Management Accountant

Essex County Council; Chelmsford; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK local authority is seeking a Management Accountant to support financial analysis and reporting across various services. This pivotal role involves building relationships with partners, leading a finance team, and ensuring accurate financial forecasting and budget planning. The successful candidate will be CCAB qualified with extensive public sector knowledge, capable of influencing decision-making processes. Flexible working arrangements are offered alongside comprehensive employee benefits.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Support for unpaid carers

Qualifications

• Qualified finance professional with evidence of continuing professional development.
• Knowledge of financial management in a large organization.
• Experience in providing financial advice to management.

Responsibilities

• Prepare financial forecasts and budget plans.
• Lead and manage a finance team for quality financial information.
• Collaborate to identify system and process improvements.

Skills

CCAB qualified

Financial management knowledge

Experience in public sector

Relationship building

Experience in delivering improvements

Education

Full CCAB qualification

Job description

Management Accountant

Temporary, Full Time
£450 - £500 Umbrella Per Day
Location: Chelmsford
Working Style: Anywhere worker
Closing Date: Tuesday 16th December 2025

Essex County Council are seeking an experienced finance professional to join their high-performing finance team.

The Management Accountant for PPEPH supports a diverse range of services – from Public Health to Property, Major Capital Programmes, and Capital Delivery – offering variety and breadth in the role. It is a pivotal position in providing insightful financial analysis and robust financial reporting across both Revenue and Capital, with a 4‑year Capital programme totalling circa £570m.

In addition, this function is at the forefront of devolution.

You will build strong relationships with internal and external partners and be able to competently influence, contribute and challenge at a broad range of senior management forums to ensure financial forecasts and future budget plans are based on robust financial information.

You will be a qualified professional with strong technical and systems knowledge to actively contribute and influence the decision‑making process in relation to medium term planning.

Accountabilities

• Responsible for the preparation, quality assurance, detailed analytics and trend analysis in the development of financial forecasts and future budget plans for services across the financial cycle ensuring they reflect operational and strategic objectives
• Leads, manages and motivates a finance team to deliver high quality financial information, analysis and provide constructive challenge to support budget holders. Understand customer needs and provide a greatly valued service.
• Ensure timely and accurate information and advice is in accordance with Financial Regulations and all accounting standards to ensure the effective management of budgets and future budget planning by all budget holders. Maintain a high standard of technical information to ensure your team by working closely with the Chief Accountant throughout the financial cycle in particular the closure of accounts.
• Work collaboratively with the Financial Systems & Processes Manager to support the Finance Hub arrangements and identify and develop system and process improvements to ensure the finance function delivers high quality outputs and information.
• Maintain a high level of service/function understanding across a function to be able to constructively challenge and influence internal and external partners. Advise on the development of cost drivers, the preparation of relevant and accurate financial models, estimates and forecasts to enable the function to highlight opportunities as well as the potential risks.
• To be the Finance expert coordinating understanding of a functions' financial forecasting, modelling and budget planning processes across the financial cycle
• Implement and maintain effective financial management arrangements and promote the improvement of financial awareness, capability and practice to empower budget holders to deliver value for money services. Manage all areas of concern.
• Through a high level of service understanding and financial reporting support budget holders and finance business partners to prepare robust business cases, identifying and quantifying associated costs, benefits and risks.
• Co-ordinates the annual accounts closure for a functional area through active engagement, training and support with budget holders to ensure all relevant timescales are met.
• Manage the analysis, interpretation and support of financial and performance data to complete financial returns, questionnaires and information requests as required.

The Experience You Will Bring

• Full CCAB and evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in relevant professional area
• Knowledge & understanding of financial management and financial frameworks in a large organisation, preferably within the public sector.
• Experience of delivering improvements within a finance setting.
• Providing financial advice & support to management teams.
• Experience of evaluating and supporting innovative and effective means of financing the delivery of large‑scale services.
• Experience of working with others to build effective working relationships with finance colleagues and other senior managers.

To read more about us please visit: Corporate Services

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government's devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR) on our careers site.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

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