YF7728 - Lead Assistant Accountant - Finance Systems *External* in Wakefield

Location: Wakefield

Salary: £41,487 to £44,700 per annum

Role Overview

We are seeking a Lead Assistant Accountant to join our Financial Systems Integrity Team. This role is suited to a technically minded professional with proven experience in automation, process improvement, and finance‑related projects. The successful candidate will be solutions‑focused, working independently and collaboratively within a specialist team, managing complex financial systems and data with high accuracy, control, and assurance. As a member of the Systems Integrity Team, this key senior position sits within West Yorkshire Police's Finance Directorate, part of the Business Development team. The role plays a vital part in optimising and developing the financial systems that underpin policing services across West Yorkshire.

Essential Criteria

• AAT Level 4 qualification with substantial post‑qualification experience working within finance teams (experience within a finance systems team desirable but not essential).
• Strong working knowledge of financial processes, controls, and procedures.
• Advanced skills in spreadsheet and database management.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and problem‑solving abilities.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience using Sun Accounts and/or Proactis Spend Control.

Role and Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, coordination and delivery of data quality, management information, and analytics activity across the Directorate.
• Provide expert advice, guidance and technical support to financial system users.
• Design and deliver financial systems training to enhance user capability and confidence.
• Develop, enhance and maintain financial systems, processes and reporting outputs.
• Support the ongoing development of Force‑wide finance systems, ensuring effective integration with other platforms.
• Analyse and monitor system inputs and outputs to ensure accuracy, consistency and compliance with financial controls and policies.
• Oversee supplier payment processing and support debt recovery activity.
• Act as a subject‑matter expert for system access, master data management and workflow configuration.
• Support system upgrades, testing and implementations including data mapping, cleansing and reconciliation.
• Mentor and support Assistant Accountants and Apprentice Accounting Technicians, contributing to their development.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with external consultants and digital policing specialists.

Expectations

• Communicate confidently and effectively with finance colleagues, system users and senior stakeholders.
• Apply strong analytical skills to identify issues, risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Investigate, diagnose and resolve complex system and data anomalies.
• Manage competing priorities and deliver high‑quality work within deadlines.
• Work collaboratively while providing leadership, guidance and technical expertise within the team.

Benefits / What We Offer

• Access to Project Management training and development opportunities, where required.
• Opportunity to develop specialist expertise within financial systems and process improvement.
• Generous annual leave allowance – 29 days annual leave (rising to 34 days after five years of service, plus bank holidays).
• Flexible working options, including agile working arrangements.
• Membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund, a secure Defined Benefit CARE pension scheme.
• Membership options for the Police Treatment Centre and The Police Children’s Charity (eligibility‑dependent).
• Access to savings, discounts and cashback rewards through staff schemes, including eligibility to purchase a Blue Light Card.
• Option to sign up to a cycle‑to‑work scheme (eligibility‑dependent).
• Access to a wide range of internal wellbeing services and support programmes.
• Opportunities for career development and training.
• Supportive HR policies, including maternity, paternity and other family‑friendly provisions.
• A meaningful career with a clear sense of purpose supporting policing services that protect communities.
• Opportunities to join staff networks, wellbeing groups and sports clubs.
• No shift allowance.

Equal Opportunities

West Yorkshire Police is committed to improving the diversity of its workforce to better reflect the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all minority groups and individuals who identify with one or more of the protected characteristics as defined by the Equality Act 2010.