Principal Accountant

WMJobs; Warwick; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 57,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid/office working

Travel costs covered

Training and development

Job summary

Warwick District Council invites applications for a Finance Principal Accountant to lead capital finance functions with a large annual budget and substantial fixed assets. The post emphasizes accurate reporting, legislative interpretation and strong ICT skills within a dedicated accountancy team.

Hybrid/office working is available, with travel to offices as required. The ideal candidate may be CCAB qualified or a senior AAT with substantial capital finance experience in the public sector, and

Qualifications

• CCAB qualified or part-qualified accountant or Senior AAT with capital finance experience.
• Experience with capital accounting in the public sector.
• Strong ICT and report-writing skills; knowledge of asset modules.

Responsibilities

• Support quarterly monitoring of capital budgets and report changes to members.
• Provide financial advice on capital projects, grants, S106 contributions.
• Ensure year-end asset accounting, depreciation and revaluation movements are accurate.
• Lead external audit for capital transactions.
• Manage asset valuation contracts and local government asset registers.
• Produce regular updates to senior leadership, members and the public.

Skills

Deadlines

Legislation interpretation

ICT skills

Report writing

Capital finance knowledge

Financial systems

Analytical thinking

Education

CCAB qualified

Part-qualified CCAB

Senior AAT Accountant

Tools

None

Job description

Finance
Principal Accountant
£55,224 - £57,446 per annum
37 hours per week
Permanent Post
Here at Warwick District Council, we pride ourselves on the fact that we offer you a great place to work.

We achieve our goals by recruiting and retaining motivated, empowered and flexible staff. We are committed to training and development, and we encourage a healthy work-life balance.

Warwick District Council,

Finance
Principal Accountant
£55,224 - £57,446 per annum
37 hours per week
Permanent Post
Here at Warwick District Council, we pride ourselves on the fact that we offer you a great place to work.

We achieve our goals by recruiting and retaining motivated, empowered and flexible staff. We are committed to training and development, and we encourage a healthy work-life balance.

We offer the rewards and benefits that make it a great place to work (if you are applying for a Casual position these do not apply).

People like you

We offer a wide range of career opportunities at every level of the organisation. From apprenticeships to senior management, permanent to fixed term contracts or part-time working, we have something for everyone.

Warwick District Council is looking for an outstanding individual to join our Finance department, to support the capital finance functions of the authority.

With a strong commitment to making improvements and efficiencies without making cuts to services, our forward looking and ambitious council is recruiting a Principal Accountant, who can embrace the use of new financial systems and digital technology to ensure the demands of our customers are met both now and in the future.

The position offers you a great opportunity to work within a dedicated Accountancy team within Warwick District Council supporting the capital functions of the authority with an annual budget more than £65 million and fixed assets exceeding £500 million.

You would need to be able to demonstrate an ability to work accurately to deadlines, interpret legislation, and have strong ICT and report writing skills, with in depth knowledge of integrated asset modules and their transactions into the revenue and balance sheet accounts.

The position would suit either a CCAB qualified/part qualified accountant or a Senior AAT Accountant with significant experience of working in capital finances within the public sector finance.

Main responsibilities

• To support quarterly monitoring of capital budgets, reporting to members with any additions and changes.
• Supporting Service Managers, Senior Leadership and Members with financial advice on all capital projects, expenditure and income including grants, CIL and Section 106 contributions.
• Provide assurance of past and future capital accounting including reviewing and developing our fixed asset accounts, assets under construction and year-end adjustments including depreciation, revaluation reserve movements, decrement losses and capital financing from multiple sources.
• Supporting the capital financing reporting for the authority including completing statutory returns.
• To provide regular updates to key stakeholders including senior leadership, members and the public through the production of papers and other relevant documents.
• The completion of the year-end statement of accounts including all capital adjustments and production of final notes to the accounts.
• Lead on external audit for all capital transactions.
• Management of the asset valuation contract.
• Experience of capital accounting within local government including management of local government asset register.

The intention is for the postholder to work predominately from home however, it is a requirement to attend our offices or sites within Warwick District as required. Any costs for travel from home to the office will be met by the successful candidate. However, hybrid and office working is also available.

If you have any questions or wish to have an informal discussion, please contact Steven Leathley, Strategic Finance Manager either by email [e-mail] or telephone [phone].

Closing date: 7th October 2026

Interview date: 22nd and 23rd October 2026

This is a re-advertisement - previous applicants need not apply.