Senior Financial Accountant

Babergh District Council and Mid Suffolk District Council; Ipswich; Hybrid; GBP 51,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading council as a Senior Financial Accountant, playing a vital role in the Finance Team. You will manage operations, provide financial advice, and ensure strong internal controls while supporting community services across Babergh and Mid Suffolk.

Benefits

Generous leave entitlement

Competitive Local Government Pension Scheme

Wellbeing Support Program

Employee Assist Program

Health Care Options

Qualifications

• Significant finance experience in public sector or similar.
• Experience delivering Statement of Accounts to tight deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Manage Financial Control team and oversee Statement of Accounts.
• Provide expert financial advice and improve strategies.

Skills

Communication

Leadership

Financial Management

Education

Fully qualified Accountant (ACCA, CIMA, ICAEW, CIPFA)

Job description

• Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils - Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 2BX
• £51,802 - £61,059 per annum (pro rata for part time)
• Full Time, 37 hours per week
• Permanent

Full-time, part-time and job share opportunities will be considered.

What we are looking for

We are looking for a Senior Financial Accountant to join our dedicated Finance Team. To be successful you will share our values , commitment and motivation to make a difference for our residents, clients, and communities.

You will be joining our Finance Team at an exciting time as we look to transform the service we offer to stakeholders and drive forward financial performance.

About the role

This role forms a crucial part of the Finance Management Team and you will be key to making operational finance decisions.

Reporting to the Head of Finance, areas of responsibility will include:

• assume day to day management of the Financial Control team with direct responsibility for three and a wider team of eight
• lead on the delivery of Statement of Accounts and be pivotal in transforming processes ensuring a strong internal control environment
• provide expert financial advice to the Finance Team and across the organisation
• develop, review and improve strategies, policies and procedures
• support the Head of Finance in writing and reporting on the Treasury, Capital and Investment Strategies for both councils
• Work with the Systems team to ensure smooth and timely reporting from the finance system as well as enabling self service for managers for budget management and forecasting.

About you

• You will be a fully qualified Accountant (ACCA, CIMA, ICAEW, CIPFA) with significant finance experience, supporting service teams within the public sector or a similar multi disciplined sector.
• You must have corporate financial management experience, able to deliver Statement of Accounts to tight deadlines and liaise effectively with external auditors, providing explanations and answering queries.
• You will be an excellent communicator with experience of reviewing business cases and financial appraisals providing expert advice and recommendations.
• You will be comfortable dealing with people at all levels and working in a complex and sometimes challenging operating environment.
• You will be an experienced team leader, personable and patient with the ability to motivate and provide a positive environment.
• Focused on delivery, you will strive for excellence and continual improvement of the finance service.

About us

Working together across our districts, with our partners in the public, private and voluntary sectors. We provide excellent services to our 190,000 residents across Babergh and Mid Suffolk.

We are proud of the role we play in creating the environment, economy, and communities for our districts. We believe that the heart of Suffolk is an incredibly special place to live and work. With picturesque market towns, 60 conservation areas and with two National Landscapes within our districts, it is little wonder that we are consistently within the top 50 places to live in the UK.

Benefits of working for us

• Great opportunities for learning and development.
• Generous leave entitlement (equivalent to 26 days a year, increasing to 31 days after 5 years' service, plus bank holidays).
• Competitive Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Wellbeing Support Program
• Employee Assist Program
• Health Care Options

For more information, please visit our Employee Benefits page (suffolkjobsdirect,org) .

Our ways of working:

Work is what we do, not where we go! We are committed to working in a more hybrid way, with a mix of office, home, and remote based working (Business needs permitting). This has worked well for us and is something we will continue with.

We are committed to supporting equality and diversity, Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils provide opportunities and ambition for all, supporting and enabling our people to deliver the best possible service for our residents.

For more information

If you wish to discuss the Hybrid working approach for this role, or for an informal discussion, please email David Feveyear-Ward, to arrange a conversation at: [e-mail]

Please read the Job Description and Person Specification.pdf before applying for this job opportunity.

Closing date: 5pm, 2 June 2025.

Promoted as FJ (Featured Job) on Suffolk Jobs Direct.

When applying, please ensure:

• that you complete the application form as fully as possible with your employment and educational history as shortlisting will be based upon the application form and supporting statement only.
• your statement indicates how you meet each of the criteria in the Person Profile' section of the Job Description/Person Specification (JDPS).

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.