Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Strategic Financial Advisor – Wandsworth, London

Salary: £48,873 – £59,220 per annum

Two Years Fixed Term Full Time – 36 Hours

Location: Wandsworth Town Hall

Do you have a finance background and looking for your next big opportunity? If the answer is “Yes” then this role is for you. Wandsworth Council manages one of London’s largest and most ambitious Housing Revenue Accounts, with responsibility for more than £180m of annual housing expenditure and a capital investment programme exceeding £660m over the next 3 years.

This is an exciting opportunity to join Wandsworth’s housing finance team, with a strong programme of investment focused on improving homes, estates and services for residents. We are delivering ambitious plans to maintain and enhance our housing stock, support sustainable communities, and drive long-term improvements.

The Housing Revenue Account Strategic Financial Advisor is a newly created role working within the central finance team and will work closely with the housing team. You will be working at the heart of strategic decision-making and supporting a significant financial and high-profile service and will be responsible for providing high-quality strategic financial leadership, planning, and analysis to ensure long-term sustainability of the Housing Revenue Account.

The role offers the chance to influence long-term business planning, capital investment decisions, treasury and funding strategies, and the financial sustainability of one of the country’s leading local authority housing services ensuring that financial decisions support the delivery of the organisation’s housing objectives. If you are looking for a role where your expertise can have a direct impact on housing outcomes, Wandsworth offers a unique opportunity to help shape the future of the borough’s council housing.

About the role

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

• Strategic Financial Leadership
  • Lead on the preparation, development, and monitoring of the HRA 30-year business plan, ensuring it remains robust, sustainable, and aligned to corporate and housing strategies.
  • Provide strategic financial advice suitable for senior leaders, Cabinet Members, and service directors on all aspects of the HRA.
  • Drive financial modelling and scenario analysis to assess the impact of rent policy, inflation, investment needs, and housing growth plans.
  • Ensure the HRA complies with statutory requirements, CIPFA Codes of Practice, and local government financial frameworks.
• Financial Planning and Reporting
  • Oversee the preparation and management of annual budgets, forecasts, and medium-term financial plans for the HRA.
  • Lead on producing the HRA outturn and monitoring reports, including variance analysis and performance insights.
  • Provide accurate and timely financial information to support housing, asset management, and capital investment decisions.
  • Work collaboratively with internal audit, external audit, and treasury teams to maintain strong governance and assurance.
• Capital Investment and Asset Management Support
  • Support the financial planning underpinning the delivery of the capital programme for housing, including new build schemes and major repairs.
  • Work collaboratively with relevant Directorates on the financial appraisal of housing development projects, regeneration schemes, and stock investment proposals.
  • Ensure capital financing decisions (including borrowing, grants, and reserves) are optimised to support long-term HRA sustainability.
• Leadership and Collaboration
  • Lead by example and build strong partnerships with other Service Areas.
  • Provide expert guidance to non-financial managers to enhance financial literacy across the housing service.
  • Represent the organisation at internal and external forums on HRA and housing finance matters.

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• CCAB-qualified accountant or equivalent.
• Significant experience in local authority or social housing finance, particularly in managing or advising on HRAs with proven experience of long-term financial planning, business modelling, and investment appraisal.
• Strong understanding of housing policy, capital financing frameworks, and rent setting regulations.
• Experience using financial planning tools, excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, able to convey complex financial issues to non-financial audiences.

Indicative Recruitment Timeline

• Closing Date: Sunday 23rd August 2026
• Shortlisting Date: WC 24th August 2026
• Interview Date: TBC

Please note that these dates are only indicative at this stage and could be subject to change.

Richmond & Wandsworth Better Service Partnership are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please let us know.

We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts may be exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to these posts will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to attract, develop, and reward our employees such as 40 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays), flexible working and a generous pension plan.