Senior Technical Analyst (Balance Sheet and Controls) in London

Are you an experienced technical accountant with a strong understanding of local authority financial accounting, balance sheet management and financial controls? London Borough of Harrow is seeking a highly skilled Senior Technical Analyst (Balance Sheet and Controls) to join the Finance Division and play a pivotal role in maintaining the integrity of the Council’s financial position and strengthening its financial control environment.

Reporting to the Chief Accountant, you will provide specialist technical expertise across a broad range of financial accounting activities, including balance sheet management, collection fund accounting, financial governance, general ledger maintenance and statutory reporting. You will take ownership of balance sheet assets and liabilities of approximately £217 million and oversee collection fund income of approximately £255 million, ensuring robust accounting treatment, compliance with statutory regulations and the delivery of accurate and reliable financial information.

The role will lead on complex balance sheet reconciliations, collection fund forecasting and monitoring, corporate control accounts, chart of accounts governance, support service charge methodologies, statutory returns and group accounting activities. You will be instrumental in identifying financial risks, resolving technical accounting issues, improving financial processes and controls, and supporting the production of the Council’s Statement of Accounts.

Working closely with finance colleagues, service managers, external auditors, consultants and other stakeholders, you will use your technical expertise and analytical skills to drive continuous improvement, strengthen governance arrangements and support the Council’s wider transformation agenda. This is an excellent opportunity for a technically strong finance professional who enjoys solving complex problems and influencing positive change within a large and diverse local authority environment.

We are seeking a technically capable finance professional with a strong understanding of financial accounting, balance sheet management and financial controls, ideally gained within local government or a similarly complex public sector environment. The successful candidate will be confident in interpreting statutory accounting requirements, applying sound professional judgement to resolve complex financial issues, and ensuring high standards of governance, compliance and accuracy.

They will demonstrate excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, identifying opportunities to improve processes, strengthen controls and enhance financial reporting. A strong communicator, they will be able to explain complex financial matters clearly to a range of audiences, build effective relationships across the organisation, and support the development of colleagues through technical guidance and collaborative working.

They will also bring extensive experience in statutory accounting, balance sheet reconciliations, financial controls and continuous improvement, helping to drive excellence in financial management and reporting.

Required Skills and Experience

• Professional knowledge and qualifications – AAT qualification, part-qualified CCAB qualification (or equivalent), or significant relevant experience, supported by a commitment to continuous professional development and maintaining up-to-date technical knowledge.
• Strong technical accounting expertise – Comprehensive understanding of local authority financial accounting, including IFRS, SeRCOP, statutory reporting requirements, Statements of Accounts preparation, Whole of Government Accounts, and statutory returns such as RO and QRO.
• Balance sheet and financial control experience – Extensive experience managing complex balance sheet reconciliations, control accounts, chart of accounts governance, financial control frameworks, and resolving technical accounting issues.
• Specialist local government finance knowledge – Experience of collection fund accounting, monitoring and forecasting, including Business Rates Retention arrangements, together with knowledge of group accounting and consolidation principles.
• Continuous improvement and risk management skills – Proven ability to investigate financial discrepancies, identify and mitigate risks, implement robust financial controls, and lead process improvements, automation initiatives and system enhancements.