Principal Finance Officer (HRA)

We are seeking a highly motivated Principal Finance Officer to join our Housing finance team in the Resident Services department. As the Principal Finance Officer, you will be responsible for providing a comprehensive financial service to the department, ensuring that financial activities relating to all areas of Housing are conducted in a timely, accurate and compliant manner.

In this role, you will provide a comprehensive financial service to the department, including providing advice to, and work jointly with, managers throughout the department covering all aspects of financial management, grants and funding co‑ordination, financial policy and procedures and audit administration. You’ll be actively involved in the preparation of detailed management reports and offering crucial advice and support to departmental staff. Ensuring strict compliance with all relevant financial regulations and procedures is paramount, as is working closely with other departments to guarantee seamless financial coordination. Your role also involves contributing significantly to the continuous improvement of financial systems and processes.

The Departmental Housing Finance Support team plays a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth financial operations of the Resident Services department. Our team is composed of highly skilled and experienced officers who possess an intimate understanding of the department’s intricate financial processes. We are adept at handling a wide range of financial tasks, demonstrating exceptional versatility and expertise in all areas of the department’s financial management. Our collaborative and supportive work environment promotes continuous learning, allowing us to provide unparalleled service to the department. Our exceptional communication skills enable us to effectively interact with officers at all levels, fostering strong partnerships and contributing significantly to the overall success of the department.

Key Duties Include:

• Monitoring of departmental Housing budgets and expenditure both general fund and HRA.
• Maintaining a high level of technical knowledge of the Housing Management system (NEC) and uses said knowledge to interrogate Repair and Maintenance trends.
• Compiles monthly findings for monthly board forecast review.
• Preparation of monthly forecast reports working with the relevant service heads to analysis and integrate detail.
• Providing general financial advice and support to Housing departmental staff.
• Ensuring compliance with all relevant financial regulations and procedures.

Essential Qualifications, Skills And Experience:

The successful candidate will have an appropriate finance qualification or proven local government experience and knowledge of financing local government and preferably previous experience of Housing Revenue Accounts. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds who are able to demonstrate a high level of transferrable skills and knowledge. Ongoing training will be provided to the successful candidate in keeping with the council’s commitment to staff development. You will need to have a practical approach to problem solving and be comfortable with cyclical tasks. You will have an analytical mind and be a well‑developed communicator both orally and written, familiar with Microsoft software suite, self‑motivated and be committed to providing good customer care. You will have the ability to work independently without direct supervision yet still be an active member of the team.

Indicative Recruitment Timeline:

Closing Date: Sunday 25th January 2026
Shortlisting Date: W/C 26th January 2026
Interview Date: W/C 2nd February 2026

We may close this vacancy early once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Please submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Useful Information:

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 expects 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.