Group Accountant

www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk - Jobboard; Bolton; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority seeks an experienced Group Accountant to oversee budget planning and financial reporting. This interim role involves managing relationships with auditors, driving cost-saving initiatives, and ensuring compliance with regulations. Ideal candidates are qualified accountants with strong public sector experience and excellent communication skills. The contract offers hybrid working, 3 days in the office, with a pay rate of £23.17 per hour.

Benefits

Flexible working

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Proven ability to lead teams and influence at a senior level.
• Strong local government or public sector finance experience.
• Proactive, solutions-focused mindset.

Responsibilities

• Leading the preparation of budgets, financial returns, and final accounts.
• Managing relationships with auditors and external stakeholders.
• Driving cost-saving initiatives and identifying strategic financial risks.

Skills

Strong technical knowledge of financial reporting

Budgeting

Risk analysis

Leadership

Excellent communication skills

Education

Qualified accountant (CIPFA, ACCA, ACA)

Job description

What's involved with this role:

Group Accountant
Reference: FT 000A 369B / 1
Location: Bolton
Postcode: BL1 1RU
Salary: £23.17 per hour PAYE
Role length: 3 months initially
Contract Type: Interim

Hybrid working 3 days a week in the office


Are you an experienced finance professional ready to lead strategic financial planning and drive meaningful change?
We’re looking for a Group Accountant to join a high-performing finance team within a dynamic local authority. In this pivotal role, you'll oversee budget planning and monitoring, manage financial reporting, and ensure compliance with accounting standards and legislation.

What you’ll be doing:


Leading the preparation of budgets, financial returns, and final accounts
Managing relationships with auditors and external stakeholders
Providing financial advice and modelling for major projects, tenders, and service development
Driving cost-saving initiatives and identifying strategic financial risks
Coaching and developing a client-facing finance team
Representing finance in cross-functional project groups and senior leadership meetings
Ensuring grant funding is monitored, reported, and aligned with its intended use


What we’re looking for:


A qualified accountant (e.g., CIPFA, ACCA, ACA) with strong local government or public sector finance experience
Proven ability to lead teams and influence at a senior level
Strong technical knowledge of financial reporting, budgeting, and risk analysis
A proactive, solutions-focused mindset and excellent communication skills


Why join us?
You’ll be part of a collaborative and forward-thinking finance team that plays a vital role in shaping local services. Our client offers flexible working, professional development opportunities, and the chance to make a real impact on our communities.

How to apply?
Applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis, please send your CV in early to avoid disappointment as we do not have a deadline for this position.

We will also add your details to our mail out lists. Please note you may receive details of roles outside of your immediate vicinity, as many candidates are able to relocate temporarily for work. Please disregard any such emails that are not of interest and let us know if you would rather not receive such mailouts and/or if you wish us to delete your details and prefer to apply direct to our advertised roles.

If you do not hear from us within three working days, unfortunately your application has not been shortlisted on this occasion. Thank you for your interest in working with us.




Please quote the Job Title & Vacancy Reference No. in your application, or we will be unable to match your CV to the role being applied for.



1

Job Ref: FT 000A 369B / 1


Anticipated Length of Assignment: Unless otherwise stated (we do carry the occasional permanent vacancy) all of our roles are technically temporary, though opening assignments can be and often are, extended by clients on a longer term basis and can sometimes become permanent.

Please do try to resist contacting us with requests for progress updates.

We really do read every CV sent to us. All applications will be acknowledged by a human, not a robot, provided the job remains live and provided your CV meets the “Essential Requirements” listed.

Please note that we do our level best to take down ads as soon as roles have been filled. We are not in the business of harvesting CVs.

Important: We will interpret your application as being permission to submit your CV to this role (with the right to represent you) unless you advise us to the contrary.