Chief Accountant

Tempting Recruitment; England; Hybrid; GBP 170,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Tempting Recruitment are recruiting on behalf of our client in West Sussex for an experienced Chief Accountant to provide strategic leadership of the Council's financial management function and oversee a team of up to 20 finance professionals.

The role focuses on robust financial governance, statutory compliance and delivery of financial objectives, with a senior position in the Finance leadership team and a requirement to balance strategic oversight with hands-on control of core processes.

Qualifications

• Significant senior-level accounting and financial management experience within the public sector.
• Strong knowledge of statutory accounts, financial governance, accounting principles and relevant legislation and professional standards.
• Experience leading teams and managing key internal and external stakeholder relationships.
• A proven track record of producing accurate, timely and high-quality financial information.
• Strong organisational skills, with a structured and methodical approach to financial management.
• Excellent attention to detail and the ability to work effectively under pressure and to tight deadlines.
• Strong technical accounting and financial reporting expertise.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage and develop the Chief Accountant's Team, providing clear direction and ensuring effective delivery across the function.
• Oversee the development and ongoing management of the Council's core financial systems, ensuring technology continues to support evolving business and financial requirements.
• Provide leadership on the Council's overall financial governance framework, ensuring robust controls, standards and processes are established, maintained and regularly reviewed.
• Lead the development and maintenance of financial regulations, schemes of delegation, procedures and guidance, ensuring these remain aligned with legislation, government requirements, professional standards and best practice.
• Assess the financial and accounting implications of changes to government policy, legislation and professional requirements, providing clear advice to senior management.
• Ensure the Council meets its statutory and formal financial reporting obligations, including the preparation and submission of relevant government and statistical returns.
• Maintain compliance with the CIPFA Financial Management Code and support the continued strengthening of the Council's financial management arrangements.

Skills

Senior accounting

Public sector

Statutory accounts

Governance

Stakeholder management

Financial reporting

Attention to detail

Tools

Core financial systems

Job description

17th August, 2026

Tempting Recruitment are working alongside our client, who are looking to recruit an experienced Chief Accountant to join their team based in the West Sussex area.

JOB DETAILS

• PAY RATE: £800 - £850 per day
• WORK TYPE: Permanent
• WORK PATTERN: Full Time
• LOCATION: West Sussex (2 days in office per week)

JOB ROLE

My client is seeking an experienced Chief Accountant to provide senior leadership across the Council's financial management function. You will lead a team of up to 20 finance professionals and play a key role in ensuring strong financial governance, statutory compliance and the effective delivery of the Council's financial objectives.

This is a senior position within the Finance leadership team, requiring a confident finance professional who can operate strategically while maintaining strong oversight of core financial processes and controls.

JOB DESCRIPTION

• Lead, manage and develop the Chief Accountant's Team, providing clear direction and ensuring effective delivery across the function.
• Oversee the development and ongoing management of the Council's core financial systems, ensuring technology continues to support evolving business and financial requirements.
• Provide leadership on the Council's overall financial governance framework, ensuring robust controls, standards and processes are established, maintained and regularly reviewed.
• Lead the development and maintenance of financial regulations, schemes of delegation, procedures and guidance, ensuring these remain aligned with legislation, government requirements, professional standards and best practice.
• Assess the financial and accounting implications of changes to government policy, legislation and professional requirements, providing clear advice to senior management.
• Ensure the Council meets its statutory and formal financial reporting obligations, including the preparation and submission of relevant government and statistical returns.
• Maintain compliance with the CIPFA Financial Management Code and support the continued strengthening of the Council's financial management arrangements.

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE

The successful candidate will have the following skills and competencies:

• Significant senior-level accounting and financial management experience within the public sector.
• Strong knowledge of statutory accounts, financial governance, accounting principles and relevant legislation and professional standards.
• Experience leading teams and managing key internal and external stakeholder relationships.
• A proven track record of producing accurate, timely and high-quality financial information.
• Strong organisational skills, with a structured and methodical approach to financial management.
• Excellent attention to detail and the ability to work effectively under pressure and to tight deadlines.
• Strong technical accounting and financial reporting expertise.

Please be advised that only candidates that have the specific skills and experiences required for this role will be shortlisted and submitted to our client for review.