Principal Accountant - Capital

Sellick Partnership; Delaware; Hybrid; USD 67,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

Sellick Partnership is recruiting for a Principal Accountant to lead the finance function for Eastbourne Borough Council and Lewes District Council. The role is predominantly home-based with attendance at Eastbourne and Lewes offices as needed, and involves shaping financial strategy, influencing decisions and developing staff.

You will provide high-level financial advice to Directors and Members, manage budgeting, forecasting, and financial modelling, and drive improvements in systems and

Qualifications

• Senior/Principal Accountant experience in local government or similar public sector environment.
• Strong ability to lead and mentor finance teams and exercise technical accounting oversight.
• Proven skills in budgeting, forecasting, and financial modelling for complex organisations.
• Experience with capital accounting, final accounts, treasury management and VAT is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert financial advice to Directors, managers and Members.
• Lead on financial planning, budgeting, forecasting and monitoring.
• Produce high-level financial modelling and analyse complex information.
• Support strategic decision-making and improve systems and controls.

Skills

Financial leadership

Team leadership

Budgeting

Forecasting

Financial modelling

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

Principal Accountant

50,269 - 53,460, Permanent, 37 hours per week

Predominantly home-based Eastbourne & Lewes

Are you an experienced accountant looking for a senior role where you can combine technical expertise, business partnering and team leadership?

We are recruiting for a Principal Accountant to join the Finance & Performance service supporting Eastbourne Borough Council and Lewes District Council. This is an excellent opportunity to take on a broad and influential finance role, working closely with senior leaders and elected Members while helping shape and continuously improve the finance service.

The role is predominantly home-based, offering significant flexibility, although you will need to be able to attend offices in Eastbourne and Lewes and other locations across the two council areas when required.

The opportunity

As Principal Accountant, you will act as a technical finance lead, providing high-level financial advice and insight to Directors, senior managers, budget holders and elected Members.

It's a varied role that goes beyond producing the numbers. You'll have the opportunity to influence financial decision-making, improve systems and processes, develop colleagues and contribute to projects that will help shape future service delivery.

With Eastbourne Borough Council and Lewes District Council operating an established shared-services partnership, you'll also be joining at an interesting time for local government, with the opportunity to contribute to the evolution of Local Government Reorganisation and future delivery models.

What you'll be doing

• Providing expert financial advice to senior managers, Directors and elected Members
• Leading on financial planning, budgeting, forecasting and budget monitoring
• Producing high-level financial modelling and analysing complex financial information
• Supporting and influencing strategic and operational decision-making
• Leading on areas including capital accounting, final accounts, treasury management, cash flow, VAT, reconciliations, collection fund and financial advice to services
• Managing, mentoring and developing finance colleagues, with responsibility for teams of up to seven staff
• Presenting and contributing to Council Committees, Boards, working groups and project teams
• Reviewing and improving financial systems, controls and processes