Lead Accountant

Rugby Borough Council; Rugby; Hybrid; GBP 47,000 - 51,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity awaits a qualified Lead Accountant to join a supportive team within Local Government. In this pivotal role, you will manage financial resources and lead the annual budget setting process, ensuring alignment with the Council's strategic objectives. With a focus on service transformation, you will drive efficiency and productivity improvements while overseeing Treasury Management activities. This is a chance to make a significant impact in one of the UK's fastest-growing boroughs, contributing to the financial self-sufficiency of the community. If you are passionate about finance and ready to embrace change, this role is perfect for you.

Benefits

40 days leave

Generous Local Government Pension Scheme

Hybrid working up to 60%

Flexi time scheme

Annual leave purchase scheme

Subsidised parking

Structured Induction Program

Learning and Development opportunities

Payment of a professional subscription

Family Friendly Policies

Qualifications

• Must be a fully qualified accountant with CCAB membership.
• Good level of post qualification experience in finance.

Responsibilities

• Manage the annual budget setting for the Housing Revenue Account.
• Oversee Treasury Management activities and strategy.
• Provide internal financial advisory services to the Council.

Skills

Financial Management

Budgeting

Financial Reporting

Treasury Management

Public Sector Experience

Education

Fully qualified member of CCAB

CIPFA qualification preferred

Tools

Financial Software

Job description

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Job details

Job title: Lead Accountant
Job reference: REQ000768
Date posted: 20/01/2025
Application closing date: 09/02/2025
Location: Town Hall, Evreux Way, Rugby CV21 2RR
Salary: £47,549 - £50,587 (includes a market supplement of £3,856)
Contractual hours: 37
Basis: Full time

Rugby Borough Council is dedicated to both Community and Colleague growth. With a focus on wellbeing and personal development, we offer a range of career opportunities where you can take pride in the positive changes you help create. Join an organisation committed to the success of one of the Country’s fastest-growing boroughs and the people who make it thrive.

About the role

We now have an exciting opportunity for a qualified Lead Accountant who wants to be part of an exciting and supportive team working in Local Government.

Reporting directly to the Finance Manager, this is a key post in the delivery of the Council’s Financial Services function, helping us to champion excellent management of financial resources, promoting efficiency, high performance, probity and excellent value for money services. You will also have direct reporting responsibility of Finance Business Partners.

You will play a crucial role in the delivery of service transformation, driving efficiency and productivity improvements and the optimisation of income opportunities, to contribute towards the achievement of financial self-sufficiency.

Responsibilities will include:

• The annual budget setting process for the Housing Revenue Account ensuring that the council’s strategic objectives for financial matters are also met in the medium term through effective planning.
• Support the production of financial strategies including the Medium-Term Financial Strategy, Medium Term Financial Plan, Housing Business Plan, Treasury Management Strategy and Capital Strategy.
• Act as the Council’s expert on all financial matters relating to Housing Revenue Account, Treasury Management and Collection Fund.
• Manage and co-ordinate the Housing Revenue Accounts revenue and capital budget monitoring, including preparation of reports for Leadership Team and Committees.
• Provide a proactive internal financial advisory service to the Council across a range of major corporate initiatives, projects and schemes.
• Oversee the Council’s Treasury Management activities and Strategy.
• Manage all VAT implications in respect of payments made and income received.
• Play a significant and leading role in the closure of the Council’s annual accounts and production of the Statement of Accounts, for the Housing Revenue Account and Collection Fund.

If you are positive, driven and are interested in delivering and embedding change whilst providing a high standard of financial support, then this is the move for you.

About you

To be successful in this role you must be a fully qualified member of one of the accountancy institutes in CCAB, preferably CIPFA, with a good level of post qualification experience in a professional finance environment, ideally within the Public Sector.

You will be experienced in developing financial systems and processes, effectively delivering and communicating them with colleagues and customers. You’ll be able to drive service improvements, provide complex and detailed reports for the Leadership Team, and advise managers and other staff on complex finance related issues.

Benefits

• 40 days leave (including 8 Bank Holidays and 3 extra days normally applied at Christmas)
• Generous Local Government Pension Scheme
• Hybrid working up to 60%
• Flexi time scheme
• Annual leave purchase scheme
• Subsidised parking
• Structured Induction Program
• Learning and Development opportunities including Future Leaders programmes
• Payment of a professional subscription for approved professionals
• Family Friendly Policies
• Independent Support for your health & wellbeing
• Generous compassionate leave
• Extra Benefits including Retail Discounts, Car Salary Sacrifice & Cycle to Work scheme and more

For an informal discussion about this role please contact Jon Illingworth, our Chief Officer - Finance and Performance using [e-mail] or on 01788 533410.

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Our method of application is online by following the link. If you are unable to apply online please contact 01788 533564, or e-mail: [e-mail] for further assistance.

Interview date: 25 February 2025