Senior Accountant

Benefits: Salary: £46,142 - £51,356 per annum, Grade 6. Hours: Full Time - 37 hours per week. Location – Service Headquarters, Calcot, Reading. Excellent annual leave allowance of 30 days, flexible working, onsite gym, parking facilities and a Local Government Pension Scheme are available.

About the role: Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service is seeking a Senior Accountant to join our dynamic Finance and Procurement team. In this key role, you’ll help deliver high-quality financial accounting services across the organisation, as well as to our partners and external stakeholders. You will be responsible for supporting the Deputy Head of Finance and Procurement in areas of Budgeting, Financial Reporting, upholding general Accounting Principles, preparing Monthly Financial Reports and the Analysis relating to the reports, ensuring compliance with all financial regulations and best practices and providing accurate and timely financial information to management for decision-making. The Senior Accountant will report to the Deputy Head of Finance and Procurement. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a respected public service provider that prioritises the development and wellbeing of its employees. We offer flexible working arrangements to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance, alongside a supportive and collaborative working environment.

About you: We’re seeking a motivated and proactive individual who is ready to hit the ground running — ideally someone who is available to start immediately. To be considered, you must hold a CCAB or Part Qualified with over 5 years Accounting Experience and a minimum of 2 years Senior Accountant responsibilities and Financial Reporting responsibilities.

Key responsibilities:

• Contribute to the financial management of the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s revenue and capital budgets.
• Contribute to ongoing liaison with cost centre managers of all Directorates, internal and external auditors, contractors and suppliers of financial services.
• Ensure the probity and integrity of financial management in RBFRS within the statutory and constitutional framework.
• Produce timely and accurate management information and consolidate budget and business information for the Authority.
• Account for subsidiaries, joint ventures, shared services and collaborative arrangements.
• Deputise for the Deputy Head of Finance and Procurement to provide a wide range of accountancy support including the preparation of budgets, budgetary control and monitoring, closedown procedures and financial advice to managers and budget holders and others across the organisation.
• Contribute to the consolidation of RBFRS’s year-end accounts and ensure the statements are compliant with accounting standards.

Key role requirements (knowledge, skills and experience):

• Excellent written communication skills with the ability to produce financial policies, procedures and reports.
• Oral communication skills to provide advice and present complex financial information clearly to non-financial managers/senior management, elected members and other stakeholders.
• Extensive experience in strategic planning and financial planning within a complex organisational environment.
• Ability to translate complex policy issues into financial reality.
• Ability to interpret new financial legislation and apply it appropriately to a large organisation.

Application and selection process: The successful candidate will demonstrate and promote behaviours in line with the Job Profile/Person Specification and our Behaviour Competency Framework as attached. The Behavioural Competency Framework allows us to easily identify the behaviours that drive successful performance and enables us to deliver an effective service. The behaviours detailed within the job profile will be assessed throughout the selection process. If you are interested in applying for this position, click Apply Now. Please see the link to the Job Profile/Person Specification on application. Appointment is conditional upon undertaking a Standard Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Rechecks will be required in line with the DBS and Recruitment of Ex-Offenders Policy.

For further details about the role please contact Irene Kema Onyeri, Deputy Head of Finance & Procurement at kemai@rbfrs.co.uk to arrange an informal discussion. If you have any queries about the application process or to discuss any adaptations or adjustments, we can make to assist you in your application or with our promotion process please contact Amanda Gavin at gavina@rbfrs.co.uk or by phone 01189 4550 for an informal discussion. Please note we do not accept applications via Agencies or CVs without an accompanying application form. Closing date for applications is 19 February 2026. It is anticipated that the assessment/interview process will run 26 February and 2 March 2026. Anticipated start date: ASAP. Please note that it is your personal responsibility to check whether applying/accepting this position would have Annual Allowance implications. A breach in the Annual Allowance threshold could result in a Tax charge. Please view our Applicant Privacy Statement on application.

Our Commitments: Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and all employees must share this commitment.