Divisional Accountant

This is an exciting opportunity to join Southwark’s Professional Finance Services team as a Divisional Accountant, providing crucial financial and management accounting support to the Education and Schools Division. Reporting to the Senior Finance Manager for Education and Schools, you will take a lead role in supporting schools within the borough, particularly those facing financial pressures, and will be central to maintaining accurate and insightful monitoring of school budgets.

In this varied role, you will build and maintain excellent working relationships with school leaders and education service colleagues, ensuring you are well informed of any financial developments that may impact budgets. This will enable you to produce reliable and timely monthly forecasts, along with high-quality financial reports that keep senior management and key stakeholders informed on budget performance and financial risks.

You will support on the financial year-end process within the finance team, including working closely with external auditors to ensure accuracy and compliance. The role also involves leading on key statistical and grant returns, providing professional finance input on the allocation of resources, and supporting service managers with clear and accurate financial advice throughout the year.

As part of your responsibilities, you will contribute to improving financial processes, supporting key projects across the Education service, and providing specialist advice that helps shape services for children and young people in the borough. This is a great opportunity to take on a meaningful role where your financial expertise will make a real difference to educational services and the wider community.

Key responsibilities:

• Provide dedicated financial support to schools, focusing on those experiencing financial challenges, supporting production of deficit recovery plans and reviewing final plans.
• Build strong, professional relationships with school leaders and education colleagues to stay informed on financial developments.
• Produce high-quality monthly finance reports and lead on the year-end accounts process, including liaison with auditors.
• Act as the finance lead for key grant and statistical returns, ensuring timely and accurate submissions.
• Support senior managers with financial advice on key projects, resource allocation, and service improvements.
• Drive continuous improvements in financial monitoring, reporting, and processes to support effective decision-making.

What you’ll bring to the role:

We’re looking for a proactive finance professional who can bring strong technical skills and a collaborative approach to this key role. To make a real impact, you’ll bring:

• A professional accountancy qualification (CIPFA, ACA, CIMA, ACCA) or be part-qualified with relevant experience.
• In-depth knowledge of local government finance, including accounting, financial planning, and budget monitoring.
• Hands-on experience supporting Education or Schools finance, with a clear understanding of sector-specific challenges.
• Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to interpret complex financial information and present it clearly.
• Strong Excel skills and confidence working with financial systems (SAP knowledge is a plus).
• Experience delivering accurate financial forecasts, reports, and year-end accounts.
• The ability to build positive working relationships and communicate financial insights to both finance and non-finance colleagues.
• A commitment to continuous improvement, finding ways to enhance financial processes and support service objectives.

Why Southwark?

Southwark Council is the largest local authority social landlord in London, managing 55,000 homes lived in by 40% of Southwark’s residents. We are home to over 18,300 businesses including iconic London venues such as The Shard, The Tate Modern and Borough Market along with conservation areas, historic buildings, social enterprises and a young, diverse, and growing population.

At Southwark we are committed to making our borough just and fair and are taking positive action to tackle inequalities.Our residents and communities are our greatest asset and the passion we have for Southwark is shared by millions of Londoners who enjoy our outstanding cultural offer, use our hospitals, and attend our universities. Our refreshed borough plan and focus on Southwark 2030 and Southwark Stands Together, underpins all that we do.

If you are motivated by delivering high-quality financial support in a collaborative environment, this role offers a fantastic chance to develop your career while playing a key part in supporting schools and education services at Southwark Council.

For more information about this position, you are very welcome to contact Aron Brown, Senior Finance Manager at aron.brown@southwark.gov.uk for an informal chat.

Employee benefits:

You’ll join a motivated, driven, and supportive team that values each of its members and strives for excellence. You’ll also be part of a successful, high-achieving service making a real difference to the lives of residents across the borough. In return for all your hard work, skills and experience, you will receive:

• A competitive base salary (pro rata for part time staff)
• Strong supportive senior management team
• Regular one to one supervision
• Professional development & training opportunities
• Agile and flexible working arrangements
• Season ticket and cycle loans
• Annual Leave starting at 29 days per year, increasing to 37 (with length of service) (pro rata for part time staff)
• HSF Health plan and eye care scheme
• EAP employee assistance programme, confidential counselling and support
• Social clubs and staff groups

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you\’ll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care, or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition.

Recruitment timetable

*We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role, in which case we will move the key dates for the process. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

Salary Range (Full time equivalent) £52,674 – £59,772

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