Senior Financial Accountant

Reed Talent Solutions; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 111,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Reed Talent Solutions are partnering with a public sector organisation to recruit an Interim Senior Financial Accountant for a 6-month initial contract. You will lead technical accounting, statutory reporting and financial control across the organisation, working with auditors and shared service providers.

The rate for this role will be between £600 - £650 per day umbrella (may go slightly higher for the right candidate), with a hybrid working arrangement of 2-3 days per week on site.

Qualifications

• CCAB qualification or equivalent.
• Significant experience preparing statutory accounts in public sector.
• Strong understanding of local government finance and statutory framework.

Responsibilities

• Lead the preparation of annual Statement of Accounts and working papers.
• Manage year-end closedown and coordinate audit responses.
• Prepare financial statements, disclosures and supporting schedules.
• Provide technical accounting advice on capital accounting, leases and financial instruments.
• Support statutory financial returns and regulatory reporting submissions.
• Review balance sheet reconciliations and financial controls.
• Collaborate with SSC overseeing payables/receivables/payroll/treasury.
• Support VAT, Corporation Tax and other statutory requirements.
• Contribute to process improvements in financial systems and reporting.
• Support major capital programmes and project reporting.

Skills

CCAB qualification

Statutory accounts

Public sector experience

Stakeholder management

Job description

Reed Talent Solutions are partnering with a public sector organisation to recruit an Interim Senior Financial Accountant for a 6-month initial contract.

This is an excellent opportunity for a qualified finance professional to play a key role in supporting financial reporting, statutory accounts preparation and the organisation's financial control environment during a period of significant activity and development.

You will provide expert technical accounting support, lead on statutory reporting requirements and ensure compliance with relevant accounting standards and governance frameworks. Working closely with senior finance stakeholders, auditors and shared service providers, you will help maintain robust financial controls while delivering high‑quality financial reporting and insight.

The rate for this role will be between £600 - £650 per day umbrella (may go slightly higher for the right candidate), with a hybrid working arrangement of 2-3 days per week on site.

The Role

As Interim Senior Financial Accountant, you will be responsible for delivering technical accounting, financial reporting and financial control activities across the organisation. You will provide expert financial advice, support statutory reporting requirements and help maintain a strong governance and control framework.

• Leading the preparation of the annual Statement of Accounts and supporting working papers.
• Managing the year-end closedown process and coordinating responses to internal and external audit queries.
• Preparing financial statements, reconciliations, disclosure notes and supporting schedules.
• Providing technical accounting advice on complex accounting areas, including capital accounting, leases, provisions and financial instruments.
• Supporting the preparation of statutory financial returns and regulatory reporting submissions.
• Reviewing and maintaining balance sheet reconciliations and financial controls.
• Working closely with shared service providers overseeing accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, pensions and treasury activities.
• Supporting taxation activities including VAT, Corporation Tax and other statutory requirements.
• Contributing to the development and continuous improvement of financial systems, processes and reporting.
• Supporting financial analysis and reporting relating to capital programmes and major projects.
• Promoting strong governance, risk management and financial control arrangements across the organisation.

About You

We're looking for a qualified accountant with strong technical accounting expertise and experience delivering financial reporting within a public sector environment.

You will ideally have:

• A CCAB qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIPFA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Significant experience preparing statutory accounts within local government or the wider public sector.
• Strong knowledge of local government finance and the statutory accounting framework.
• Experience managing year-end processes and working with external auditors.
• Technical accounting expertise across a range of complex accounting areas.
• Experience supporting capital finance projects and associated reporting requirements.
• Strong financial control, reconciliation and governance experience.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and influencing skills.
• The ability to identify opportunities for process improvement and efficiencies across finance operations.
• Experience working within local government, regeneration, transport or similar public sector organisations.
• Knowledge of treasury management and taxation matters.
• Experience working within a shared service finance environment.
• Experience supporting major programmes, infrastructure projects or capital investment portfolios.