Group Accountant

Telford & Wrekin Council; Shrewsbury; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Flexible working hours

Employee discounts and salary sacrifce

Annual pay increments within the grade

Local Government Pension Scheme

Payment of professional fees

Free parking

Job summary

Telford & Wrekin Council is recruiting a Group Accountant to lead a team of eight finance professionals in the Housing, Commercial & Customer Services and Prosperity & Investment directorates. You will provide strategic financial challenge, support on investments, and drive budget planning and financial reporting.

You will prepare budgets, monitor performance, and produce year-end accounts, grant claims and bids, using the Council's financial systems and Excel. Hybrid working is offered.

Qualifications

• Fully CCAB qualified and eligible to operate in a local government finance environment.
• Significant post-qualification experience in financial management.
• Proven track record leading finance teams.
• Strong understanding of local government finance, or ability to develop quickly.
• Experience providing strategic financial advice to senior stakeholders.
• Proactive approach to progressing and resolving financial issues.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships.
• Ability to analyse and interpret financial data and regulatory information.

Responsibilities

• Lead a finance team supporting Housing, Commercial & Customer Services and Prosperity & Investment directorates.
• Provide strategic financial challenge and support on investment decisions and budget planning.
• Prepare budgets and monitor financial performance throughout the year.
• Deliver year-end accounts and complete grant claims and bids.
• Utilise the Council's financial management system and Excel for reporting.

Skills

CCAB qualified

Post-qualification experience

Leading finance teams

Local government finance knowledge

Strategic financial advice

Proactive issue resolution

Interpersonal skills

Financial data analysis

Education

CCAB qualification (CIPFA/ACCA/ACA/CIMA)

Tools

Excel

Financial management system

Job description

Why join us?

Telford & Wrekin Council is a well-regarded and multi-award-winning council. This post offersan opportunity to influence major investment, regeneration and commercial decisions in one of the fastest-growing areas in the Midlands.

You’ll work closely with senior leaders, lead a high-performing finance team, and help deliver services that make a tangible difference to residents and businesses across the borough.

We offer our staff a wide range of benefits including:

• Hybrid working (Finance currently work in the office on one day a fortnight)
• Flexible working hours
• Employee discounts and salary sacrifice schemes
• Annual pay increments within the grade
• Local Government Pension Scheme (a defined benefit scheme with very substantial employer contributions)
• Payment of professional fees
• Annual leave entitlement of 24 days with 0-5 years’ service, 29 days after 5 years, 32 days after 10 years, plus one additional concessionary day in addition to bank holidays (any previous local government employment counts towards service for annual leave purposes).
• Options to purchase up to 4 weeks additional leave.
• Free parking

The role

You will be part of an experienced, friendly finance department and lead a team of eight finance professionals supporting the Housing, Commercial & Customer Services and Prosperity & Investment directorates. These cover areas including:

• Housing and homelessness services
• Commercial operations including leisure, catering and cleaning
• Planning and building control
• Economic development and business support
• A substantial commercial property investment portfolio
• Property maintenance and development services

Together these two directorates represent a significant proportion of the council’s activities and provide the opportunity to work on high-profile corporate projects. As the lead finance adviser to senior managers, you will provide strategic financial challenge and support on investment decisions, service transformation, commercial opportunities and budget planning.

You will be involved with the preparation of budgets, provision of financial monitoring during the year and the preparation of financial year end accounts along with completion of grant claims and bids. The role involves extensive use of the Council's financial management system and other packages such as Excel.

What you’ll bring

• Fully CCAB qualified (CIPFA, ACCA, ACA, CIMA or equivalent)
• Significant post-qualification experience in financial management
• Demonstrable experience leading finance teams
• Strong understanding of local government finance, or the ability to quickly develop this knowledge through relevant public sector finance experience
• Experience providing strategic financial advice to senior stakeholders
• A proactive approach to progressing and resolving financial issues
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build effective working relationships and provide high-quality customer support
• Ability to analyse and interpret financial data and technical/legislative information to identify implications for the Council
• Good communication skills and the ability to present complex financial information and outcomes in a format accessible to the user

A CV template is available if you do not already have a CV.

We believe great services start with great people — and that means building a workforce that reflects our community. At Telford & Wrekin Council, everyone belongs, and every voice matters.

Find out further information about working at Telford & Wrekin Council including our full list of benefits.

Roles involving children or vulnerable adults will require a criminal records check. It’s an offence to apply if you’re barred from working with these groups.

Please note: We do not hold a sponsorship licence for visas.

Attached documents

Group Accountant Job Description and Person Specification