Chief Accountant - Local Government

Job Description: Chief Accountant - Local Government Experience

£700 Day Rate - Inside IR35 - Umbrella Only

Hybrid - Richmond

6 months

About the Service

Our client provides a comprehensive suite of support services tailored to meet the needs of a successful children's services organisation. Operating across Richmond, Kingston, and Windsor and Maidenhead, They deliver essential services including Finance, Human Resources, Workforce Development, Strategy and Programme Management, Data Intelligence, Premises Management, Business Systems, Communications, and Information Governance. The Finance team ensures robust financial management, providing services in management accounts, schools finance, system control, transactions, risk reporting, and programme support.

About the Role

The Chief Accountant will report to the Chief Operating and Finance Officer. You will manage a team of three Heads of Finance and a Senior Financial Accountant, overseeing finance priorities and ensuring an equitable distribution of workload. As a key member of the Extended Business Services Leadership Team, you will play a central role in shaping financial strategy, explaining financial issues, and promoting the use of robust management information to drive improvements and support the organisations key priorities.

Your responsibilities will include overseeing the day-to-day finance functions, including system control and development, transactions, management accounts (both DSG and General Fund), schools finance, projects, and risk management. You will lead on corporate reporting into the Board concerning risk and financial matters, while providing proactive financial support to the leadership teams.

Additionally, you will set timetables for key financial processes, lead the development of a common approach to key tasks, and quality assure the work of your team to ensure accurate projections, reporting, and financial modelling. The Chief Accountant will represent finance at various meetings and boards, including the Pensions Board, IFA Board, and Commissioning Board. You will also act as the deputy to the Chief Operating and Finance Officer, ensuring compliance with financial regulations and that the organisation meets all statutory and non-statutory financial requirements.

Qualifications

• CCAB qualified or equivalent
• A minimum of three years' post-qualification experience

Skills and Experience

• Proven track record as a strategic leader, including the successful development of teams and expertise in line management, performance management, and change management within local government
• Experience in building strong partnerships and maintaining relationships with diverse stakeholders, co-producing solutions to challenges.
• In-depth experience in financial control, management information, statutory compliance and reporting, accounts payable/receivable, and systems.
• Skilled in developing finance systems and processes.
• Experience with Medium Term Financial Planning and monitoring, especially in budget setting and financial reporting.
• Strong background in financial accounting and year-end accounts closedown.
• Proficiency in using data, intelligence, and evidence to create meaningful insights for informed decision-making.
• Experience in a childrens services context would be advantageous but not essential.
• A proactive approach to contributing to organisational objectives and driving positive change.
• Experience in addressing equality or diversity issues within practice and taking action to resolve them.

Personal Attributes

• A passion for Achieving for Children's vision, mission, and values (trust, empower, respect) to support children and young people in living safe, happy, healthy, and successful lives.
• Competence in using a range of digital hardware and software.