Group Accountant - Financial Planning & Reporting

Bristol City Council; West of England; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

Local Government Pension scheme

Job summary

Bristol City Council is seeking a Group Accountant for Financial Planning and Reporting to shape the Council's medium-term financial strategy and oversee the annual budget-setting process. You will consolidate financial information across the Council, collaborate with Finance Business Partners, and develop forecasts to identify pressures and savings.

The role requires CCAB qualification or active study, with strong skills in financial modelling, analysis, and communication to support informed

Qualifications

• Qualified or partially-qualified CCAB accountant; CCAB or equivalent.
• Experience analysing, interpreting and presenting financial management information.
• Ability to build strong working relationships with colleagues and customers.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and updating of the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS).
• Support the annual budget-setting process and timely delivery of the budget.
• Develop and maintain financial models and analysis to identify medium-term financial gaps.
• Prepare reports and briefings for senior officers and councillors, informing decisions.

Skills

Financial analysis

Financial reporting

Stakeholder communication

Budgeting

Education

CCAB qualification or studying for it

Tools

Financial modelling

Job description

Job description

Full time, Permanent

The Group Accountant for Financial Planning and Reporting will play a key role in shaping and supporting the Council's financial plans, helping to provide a clear picture of the financial opportunities and challenges it faces over the medium term. The role will support the development and annual update of the Council's Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and the delivery of the annual budget-setting process.

You will be at the centre of bringing together financial information from across the Council, working collaboratively with Finance Business Partners and service accountants to develop forecasts, understand emerging pressures and savings, and assess how changes in funding, demand, inflation and other assumptions affect the Council's financial position. You will support the development and maintenance of the MTFS model, using financial modelling, analysis and insight to help identify the medium-term financial gap and inform the choices needed to deliver a balanced and sustainable budget.

The role will have an important part to play in keeping the annual budget-setting process moving, coordinating key activities, information and deadlines across Finance and ensuring that the different elements of the budget come together into a clear and consistent corporate position.

With local government finance continuing to evolve, the postholder will also help the Council stay ahead of change by reviewing government funding and policy announcements, assessing their potential financial impact and helping translate complex changes into meaningful information for colleagues, senior leaders and councillors.

A key element of the role will be turning complex financial information into clear and engaging messages. The Group Accountant will help develop reports, briefings and presentations for senior officers and councillors and will support budget workshops and briefings, providing analysis and insight to support informed decision-making.

This is a varied and collaborative role that provides the opportunity to work across the whole organisation and gain a broad understanding of the Council's services and priorities. Sitting at the heart of the Council's financial planning process, the postholder will help ensure that financial information is robust, joined up and clearly communicated, supporting the Council to make well-informed decisions about its resources and future priorities.

What do I need to apply?

This role is ideal for a qualified or part-qualified accountant. You will hold a CCAB (or equivalent) qualification or be studying for it, have experience of analysing, interpreting and presenting financial management and establish excellent working relationships with colleagues and customers.

Why Bristol City Council?

We provide hundreds of day-to-day services, from being a landlord, providing social care to running our museums and parks. We deliver a diverse range of services and have ambitious capital and investment programmes for the city and to support people who live, work and visit in Bristol.

At Bristol City Council, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment which is fast moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high profile organisation.

Join us and you'll receive a generous rewards package including flexible working arrangements, flexi-time and membership of the Local Government Pension scheme. In addition, you'll be working in a supportive environment where you'll have the chance to make Bristol a better place and contribute to its future.

Additional Information

You can find additional information on the specific opportunities we have on the microsite HERE.

Closing date: 1st November 2026.

Applicants are required to have the Right to Work in the UK. Please note that Sponsorship is not available for this role.

Please note that these roles are subject to a Standard DBS Check.

Bristol City Council strives to have a workforce that reflects the communities it serves, we are therefore committed to ensuring diversity in our hiring process. We welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community. Appointments will be made on merit.