Temp Chief Accountant – Strategic Public Finance Lead

Service Care Solutions Ltd; Swindon; On-site; GBP 184,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Referral bonus

Job summary

Service Care Solutions Ltd are recruiting on behalf of a local authority in West Sussex for a Chief Accountant to join the team on a temporary basis. The postholder will lead and manage a team of 20 members to lead the financial systems of the authority.

The role requires strategic financial leadership, governance, and oversight of budgeting, statutory returns, and external audits, with strong collaboration across the council.

Qualifications

• Significant experience as a senior finance professional with the ability to work independently to tight deadlines.
• Strong understanding of accounting principles and statutory accounts in the public sector.
• Proven ability to produce high-quality, timely financial information and ensure compliance.
• Excellent partnership and relationship management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the support and development of the Council’s financial systems, ensuring technology meets evolving business needs and requirements.
• Lead financial governance and compliance, maintaining effective controls, financial regulations and standards in line with legislation, CIPFA guidance and best practice.
• Oversee the Council’s financial planning and reporting, including the annual budget, Statement of Accounts, statutory returns, external audit, treasury management, VAT, banking and cash management.
• Provide strategic financial leadership and technical accounting advice, while developing financial capability across the organisation and contributing to the overall direction and delivery of the Finance function.

Skills

Senior finance professional

Public sector accounting

Financial governance

Team leadership

Job description

Service Care Solutions Ltd are recruiting on behalf of a local authority in West Sussex for a Chief Accountant to join the team on a temporary basis. The postholder will lead and manage a team of 20 members to lead the financial systems of the authority.

The role requires strategic financial leadership, governance, and oversight of budgeting, statutory returns, and external audits, with strong collaboration across the council.