Local Authority Accountant

JoRecruitment Limited; Chatham; Hybride; GBP 124 000 - 168 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

JoRecruitment Limited is seeking an experienced Closedown Accountant to support the Local Authority’s year-end closing and statutory financial reporting. The role focuses on delivering timely Statement of Accounts, related notes, and ensuring audit readiness.

You will bring strong local government accounting knowledge, CIPFA principles, and advanced Excel skills, collaborating with the Corporate Finance team to maintain robust financial controls and accurate Group Accounts.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in local authority year-end closedown.
• Strong technical accounting knowledge, including Collection Fund accounting and group accounts.
• CIPFA Code of Practice knowledge.
• Audit preparation experience.

Responsabilités

• Prepare the Council's Statement of Accounts and disclosure notes.
• Lead on areas of the accounts including Collection Fund and consolidation.
• Produce high-quality year-end working papers and reconciliations.
• Support statutory returns and financial reporting.
• Liaise with internal and external auditors and respond to audit queries.
• Collaborate with finance colleagues to ensure timely year-end submission.

Connaissances

Advanced Excel

Analytical skills

Formation

CCAB-qualified

Description du poste

We are seeking an experienced Closedown Accountant to provide additional support during the preparation of the annual Statement of Accounts and completion of the year-end closedown process on behalf of a Local Authority.

Hybrid, 37 hours per week paying £562.40 per day PAYE; which is equivlent to £146,224 salary

This is a key role within the Corporate Finance team, supporting the delivery of the Council's statutory financial reporting requirements. The successful candidate will have strong local government accounting knowledge and practical experience of preparing local authority accounts, including Collection Fund accounting, Group Accounts and supporting the external audit process.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Supporting the preparation of the Council's Statement of Accounts and associated disclosure notes.
• Leading on specific areas of the accounts, including Collection Fund accounting, Group Accounts and consolidation requirements.
• Producing high-quality year-end working papers, reconciliations and technical accounting analyses.
• Supporting the completion of statutory returns and financial reporting requirements.
• Liaising with internal and external auditors and responding to technical audit queries.
• Working collaboratively with finance colleagues across the organisation to ensure the timely submission of year-end financial information.
• Contributing to the continuous improvement of closedown processes and financial controls.

The successful candidate will have:

• Significant experience of local authority year-end closedown and Statement of Accounts preparation.
• Strong technical accounting knowledge, including Collection Fund accounting, Group Accounts and consolidation adjustments.
• A sound understanding of the CIPFA Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting.
• Experience of supporting external audit and preparing audit-ready working papers.
• Excellent analytical skills, attention to detail and advanced Excel capability.

Ideally a CCAB-qualified accountant, although candidates with substantial relevant local government closedown experience will also be considered.