Senior Accountant - Children's Services (Inclusion and Learning)

Devon County Council; Exeter; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Devon County Council is seeking a Senior Accountant to lead the Inclusion and Learning Finance Team, reporting to the Principal Accountant. You will guide a dedicated staff group in delivering robust financial management across the service and its funding streams, including Early Years and SEND funding allocations.

The role emphasizes governance, controls and challenge, with engagement across schools and providers to sustain financial resilience and strategic delivery.

Qualifications

• Strong technical accounting knowledge and understanding of financial management principles.
• Excellent communicator with ability to build relationships at all levels.
• Strong analytical and IT skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• Experience in supporting and developing staff within a team.
• Enjoys collaborative work while taking ownership of key areas.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support a team in delivering a high‑quality financial management service to budget holders, senior managers and elected members.
• Oversee financial oversight of the Early Years Block and related funding allocations.
• Provide high‑quality financial advice, analysis and support to contribute to key service priorities and strong financial stewardship.
• Engage with schools, providers and service teams to monitor funding arrangements and governance.

Skills

Leadership

Financial management

Communication

Analytical skills

IT skills

Staff development

Education

Qualified Accountant

Job description

Job description

Fixed Term 12 months

Full Time 37 hours per week

Help Shape the Future of Inclusion and Learning Finance

Are you an ambitious and driven finance professional looking for your next leadership challenge? Do you want to play a key role in managing one of the Council's largest and most significant budgets while helping shape financial strategy across Inclusion and Learning?

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Accountant to join our Inclusion and Learning Finance Team. Reporting directly to the Principal Accountant, you will lead and support a dedicated team in delivering a high-quality financial management service to budget holders, senior managers and elected members.

This is a varied and influential role with regular engagement across schools, providers and service teams, particularly in relation to Alternative Provision and Early Years Funding allocations.

This role is initially fixed term for 12 months and secondments will be considered.

About the Role

As Senior Accountant, you will play a critical role in the Children's Inclusion and Learning Finance Team, providing deputy support to the Principal Accountant and helping to ensure business continuity across a high-profile and financially significant service area. The role strengthens leadership capacity within the team, helping to distribute responsibilities effectively while maintaining resilience and flexibility in responding to emerging challenges.

A key aspect of the role is leading financial oversight of the Early Years Block, which has evolved rapidly in recent years. With ongoing changes to funding arrangements, increasing demand, and continued financial pressures, the successful candidate will play an important role in ensuring robust financial management, strong governance, effective controls, and appropriate challenge and scrutiny.

The post will also support the team's response to wider Education funding challenges, including the continued pressures associated with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG). Through the provision of high-quality financial advice, analysis and support, the role will contribute to the delivery of key service priorities and help maintain strong financial stewardship across the service

We are looking for someone who:

• Has strong technical accounting knowledge and understanding of financial management principles
• Is an excellent communicator with the ability to build effective working relationships at all levels
• Possesses strong analytical and IT skills
• Can manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality work to demanding deadlines
• Has experience of supporting and developing staff within a team environment
• Enjoys working collaboratively while taking ownership of key areas of responsibility

By joining the team, you will have the opportunity to make a tangible impact within a strategically important area of the Authority, helping to mitigate financial and operational risks, maintain service performance, and ensure the Council continues to meet its statutory and strategic responsibilities.

• DCC embraces the positive benefits of a diverse workforce and is committed to providing an environment that is inclusive and safe. We welcome applications from people who share our commitment to stop discrimination, challenge inequality and promote diversity across Devon. More information can be found on our Equality and Diversity webpages .
• For details on the use of AI in applications and Devon County Council's use of AI in Recruitment please see Use of AI in Our Recruitment Processes - Working for Devon | Devon County Council
• Happy to Talk Flexible Working -The Council offers flexible working arrangements in terms of when and where people work e.g. hybrid working, part-time, condensed hours etc.
• We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
• This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
• Personal data we collect from you will be processed in accordance with the Applicant privacy notice .
• For more information about Working for Devon please visit our Working for Devon page .
• We cannot consider visa sponsorship at this time.UK Right to Work is required.For further guidance on right to work in the UK, please visit: Work in the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
• This role requires a DBS disclosure.