Accountant

Lancaster City Council; Lancashire; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in England seeks a dedicated financial services professional to provide financial and systems administration support. The ideal candidate must be CCAB-qualified or have significant experience in local government finance. Responsibilities include budget preparation, liaising with auditors, and contributing to the Council's carbon zero initiative. The position offers flexible hybrid working arrangements and a range of employee benefits, including a generous leave allowance and pension scheme.

Benefits

Generous annual leave allowance

Local Government Pension Scheme

Discounted gym membership

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Proven ability in financial systems administration.
• Experience in local government finance environment.
• Strong understanding of budget preparation and account closure processes.

Responsibilities

• Support the Principal Accountant in delivering statutory financial duties.
• Prepare budgets and support corporate financial planning.
• Liaise with auditors to ensure timely completion of statutory accounts.

Skills

Financial technical accounting ability

Excellent communication

Strong financial management skills

Financial analysis skills

Education

CCAB qualification

Job description

The Financial Services team exists to ensure the Council is able to effectively secure, deploy and manage its resources in pursuit of its ambitious goals, such as its sector-leading Carbon Zero programme. We are currently seeking applications from enthusiastic and committed individuals who would be responsible for providing a wide range of financial and systems administration support. You must be able to demonstrate a high degree of financial technical accounting ability, whilst also possessing excellent communication and strong financial management skills. As a key member of the Accountancy Team, your primary purpose will be to support the Principal Accountant help deliver the statutory financial duties of the Council. You will be responsible for a range of financial and accountancy activities including the preparation of budgets in support of the corporate financial planning process. You will support the closure of accounts process, liaise with the auditors and ensure the statutory accounts are completed on time. The position is challenging and will require strong financial analysis skills and input into reporting for various stakeholders, including senior managers and Heads of Service. Post holders must be CCAB-qualified accountants or have significant experience in a local government finance environment. This post will require a hybrid approach to working, with attendance at onsite and online meetings, bookable workspaces and working from home. Meetings may be in Lancaster, Morecambe or elsewhere in the District and County. Your assumed place of work will be Lancaster City Centre.

At Lancaster City Council we aim to have a diverse workforce that is representative of the district that we serve and provide a working environment where each employee feels able to bring their whole self to work. We welcome applications from all sections of our community and provide several supportive and inclusive workplace networks and safe spaces for employees to feel connected. Our workplace wellbeing strategy drives our commitment to staff wellbeing initiatives and ensuring that our organisation is a great place to work for all. You will identify with our organisational values of Pride, Ownership, Working Together and Ambition.

The post is permanent, working 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday. This is a full-time post, however, we would also welcome applications from applicants who would like to work part-time. Flexible working friendly - we offer hybrid working, a generous flexi-time scheme, and opportunity to work with your team to establish working hours to enable you to maximise your work-life balance.

Benefits

• Generous annual leave allowance
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• A range of employee benefits including discounted gym membership, cycle to work scheme, the opportunity to purchase extra time off, as well as discounts on days out, activities and retail.

Lancaster City Council has unanimously declared a climate emergency and will therefore work towards reducing carbon emissions to net-zero by 2030. As part of this role, you will be expected to participate and work towards reducing both carbon emissions and the impacts of climate change.