Senior Accountant | Schools | Full Time | Preston

Lancashire County Council; Preston; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK local authority is seeking a Senior Accountant to act as the Strategic Business Partner for Lancashire Schools. The role involves providing technical financial management support, assisting school leaders, and managing a small finance team. The ideal candidate will be a qualified Accountant with substantial experience in finance and strong communication skills. This position offers a supportive environment and opportunities for career development.

Benefits

Local Government Pension Scheme

Generous holiday entitlement

Staff discount scheme

Development opportunities

Qualifications

• Substantial experience in a senior finance role.
• Ability to explain complex financial information.
• Experience building relationships with stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical expertise for financial management.
• Support financial monitoring duties for LA maintained schools.
• Deliver flexible financial services to over 500 Lancashire schools.
• Manage a small team of finance professionals.
• Be part of the management team for financial services.

Skills

Financial management expertise

Strategic thinking

Communication skills

Education

Qualified Accountant (CCAB or equivalent)

Job description

Salary £55,612 - £60,147 | Permanent, Full Time 37 hours per week | County Hall, Preston

Join us as a Senior Accountant and contribute to our council's Education services while advancing your career in a supportive and innovative environment. As the Senior Accountant, you will act as the Strategic Business Partner to Lancashire Schools, supporting school leaders to effectively manage their finances.

Responsibilities:

• To provide technical expertise and advice to school leaders with responsibility for financial management in education establishments ensuring the provision of a high-quality financial management support service to schools and academies.
• To provide service expertise to support Lancashire County Council colleagues to discharge statutory financial monitoring duties for LA maintained schools and ensuring that the LA can demonstrate compliance to statutory regulation and government guidance.
• Delivery of flexible and responsive financial services to over 500 Lancashire schools to meet changing client demands.
• Provide enhanced support to schools in financial difficulty and delivering financial training to schools as required.
• Manage a small team of finance professionals, providing guidance and support to deliver high performance.
• Be part of the management team for schools financial services and be involved in developing and shaping future service delivery, in addition to contributing to initiatives across the wider council finance service.

About you:

• You'll be a qualified Accountant (CCAB or equivalent) and/or substantial experience in a senior finance role.
• You'll take strategic, solutions-focused approach to local government/schools finance.
• You'll have great communication skills with the ability to build effective relationships with your stakeholders and clients. You'll need to explain complex financial information and have difficult conversations when needed.

What we offer:

• A competitive salary and Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions.
• A great holiday entitlement of 26 days annual leave, which increases with length of service. You will also be entitled to 8 Bank Holidays, 2 additional statutory Bank Holidays, and have the option to buy additional leave each year.
• Our staff discount scheme in partnership with Vivup, allowing you to access discounts with a range of UK retailers, saving on everything from weekly food shops to white goods and cars.
• Access to fantastic development and career opportunities.

Closing Date: 13th October 2025

This fantastic opportunity will allow you to see the positive impact of your recommendations on the services delivered in Lancashire.