Group Accountant

Bath & North East Somerset Council; Keynsham; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Bath & North East Somerset Council is seeking an ambitious Group Accountant to join our Finance Team. You will lead on budget monitoring, forecasting, financial planning and year-end activities, ensuring robust financial information underpins decision-making across the organisation.

As a qualified accountant (CIPFA, CIMA or equivalent) you will build partnerships with managers, provide high-quality financial advice, and drive continuous improvement within public services.

Qualifications

• Hold a professional accountancy qualification (CIPFA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Strong technical accounting and financial management skills.
• Excellent communication and business partnering capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality financial advice and support to service areas.
• Build strong partnerships with managers to improve financial performance and value for money.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting and financial reporting processes.
• Support strategic decision-making through robust financial analysis.
• Contribute to continuous improvement across finance and wider council services.

Skills

Technical accounting

Financial management

Communication skills

Business partnering

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Education

Professional accountancy qualification (CIPFA, CIMA or equivalent)

Job description

At Bath & North East Somerset Council we have one overriding purpose to improve people’s lives.

About The Team

Our Finance Team plays a key role in supporting the delivery of high-quality public services across the organisation. Working closely with senior managers, budget holders and service leaders, the team provides financial insight, challenge and support to ensure robust financial information underpins effective decision-making.

About The Role

We are looking for an ambitious and highly motivated Group Accountant to join our Finance Team.

As a trusted finance professional, you will work closely with senior managers, budget holders and service leaders to provide financial insight, challenge and support. You will lead on budget monitoring, forecasting, financial planning and year-end activities, ensuring that robust financial information underpins effective decision-making across the organisation.

This is an excellent opportunity for a qualified accountant who enjoys working collaboratively and wants to make a genuine difference within a dynamic local authority environment.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Delivering high-quality financial advice and support to service areas.
• Building strong partnerships with managers to improve financial performance and value for money.
• Leading budgeting, forecasting and financial reporting processes.
• Supporting strategic decision-making through robust financial analysis.
• Contributing to continuous improvement across finance and wider council services.

About You

You will hold a professional accountancy qualification (CIPFA, CIMA or equivalent) and have strong technical accounting and financial management skills.

You will possess excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex financial information clearly and confidently to non-finance audiences. You will have proven business partnering experience, building productive relationships and influencing stakeholders at all levels, together with the confidence to provide constructive challenge while maintaining positive working relationships.

You will also bring strong analytical skills and a proactive, solutions-focused approach, enabling you to support sound financial management and effective decision-making across the organisation.

• Please note, BANES Council operates a policy of prior consideration for roles for any individual on the Council’s at-risk register (redeployee). This means should a redeployee express an interest in this role, providing they meet the essential criteria for the role they will be considered ahead of external applicants.

About Bath And North East Somerset Council

Working at Bath and North East Somerset provides an opportunity to contribute to your community and make a positive impact on the lives of residents. Our values shape how we work to deliver public services, and how we communicate with the residents we serve. We care about the best outcomes for local people, through our public services.

Why Bath and North East Somerset Council

We offer a wide range of benefits, to ensure that you are paid fairly for your work, have the flexibility to enjoy a great work/life balance, and have the support you need.

At Bath & North East Somerset Council we have one overriding purpose to improve peoples lives. Find out more about our values at

We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join us. Find out more on our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at

We are a Disability Confident Employer find out more at

The Council is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce. Applications for job-share, part-time and flexible working arrangements are welcomed and will be considered in line with business needs.

Please note that this role is subject to a Basic DBS Check

The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable groups and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. As part of this commitment anyone working in a post with children or vulnerable groups will be expected to undertake an Enhanced DBS check with/without barred list checks.