Chief Accountant

Huntingdonshire District Council; Pennsylvania; Hybrid; USD 81,000 - 91,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible and hybrid working

Generous annual leave

Local Government Pension Scheme

Employee wellbeing support

Opportunity to contribute to projects

Job summary

Huntingdonshire District Council is seeking a Chief Accountant to provide senior professional leadership across its Finance function. You will lead complex financial reporting, ensure robust controls and compliance with CIPFA standards, and advise on financial strategy and governance.

You will manage year-end closedown, liaise with internal/external audit, and develop accounting policies while guiding staff and collaborating with leaders across the council.

Qualifications

• Full CCAB professional accountancy qualification.
• Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to the role.
• Knowledge of local government finance and accounting, the CIPFA Code and relevant accounting standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead the preparation and production of the annual Statement of Accounts with CIPFA Code compliance.
• Oversee year-end closedown, timetables, working papers and quality assurance.
• Coordinate Finance response to internal and external audit and address recommendations.
• Act as senior technical adviser on complex accounting issues and changes in standards.
• Maintain and apply the Council’s accounting policies and integrity of ledger and financial accounting arrangements.
• Support budget-setting and Medium-Term Financial Strategy development including modelling.
• Support revenue and capital budget development, monitor financial risks and opportunities.
• Provide analysis and challenge to savings, growth bids, and business cases.
• Collaborate with Finance Business Partners to ensure forecasting and budgeting standards.
• Lead and develop staff, delegate responsibilities and support professional development.

Skills

Communication skills

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder management

Education

CCAB qualification

Job description

Chief Accountant

Provide professional leadership and help safeguard public money.

Are you an experienced, professionally qualified accountant with strong technical knowledge of local government finance? Can you lead complex financial reporting and provide clear, balanced advice that helps an organisation make sound decisions?

Huntingdonshire District Council is looking for a Chief Accountant to provide senior professional and technical leadership across its Finance function. Reporting to the Head of Finance and Deputy Section 151 Officer, you will help ensure effective financial management, governance and stewardship of the Council’s resources.

This is a key role in maintaining high-quality financial reporting, robust financial controls and compliance with legislation, accounting standards, the CIPFA Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting and the Council’s financial framework.

Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC) is passionate about providing high-quality services to our communities, residents and businesses. This means we must employ and retain the most talented and dedicated people. Situated within the heart of the Cambridge-Peterborough Growth Area, Huntingdonshire is a beautiful district that boasts thriving market towns and many attractive villages, each with its own identity. We are an innovative and forward-thinking local authority whose residents are at the heart of our decision-making.

About the Role

• Leading the preparation and production of the annual Statement of Accounts, ensuring compliance with the CIPFA Code, accounting standards, statutory requirements and agreed deadlines.
• Leading year-end closedown arrangements, including timetables, instructions, working papers, quality assurance and supporting evidence.
• Managing the Finance response to internal and external audit, ensuring audit requests are coordinated and recommendations are appropriately addressed.
• Acting as a senior technical accounting adviser on complex issues and interpreting changes in accounting standards, legislation and professional guidance.
• Developing, maintaining and applying the Council’s accounting policies, and maintaining oversight of the integrity of the general ledger and corporate financial accounting arrangements.
• Supporting the annual budget-setting process and development of the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS), including corporate financial modelling and scenario analysis.
• Supporting revenue budget and capital programme development and monitoring, identifying and escalating financial risks, pressures and opportunities.
• Providing analysis and constructive challenge to savings proposals, growth bids, investment proposals and business cases.
• Working closely with Finance Business Partners to promote consistent forecasting, budget monitoring and financial management standards.
• Reviewing and improving finance procedures, accounting processes and controls, and supporting the maintenance of Financial Regulations and associated procedures.
• Leading and developing colleagues, supporting good performance, delegating appropriately and providing development opportunities.

About You

You will be a confident and credible finance professional, able to understand complex issues quickly and explain them clearly to both finance and non-finance colleagues. You will be comfortable working across the organisation, providing constructive challenge, making timely decisions and balancing competing priorities and deadlines. You will bring a strong commitment to public service and the ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with colleagues and stakeholders.

Skills, Knowledge and Qualifications

Essential

• A full CCAB professional accountancy qualification.
• Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to the role.
• Knowledge of local government finance and accounting, the CIPFA Code and relevant accounting standards, statutory reporting and closedown, revenue and capital accounting, budgeting, forecasting and financial control.
• A thorough understanding of the environment and financial framework in which local government operates, including relevant national and regional policy issues.
• Significant post-qualification experience, including statutory accounts and external audit, financial planning and monitoring, complex technical advice, and improving controls and processes.
• Experience of working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to achieve organisational goals.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to provide clear, balanced advice to financial and non-financial colleagues.
• The ability to analyse complex issues, make effective and timely decisions, manage competing responsibilities and work to tight deadlines.
• The ability to lead by example, enable others to perform, delegate appropriately and support colleagues’ development.

Desirable

• Knowledge of treasury management, the Prudential Framework, wider local government funding and grants.
• Experience of inclusively leading and motivating a diverse team.
• Experience of preparing, managing and controlling complex budgets and capital programmes and deploying resources to achieve corporate objectives.
• Understanding of equality and inclusion measures and interventions, and local authority safeguarding duties and responsibilities.

What We Can Offer

• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Employee wellbeing support and benefits
• Opportunities to contribute to exciting projects, transformation programmes and the future of local government services

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to play a central role in the stewardship of public money and the quality of the Council’s financial management. You will work with colleagues across Finance and the wider organisation, helping strengthen financial reporting, support effective decision-making and continuously improve the way finance services are delivered.

Salary: £60,784 to £68,153 a year

Hours: Full-time

Location: Huntingdon, PE29 3TN

Working pattern: Hybrid - 2 days remote

Job type: Temporary

Company: Huntingdonshire District Council

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

Closing date: 9am 22 November 2026