Principal Accountant (Housing) - Basildon Borough Council

Essex County Council; Basildon; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in Essex is seeking a Principal Accountant to join their Financial Accounting Team on a full-time, temporary basis. The role focuses on managing housing finances, producing financial reports, and supporting budget preparation. Ideal candidates will have extensive knowledge of local government finance and relevant experience, with AAT qualification preferred. This position offers a competitive daily rate and the opportunity to make a positive impact on the community.

Qualifications

• In-depth knowledge of local government finance and procedures.
• 5 years experience in local authority finance.
• Experience with budget managers.

Responsibilities

• Prepare annual budget estimates for housing.
• Manage high-risk budgets.
• Provide financial management information.

Skills

Knowledge of local government finance

Staff management experience

Budget liaison skills

Report writing

Customer service improvement

AAT qualified

Education

AAT or higher qualification

Job description

Principal Accountant (Housing)

Basildon, Essex

£134.450 PAYE / £175 Umbrella daily rate

Temporary Contact - April 2026

Full-Time, 36.25 hour per week*

*Part-Time considered, 30 hours per week,

Closing Date: Monday 13th October 2025

Essex County Council (ECC) are delighted to be supporting Basildon Council to recruit a Principal Accountant on a full-time, temporary basis.

The Role

Corporate Finance plays a major role in supporting effective management of Council finances and secure stewardship of Council funds. This is achieved by providing financial advice on all corporate and service developments in order to support corporate decision-making arrangements. The Service is responsible for development of the Council's medium term financial strategy and the annual budget setting process to ensure effective delivery of the Corporate Plan. The Service also has to be flexible to meet the demands of legislative changes and is required to be reactive to client needs and external influences.

Corporate Finance consists of the following functions: Financial and Management Accounting; Treasury Management; Financial Performance Monitoring; Business Engagement; Income Controls; Financial Systems; Creditors; and Banking Arrangements.

This role is within the Financial Accounting Team which is responsible for the treasury functions of the Council including managing daily cashflows and the provision of management information. Support is provided for both the General Fund and Housing capital programmes. In addition to treasury and capital the team has responsibility for other technical areas, which include VAT, leasing, Financial Regulations and other one-off special projects that arise from time to time. These projects can cover both General Fund and Housing issues.

The Opportunity

The Financial Accounting Team is responsible for:

• The timely and accurate production of the annual Statement of Accounts.
• The HRA and Housing General Fund revenue and capital accounting.
• The Housing and General Fund Services capital programmes and accounting for capital, including fixed asset accounting.
• The prompt allocation of all Council income including reconciliation to underlying records.
• The transmission of all the Council's BACS files.
• Regular budgetary control with necessary reporting to senior management. Regular liaison with Cost Centre Managers on budget issues ensuring appropriate evidence of control is maintained.
• Provision of accurate and timely financial management information to senior management and Members whilst working with Cost Centre Managers to find financial solutions to service priorities.
• Policy, strategy and delivery in relation to Treasury Management (borrowing, investments cash flow, leasing and special financing).
• Assisting with the preparation of Council Tax base and use of reserves to feed into the overall Council Tax Setting process.
• Contributions to corporate governance in relation to Capital Strategy, Treasury Management Strategy, Annual Investment Strategy, Financial Regulations and Financial Procedure Notes.
• Other work such as VAT, IFRS and Collection Fund.

Accountabilities

• Preparation of the annual HRA and Housing General Fund budget estimates to agreed guidance and deadlines to feed into the overall budget setting process.
• Regularly review and monitor high risk budgets as agreed, for example responsive repairs and capital programme.
• Assist the Housing Accountant in the annual review of rents and service charges.
• Contribute to the annual revision of the HRA 30-year financial strategy as appropriate.
• To regularly review the Transformation database, ensuring efficiencies are processed in a timely manner and budget pressures are highlighted as appropriate for decision making.
• To assist in the collation of data and regularly review the Policy Based Budgeting database as appropriate.
• Regular budgetary control and reporting to senior management and relevant business managers. To include day-to-day liaison on budget and service issues and financial controls. Provision of other financial information to senior management and business managers, as and when appropriate.
• To provide a business advisory role and guidance on financial matters and support to cost centre managers. There is a requirement to ensure resources are used effectively to deliver key priorities and that any budget performance issues are identified and addressed.
• To contribute to the preparation of the Council's Annual Financial Report (AFR) to the agreed timetable.
• To assist in the accurate completion and despatch of all appropriate grant claims and returns (including government returns) by the due date. To ensure that all monies the team is responsible for that are due to the Council are claimed to maximise resources.
• To assist the Housing Accountant in delivering all work assigned to the team, including communication of work related and general policy issues.

The Experience You Will Bring

• An in-depth knowledge of local government finance and general local government procedures.
• Relevant staff management experience including the ability to deliver through others.
• Experience of liaison with budget managers and senior staff.
• Experience in producing written reports on complex issues tailored to the needs of different audiences.
• Track record of improving the quality of service to customers.
• AAT qualified (or higher) with 5 years experience of working in a local authority financial environment.

Why choose Basildon Council?

Basildon Borough Council is one of the largest local authorities in the East of England region and serves a population of approximately 172,000 people. The town of Basildon is regarded as a key economic hub with the main areas of employment being engineering, research and development, distribution and financial services. Basildon is also the second biggest economy in the Thames Gateway, outside of Canary Wharf.

Working for Basildon Borough Council means making a practical and positive difference to the lives of people living and working in the Borough and provides a fulfilling career.

Each of our employees - whatever job role they are undertaking - can feel motivated by having a unique opportunity to use their skills to make Basildon a better place to live. Whether it is conserving our countryside, by regenerating our Borough, by housing our residents or by collecting the refuse on time.

Note: ECC are advertising this role on behalf of Basildon Council.

Basildon Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults, and expects all employees, contractors and volunteers to share its commitment to prevent abuse, harm or exploitation.

The Council applies a robust recruitment vetting process. If you are successful you will need to undergo a Pre-employment Vetting Procedure.

What you should do next

If you are interested in finding out more about this role, we would love to hear from you. Please apply via Working for Essex Website

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email [e-mail]