Strategic Finance Lead

Venn Group; England; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government organization is seeking a Strategic Finance Lead to oversee financial governance and technical accounting. This senior leadership role involves producing the council's annual Statement of Accounts and providing financial insights for decision-making. Candidates should be fully qualified CCAB accountants with experience in delivering statutory accounts and managing finance teams. The position offers a hybrid working arrangement located in England, with a rate of £500/day inside IR35.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in senior finance leadership roles.
• Significant experience interpreting complex financial regulations.
• Proven track record in preparing statutory accounts.

Responsibilities

• Lead the production of the council’s Statement of Accounts.
• Provide high‑quality financial accounting and advice.
• Deliver strategic financial insights and long‑term modelling.

Skills

Financial accounting

Leadership

Financial modelling

Technical assurance

Strategic financial insights

Education

Fully qualified CCAB accountant

Tools

SAP

General ledger systems

Excel

Data interrogation tools

Job description

Overview

Wiltshire Council are seeking an exceptional Strategic Finance Lead to act as the council’s technical accounting expert and professional lead for the production of the annual Statement of Accounts and key statutory financial returns. This is a senior leadership role, overseeing financial governance, technical accounting, and strategic modelling in support of the council’s long‑term financial sustainability.

Location: Wiltshire Council

Set-up: Hybrid – 2-3-days per week on-site

Rate: £500/day via umbrella inside IR35

Duration: Initially 3-months, subject to extension

Hours: Full-time position

Responsibilities

• Lead the production of the council’s Statement of Accounts and statutory financial returns, ensuring full compliance with CIPFA and national regulatory requirements
• Provide high‑quality financial accounting, advice, and technical assurance across the organisation, including supporting robust financial controls
• Deliver strategic financial insights and long‑term modelling (5–10 years) to support effective decision‑making for both capital and revenue planning
• Act as the council’s lead professional for treasury management, setting strategy, policy, and controls for multimillion‑pound investments and borrowing
• Oversee the council’s central finance technical functions, including VAT & Tax, the Chart of Accounts, asset accounting, banking, insurance, and the Collection Fund

Requirements

• Fully qualified CCAB accountant with extensive experience in senior finance leadership roles
• Significant experience interpreting complex financial regulations and delivering large‑scale technical accounting projects
• Proven track record in preparing statutory accounts, financial modelling, and producing high‑quality financial data
• Strong experience managing and motivating technical finance teams, with credibility in delivering successful outcomes
• Advanced technical skills, including SAP/general ledger systems, fixed asset systems, Excel, and data interrogation tools