Interim Principal Accountant

Morgan Law; City Of London; On-site; GBP 83,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

Morgan Law is seeking an Interim Principal Accountant - Housing for a local authority in London. The role is a 3-6 month contract with on-site work one day per week in London at a day rate of £450-£500 depending on experience.

Accountabilities include budgeting for the service area, monthly monitoring with variance analysis, responding to external audit queries, and providing financial guidance to senior managers. The candidate will maintain the grants register and deliver financial training.

Qualifications

• CCAB or CIMA qualified with post-qualification experience.
• Strong experience in budget setting, monitoring, forecasting and medium-term planning.
• Experience supporting budget holders and senior managers in a complex organisation.
• Experience of preparing management accounts, financial reports and forecasts.
• Experience of year-end closedown and external audit requirements.
• Strong analytical and numerical skills to interpret data and develop evidence-based recommendations.
• Ability to provide sound financial advice and challenge to senior stakeholders.
• Knowledge of local government financial management and public sector standards.

Responsibilities

• Prepare annual budget for the service area, including development of staffing budgets after reorganisation.
• Prepare monthly budget monitoring reports with variance analysis and clear financial commentary.
• Respond to external audit queries with required information and documentation.
• Provide high-level financial advice, guidance and support to the Service Director and Senior Managers.
• Maintain and update the corporate grants register and financial training manual, and deliver training to Budget Managers.

Skills

CCAB/CIMA

Budgeting

Forecasting

Management accounts

Financial reporting

Audit liaison

Stakeholder guidance

Analytical skills

Public sector

Education

CCAB/CIMA qualification

Job description

Interim Principal Accountant - Housing

Local Government

• 3-6 month contract


• £450 - £500 per day, depending on experience


• 1 day a week on site - London

About the client

Morgan Law is seeking an Interim Principal Accountant - Housing for a local authority in London.

Accountabilities

• Preparation of the annual budget for the service area, including the development of complex staffing budgets following service reorganisation.


• Preparation of monthly budget monitoring reports, including detailed variance analysis, identification of cost pressures, and provision of clear financial commentary.


• Responding to external audit queries and providing additional financial information and supporting documentation as required.


• Providing high-level financial advice, guidance, and support to the Service Director and Senior Managers.


• Maintaining and updating the corporate grants register and financial training manual, as well as delivering financial training and guidance to Budget Managers.

Candidate Requirements

• CCAB or CIMA qualified accountant, with relevant post-qualification experience in finance and accounting


• Strong experience in budget setting, budget monitoring, forecasting and medium-term financial planning.


• Experience supporting budget holders and senior managers within a complex organisation, ideally within local government or the wider public sector.


• Experience of preparing and analysing management accounts, financial reports and forecasts, identifying financial risks, trends and variances.


• Experience of year-end closedown processes, preparation of accounts and supporting external audit requirements.


• Strong analytical and numerical skills, with the ability to interpret complex financial and non-financial data and develop evidence-based recommendations.


• Ability to provide sound financial advice, constructive challenge and technical guidance to senior stakeholders.


• Knowledge of local government financial management, public sector accounting standards and the financial challenges facing local authorities.