actuals vs Budget Reports
- Forecast to Complete (ETC) and Estimate at Completion (EAC)
- Supplier Spend Tracker and Invoice Assurance Log
- Change Request Financial Impact Log
- Monthly Steering Committee Finance Pack
- Commitments Tracker
- Audit Evidence Pack
Required Skills & Experience
Essential:
- Professionally qualified accountant (CIPFA / CIMA / ACCA or equivalent).
- Strong experience in programme or project finance (major transformation preferred).
- Proven ability to manage complex budgets across multiple workstreams.
- Strong forecasting, modelling and reconciliation skills (CAPEX & OPEX).
- Supplier invoice assurance and commercial contract spend tracking.
- Advanced Excel skills (modelling, pivot tables, lookups).
- Ability to produce clear, executive level reporting and financial insight.
- High attention to detail with strong governance discipline mapping and modelling the benefits scorecards/framework transformation modelling and mapping of benefits.
Desirable:
- ERP programme finance experience (e.g., Oracle Fusion, SAP, Unit4).
- Public sector finance experience.
- Power BI or similar data visualisation skills.
KPIs / Measures of Success
- Monthly finance packs delivered on time and to required quality.
- Forecast accuracy and month to month stability.
- Clear narrative explaining variances and recommending actions.
- 100% compliance on invoice assurance, POs and financial evidence retention.
- All change request financial impacts captured and approved ahead of spend.
- Programme and portfolio budgets remain fully aligned to, and traceable within, the MTFP.
- No significant audit findings arising from weak controls or missing documentation.
Connect2Dorset is an equal opportunities Employment Agency & Business. It positively encourages applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates.
ERP Programme Accountant employer: Connect2Dorset
Connect2Dorset is an exceptional employer that prioritises ethical practices and community impact, making it a rewarding place to work. With a strong focus on employee growth and development, team members are encouraged to thrive in a supportive environment while contributing to meaningful projects within the local authority. The opportunity to lead significant transformation initiatives in the picturesque setting of Dorchester adds unique value to this role, fostering both professional and personal fulfilment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land ERP Programme Accountant
✨Get Involved in Financial Networks
Join local financial associations or forums where you can connect with professionals in financial-controlling. Networking events often lead to temporary positions, as companies look for quick hires when they need extra hands.
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We think you need these skills to ace ERP Programme Accountant
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Academic Aces:In the financial controlling game, grades and relevant certifications can make a significant difference. Be sure to highlight your academic achievements, like finance-related coursework and any professional certifications you’ve got on your CV that show you’re clued up in this area. It’s all about demonstrating that you’re not just good at numbers but also know your stuff!
Quantify Your Achievements:When applying for a temporary role in financial controlling, make sure your CV reflects any previous experience with real, measurable outcomes. Use numbers to showcase your past successes, like percentage improvements in budgeting or cost savings you’ve achieved in previous roles. This not only gives us insights into your capabilities but also tells us you're results-driven.
Personalise Your Application:We love seeing applicants who take the time to tailor their applications! In your cover letter, mention why you’re particularly interested in the temporary role with Connect2Dorset and how your specific skills and experiences align with the job. Show us that you see this role as an opportunity to contribute, even if it's for a short stint!
Flexibility is Key:Since this is a temporary position, make sure to highlight your availability in your application. We’re interested in knowing how soon you can start and if you’re open to working flexible hours. This shows us your eagerness to jump right in and adapt to the dynamic needs of our team at Connect2Dorset.
How to prepare for a job interview at Connect2Dorset
✨Get Hands-On with Financial Tools
Being in financial controlling means you’ll likely be working with various software like Excel, Power BI, or even SAP. Make sure you brush up on these tools and prepare to discuss your experience using them. Being able to reference specific projects or analyses where you employed these programs will definitely give you an edge.
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Expect scenario-based questions where you might need to analyse financial statements or suggest budgetary strategies during the interview. Practising common financial concepts like variance analysis or cost control measures will not only boost your confidence but also prove your suitability for the role.
✨Show Your Flexibility and Adaptability
As this is a temporary position, the interviewers will want to see that you can hit the ground running. Be sure to highlight any previous short-term roles or projects where you successfully adapted to new environments quickly – this will showcase your readiness to tackle challenges head-on.
✨Highlight Your Commitment to Precision
In financial controlling, attention to detail is absolutely crucial. Be ready to provide examples from your past work that demonstrate your ability to spot discrepancies and ensure accuracy in financial reporting. Your precision could be the factor that sets you apart in a temporary role like this one!
