Chief Accountant

We are recruiting for an experienced Chief Accountant to lead the corporate accounting function for a large Local Authority. Reporting to the Director of Finance, you will lead a team of up to 20 and take responsibility for the Council’s key corporate accounting, financial governance and technical finance functions. The role requires someone with strong Local Government accounting experience who can operate confidently at senior level, maintain robust financial controls and provide authoritative technical advice across the organisation.

Key responsibilities

• The corporate final accounts process and production of the annual Statement of Accounts
• Liaison with external audit and resolution of technical accounting matters
• Financial governance, including financial regulations, schemes of delegation, procedures and controls
• Compliance with the CIPFA Financial Management Code, relevant legislation and accounting standards
• Treasury management, including development and maintenance of the treasury strategy
• VAT, banking and cash management
• Supporting the annual revenue budget process and ensuring appropriate financial controls are maintained
• Statutory financial reporting, government returns and other corporate reporting requirements
• Providing senior officers and Members with technical accounting advice
• Development and ongoing improvement of the Council’s core financial system
• Improving financial awareness and financial management across the organisation
• Leadership, development and performance management of the Chief Accountant’s team.

You will also form part of the Finance Senior Management Team, contributing to the wider strategic and operational management of the finance function.

What we’re looking for

• You will need to be a fully qualified CCAB accountant with significant senior finance experience within Local Government.
• Strong knowledge of Local Authority accounting, statutory accounts and the relevant Codes of Practice
• Detailed understanding of legislation and accounting standards governing Local Authority finance
• Strong understanding of the wider Local Government finance environment
• Significant experience of leading a finance service, function or sizeable team
• Leading or playing a major role in year-end / closure of accounts
• Providing complex technical accounting advice to senior stakeholders
• Strong financial governance and control experience
• Experience operating within a political and senior stakeholder environment
• The ability to interpret complex financial issues and translate them into clear, practical advice
• Strong leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills.

This role would particularly suit an established Chief Accountant, Deputy Chief Accountant, Head of Corporate Accounting or senior Technical Accountant from a Local Authority background who has substantial responsibility for corporate accounts, financial governance and year-end.