Chief Accountant

BTA; Middlesbrough; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in Middlesbrough seeks a Chief Accountant to lead the audit process and manage financial controls. The ideal candidate is a fully qualified accountant with substantial experience in financial management and leadership. The role involves ensuring the integrity of financial systems and providing advice to senior officers. Generous benefits include flexible working and career progression opportunities.

Benefits

Generous leave entitlement

Excellent pension plus top-up options

Flexible working

Employee benefits portal

Ongoing training and development opportunities

Fantastic career progression opportunities

Qualifications

• Significant experience in managing complex financial processes.
• Advanced technical skillset in accounting.
• Ability to develop influential relationships at a senior level.

Responsibilities

• Lead the closure of accounts process and audit preparation.
• Supervise the central finance team and manage staff duties.
• Ensure integrity of financial systems for effective decision making.
• Provide financial advice to senior officers and elected members.

Skills

Leadership

Technical Accounting

Financial Management

Stakeholder Engagement

Education

Fully Qualified Accountant

Job description

We have an exciting role on offer within our Finance service as a Chief Accountant.

About Us

Middlesbrough, at the heart of the Tees Valley, is a great place to live and work. With an ambitious strategic plan, the Council aims to regenerate the borough and town centre through innovative capital investment projects that will transform the services it provides and improve the quality of life of its residents. This is truly an exciting time to be joining the Council with significant investment, jobs and businesses coming into the area.

We are looking for a senior accountant with significant experience and knowledge to join our finance function as Chief Accountant. Reporting to the Head of Corporate Finance and having close links with the Director of Finance & Transformation, you will lead the closure of accounts process and the technical accounting agenda within the Council as we prepare for our audit of the 2024/25 statement of accounts. The Council has three disclaimed audit opinions from previous financial years, and you will lead the recovery process for restoring assurance in the Council's external financial reporting processes and with external audit.

You will also be responsible for the financial controls and reconciliations in the use at the Council and development of the corporate finance system.

The key responsibilities of this post are as follows:

To provide an appropriate level of service that meets the needs of the Section 151 Officer and to deputise for the Head of Corporate Finance as required.

To lead and supervise the work of the central finance team, including staff management duties.

Ensuring the integrity and development of the Council's financial systems and processes so that these are fit for purpose for effective decision making and good quality financial management.

Planning, preparation and delivery of the annual statement of accounts that complies with regulation, best practice and the requirements of our external auditors.

Leading on the technical accounting agenda to ensure that the Council's accounts & government returns are in line with statute, the CIPFA Code of Practice on local authority accounting and relevant accounting standards.

Managing the Council's banking and treasury management arrangements so that these support the activities of the Council and minimise risk at all times.

Providing financial advice, support and training to senior officers and elected members in a timely and effective manner.

Liaising with peers and colleagues at other Councils, both locally and nationally, to ensure best practice and consistency in delivering services.

To be suitable for the role you need to be fully qualified with good leadership skills and the ability to develop influential relationships and networking at a senior level. The successful candidate will also have an advanced technical skillset and substantial experience managing complex financial processes and accounting solutions.

Previous experience within a local authority setting is ideal, but applications from those in the wider public sector are welcome.

If this is you, this may be the opportunity you are looking for!

In return we can offer:

• Generous leave entitlement with an option to purchase up to 10 additional days annual leave per year.
• Excellent pension plus top-up options.
• Staff networks run by our staff for our staff.
• Flexible working (dependent on job role).
• Electric car lease scheme.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Employee benefits portal including Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programme.
• Staff lottery.
• Travel and car parking schemes.
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.
• Fantastic career progression opportunities and lots more!

If you would like to talk through this opportunity further, please contact Justin Weston, Head of Corporate Finance on [phone].

We operative a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for applicants that can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked after young person, care leaver or a veteran.

• £60k to £100k depending on experience plus equity
• £60k to £100k depending on experience plus equity