Group Accountant

Portsmouth City Council; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 74,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Portsmouth City Council is seeking a Group Accountant to lead the Adult Social Care and Public Health Finance Team. You will shape financial strategy, manage the budget-setting cycle, and report on funding performance to senior leaders and external partners.

The role requires CCAB qualifications, strong leadership, and expert financial modelling. You will build relationships with NHS partners and other stakeholders while delivering high-quality financial support.

Qualifications

• CCAB qualified accountant with evidence of professional development.
• Experience building productive relationships with stakeholders.
• Ability to provide strategic financial advice to senior officers.

Responsibilities

• Lead the annual budget-setting process for Adult Social Care and Public Health.
• Ensure statutory requirements and local regulations are followed; monitor funding performance.
• Deliver financial analysis, reporting, and strategic support for projects and reforms.
• Develop complex financial models and provide guidance to operational teams and partners.

Skills

Budgeting

Financial analysis

Stakeholder mgmt

Leadership

Strategic finance

Education

CCAB qualified accountant

Tools

Excel

Financial modelling

Job description

Group Accountant

37 hours per week

We are looking to recruit a talented and motivated Group Accountant to join our Adult Social Care and Public Health Finance Team.

Your new role

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in supporting some of the council's most important services, helping to shape financial strategy, drive improvement, and ensure resources deliver the best possible outcomes for adults in need of care and for public health initiatives.

Based within the Finance and Resources Directorate, you will play a pivotal role in the annual budget-setting process for Adult Social Care and Public Health. You will ensure funding is allocated effectively and in line with national regulations and local priorities. Working closely with senior leaders, operational managers and external partners, you will monitor and report on financial performance, provide expert advice, and support informed decision-making.

Key responsibilities include leading and managing the annual Adult Social Care and Public Health budget-setting process. Ensuring statutory requirements, national guidance and council financial regulations are adhered to. The postholder will monitor and report on funding performance, identify financial risks and opportunities, and deliver statutory financial returns and statements. They will provide high-quality financial analysis, advice and support for specific projects, working groups and government reform programmes, while supporting the Adult Social Care and Public Health management team through insightful financial reporting and recommendations. The role also involves delivering guidance and strategic financial support to operational teams and building strong relationships with internal teams, external care providers, NHS partners, public health agencies and other stakeholders. The role will manage 2 direct and 6 indirect reports.

Who is the person summary:

A CCAB qualified accountant with evidence of professional development, you will have experience of building productive relationships and influencing a wide range of stakeholders. With strong leadership and people management skills you will be able to provide strategic financial advice to senor officers and management teams/working groups on finance related issues. You will have a high standard of spreadsheet skills and proven experience of developing and maintaining complex financial models. You will have substantial experience of budget preparation, monitoring, monthly accounts, reconciliations and year-end statutory reporting activity. You will have a sound knowledge of Local Government finance and wider financial and regulatory environment, problem-solving capabilities, and the ability to prioritise work to meet key deadlines. Resilient, adaptable and able to perform effectively during demanding periods, you will have a willingness to learn and a proactive approach to learning and personal development.

For full details, please review the job profile and the 'who is the Person' on the job profile attached below.

About Portsmouth City Council

Portsmouth City Council is a unique organisation, committed to making a difference, and is guided by core values that set who we are as people, what we stand for, and how we act.

We are committed to our values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity and being people-focussed. These values set out how we can contribute to the success of the council and our own success as individuals. Learn more about our values and behaviours .

Additional Information

Please ensure that you read the job profile for the full details of the post.

We are not able to offer sponsorship for this position.

Our recruitment process

Full information about our recruitment process can be found on our support for applicants' page: Support for applicants - Careers portal

You must demonstrate why you are suitable against each of the points described in the 'Who is the Person'points on the Job Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience, which clearly illustrates what you did and the effect it had.If you apply without a detailed personal statement, it is unlikely that you will be successful.

We are a disability confident employer and Armed Forces Covenant gold standard. More information can be found at Equality, diversity and inclusion - Careers portal

You will need to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. No post will be offered without it.

Read more about working at Portsmouth City Council and our benefits on our career's portal homepage: Careers Portal - Find jobs with Portsmouth City Council