Accountant

Folkestone Hythe; Folkestone; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible/hybrid working

31 days annual leave

Birthday leave

Christmas office closure

LGPS

Learning & development

Employee Assistance Programme

Membership subscriptions reimbursement

Cycle to Work scheme

Job summary

Folkestone & Hythe District Council is seeking an Accountant to join our Finance Team. You will help deliver high-quality financial services, shaping financial strategy and advising senior officers and elected members.

Key duties include budget setting, monitoring, statutory reporting, and final accounts preparation, with a focus on continuous improvement within the finance function. Hybrid working options and opportunities for development are offered.

Qualifications

• AAT qualification (minimum) or CCAB part-qualified status.
• Significant recent experience in a finance environment, ideally in local government.
• Experience of budget setting, monitoring and year-end accounts.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to explain financial information to non-finance colleagues.

Responsibilities

• Budget setting, financial monitoring, statutory reporting and final accounts preparation.
• Financial planning to support the Council's strategy and projects.
• Collaborate with service managers and budget holders; support development of an Assistant Accountant.

Skills

Budget setting

Budget monitoring

Year-end accounts

Financial reporting

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Communication

Customer service

Education

AAT qualification

CCAB part-qualified

Job description

Are you a finance professional looking for an opportunity to make a real difference within a forward-thinking local authority?

At Folkestone & Hythe District Council, we're seeking an enthusiastic and motivated Accountant to join our Finance Team. This is an exciting opportunity to support the delivery of high-quality financial services across the Council and its subsidiary companies, helping to shape financial strategy, support key projects and provide expert financial advice to senior officers and elected members.

Working closely with service managers and budget holders, you'll play a key role in budget setting, financial monitoring, statutory reporting, final accounts preparation and financial planning. You'll also support the development of an Assistant Accountant and contribute to a culture of continuous improvement across the finance function.

About You

We're looking for someone who has:

• AAT qualification as a minimum, or CCAB part-qualified status
• Significant recent experience in a finance environment, ideally within local government
• Experience of budget setting, monitoring and year-end accounts
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to explain financial information to non-finance colleagues
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• A proactive approach, attention to detail and commitment to delivering excellent customer service.

Why Join Us?

We're one of the area's largest employers and are committed to creating a supportive, inclusive and rewarding workplace. Some of the benefits of working with us include:

• Flexible, agile and hybrid working
• Up to 31 days annual leave, plus bank holidays
• Birthday leave and Christmas office closure
• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Reimbursement of professional membership subscriptions
• Cycle to Work and lease car salary sacrifice schemes

Our Values

At FHDC, our values are Customer First, One Team, Thinking Ahead and Performance Counts. We're looking for people who share these values and are passionate about delivering excellent services for our communities.

Join us and help shape the financial future of Folkestone & Hythe.

The closing date for receipt of completed applications is Sunday 20thSeptember 2026.

Please note: This vacancy may close earlier than the advertised closing date if we receive a high volume of applications.

Interviews will be held on Wednesday 30 th September & Thursday 1 st October 2026