Accountant

Lancaster City Council; Lancaster; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in Lancaster is looking for a Financial Services professional to join the Accountancy Team. The successful candidate will be responsible for various financial and accountancy tasks, including budget preparation and statutory account completion. Applicants must be CCAB-qualified or have significant relevant experience. The position offers hybrid working and numerous employee benefits, including a generous annual leave allowance and discounted gym memberships.

Benefits

Generous annual leave allowance

Local Government Pension Scheme

Discounted gym membership

Cycle to work scheme

Opportunity to purchase extra time off

Qualifications

• Experience in local government finance environment is essential.
• Ability to prepare budgets and support financial planning.
• Experience in liaising with auditors and completing statutory accounts.

Responsibilities

• Support the Principal Accountant in statutory financial duties.
• Manage financial and accountancy activities, including budget preparation.
• Participate in the carbon reduction initiative as part of the role.

Skills

Financial technical accounting ability

Excellent communication skills

Strong financial management skills

Financial analysis skills

Education

CCAB qualification or significant experience in local government finance

Job description

Overview

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.

Position Details

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.

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.

About You

You will identify with our organisational values of Pride, Ownership, Working Together and Ambition.

Our Benefits

Lancaster is a great place to work, as well as being part of something special you will also benefit from:

• 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.

We are an Investor in People, Forces Friendly employer, and an Armed Forces Covenant committed organisation. We welcome applications from defence reserves and other members of our armed forces community. We are an inclusive employer and welcome applications from all parts of our community.

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.

We are a disability confident committed employer.

Please note that due to the volume of applications we receive we are unable to update all applicants individually. If you do not receive a response from us within 2 weeks of the closing date, then your application will have unfortunately been unsuccessful in progressing to interview.

Interview date: TBC