Senior Accountant

A reputable London Local Authority is seeking an experienced Senior Accountant to join its Finance team. This is an excellent opportunity for a finance professional with local government experience to provide high-quality financial management, business partnering and strategic financial advice across a range of council services.

Location: London (Hybrid Working)
Rate: 28.96 per/hr
Contract: Interim / Temporary
Client: x2 days office based

Working closely with Finance Managers and senior stakeholders, you will play a key role in budget management, financial planning, statutory reporting and supporting informed decision-making across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide professional financial advice and business partnering support to service managers and senior leadership teams.
• Lead on budget setting, in-year budget monitoring, forecasting and financial reporting for allocated service areas.
• Produce accurate management accounts, financial analysis and performance reports to support strategic decision-making.
• Monitor financial performance, identify budget pressures and recommend appropriate corrective actions.
• Ensure compliance with CIPFA guidance, accounting standards, financial regulations and Council policies.
• Support the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS), annual budget process and year-end closure of accounts.
• Prepare grant claims, funding returns and statutory financial submissions to external organisations.
• Develop and maintain effective financial controls, procedures and governance arrangements.
• Support debt recovery and income management processes to maximise income collection.
• Produce financial modelling, business cases and complex spreadsheet analysis using Excel and other financial systems.
• Provide financial input into reports, restructures, committee reports and strategic decision papers.
• Challenge existing financial processes and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, controls and service delivery.
• Present complex financial information clearly to both finance and non-finance stakeholders.
• Support procurement, investment decisions and financial appraisals where required.
• Build effective relationships with operational managers, senior leaders and external partners.
• Mentor and support junior finance colleagues and, where applicable, supervise and develop finance staff.
• Contribute to finance projects, service transformation initiatives and continuous improvement programmes.

About You 

• Experience working within Local Government Finance or another large, complex public sector organisation.
• A strong understanding of local authority financial management, governance and statutory accounting requirements.
• Experience leading budget preparation, financial monitoring, forecasting and management reporting.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including complex formulas, financial modelling and data analysis.
• Experience using financial management systems and reporting tools such as Power BI or equivalent.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex financial information and present clear recommendations.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the confidence to challenge and influence senior managers.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex financial information to non-finance audiences.

Essential Requirements

• Qualified Accounting Technician (AAT) or equivalent relevant finance qualification, or significant demonstrable experience.
• Experience within Local Government Finance or a comparable public sector environment.
• Strong knowledge of budget management, financial reporting and financial governance.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Experience working with corporate financial systems.

Desirable

• Part-qualified or fully qualified accountant (CIPFA, ACCA, CIMA, ACA or equivalent).
• Experience supporting Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) development.
• Experience producing statutory returns and grant claims.
• Previous staff management or supervisory experience.
• Experience using Power BI or other business intelligence tools.

Apply Now If you're an experienced Accountant or Senior Accountant with a background in local government finance and are looking for your next interim opportunity, we'd love to hear from you. Apply today with your up-to-date CV.