Principal Accountant

St Helens Borough Council; St Helens; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

St Helens Borough Council is seeking a Principal Accountant to join the Finance and Accountancy Service. The role supports the Finance Business Partner and Finance Manager across the Place Directorate, delivering timely, accurate budget and financial management, statistical returns, and essential financial information.

The post involves contributing to budget setting, year-end closures, and production of financial statements, requiring strong accounting knowledge, communicating effectively, and

Qualifications

• AAT qualified or CCAB/CIMA qualification required or nearing completion.
• Sound knowledge of accounting principles and techniques.
• Excellent communication and team-working skills; high levels of self-confidence.

Responsibilities

• Support the Finance Business Partner and Finance Manager in delivering financial support across the Council's Place Directorate.
• Provide timely, accurate and high-quality budget and financial management support and advice; complete statistical returns; provide financial information.
• Contribute to budget setting and the year-end closure of accounts and production of financial statements.

Skills

Accounting principles

Communication skills

Teamwork

Self-confidence

Education

AAT qualification

CCAB/CIMA qualification

Tools

Budgeting

Job description

We Are St Helens Borough Council

Located in the heart of the Northwest close to Liverpool, Manchester and Lancashire, St Helens is a transformational Council which is passionate and ambitious for the communities we support.

We provide a wide range of local authority services to the residents, businesses, schools, and visitors to the borough. We can only do this because of our highly valued, highly skilled workforce.

Working together, our workplace vision and values guide our organisation, and the contribution of our workforce is key to our culture journey. Employees with us receive a wide range of benefits including well-being in work, financial benefits, ways of working and learning and development support.

Making A Difference as a Principal Accountant in the Finance and Accountancy Service

The Council is at an exciting stage of a significant transformation programme, with the modernisation of the finance function integral to these plans.

We currently have an opportunity for an ambitious person, either AAT qualified or in possession, or nearing completion, of a CCAB/CIMA qualification to s upport the Finance Business Partner and Finance Manager in delivering financial support across the Council's Place Directorate.

Successful candidates will be pivotal and valued members of the Accountancy team - working with service areas in the provision of timely, accurate and high-quality budget and financial management support and advice; completing statistical returns; providing financial information; contributing to budget setting and the year-end closure of accounts and production of financial statements.

A sound knowledge of accounting principles and techniques is necessary, together with excellent communication and team working skills and high levels of self-confidence.

The Council can offer you:

• A competitive salary,
• Access to the Local Authority Pension Scheme (LGPS), with a generous employer pension contribution (on top of your own contribution),
• A generous annual leave allowance,
• Access to the number of salary sacrifice schemes,
• Access to our benefits platform which offers a wide range of discounts and money saving opportunities,
• Hybrid working - working in a way that adds most value,
• Flexible and agile working arrangements,
• Support with health and wellbeing,
• Professional development opportunities,
• Friendly, warm and welcoming team,
• A rewarding, challenging career.

We plan to interview candidate's the week following the advert closing date

Essential Criteria

For each essential criterion, provide a specific example demonstrating how you meet it. Use evidence from your experience, qualifications, achievements, and skills.

Desirable Criteria

If you meet a desirable criterion, give a relevant example as evidence.

If you do not fully meet a desirable criterion, explain:

• Any related or transferable experience you have.
• How you would approach the task or requirement.
• Your willingness and ability to learn and develop in that area.

We recognise that candidates may use AI tools to support their application. However, applicants should use AI with caution and ensure that all information, examples, achievements, and responses submitted are their own. Applications should accurately reflect your skills, knowledge, and experience, as these will be explored further during the selection process.

Equality & Diversity

We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds, who share our values, our commitment to inclusion, and who will help us on our journey to transform our organisation. The Council guarantees an interview to disabled applicants who demonstrate that they meet the essential criteria for the job, as detailed on the Person Specification, and will, for qualifying disabled candidates, make reasonable adjustments within selection.

St Helens Council is a Disability Confident Leader. This means that the Council guarantees an interview to disabled applicants who demonstrate that they meet the essential criteria for the job, as detailed on the Person Specification, and will, for qualifying disabled candidates, make reasonable adjustments within the interview/selection process.

All Council employees are required to abide by the ethical standards embodied by the 7 Nolan Principles

All Council employees are required to abide by the ethical standards embodied by the 7 Nolan Principles

St Helens Borough Council is a Disability Confident Leader. Disability Confident Leader lead the way in helping to take action that changes attitudes, behaviours, and cultures for the better.

NOLAN Principles of Conduct in Public Life.

All Council employees are required to abide by the ethical standards embodied by the 7 Nolan Principles: Selflessness, Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability, Openness, Honesty, and Leadership.