Job description

Permanent role with a Local Authority

Job Summary:

• The Senior Finance Officer plays a pivotal role within the finance team, delivering high-quality and comprehensive financial support across various council services.

• Drawing on extensive technical expertise and experience, the role involves leading financial activities, resolving challenges, and driving continuous process improvements.

• The post holder supports Finance Managers and Deputy Chief Accountants and is responsible for coaching and developing junior colleagues to enhance team performance.

• This role requires flexibility to work across different teams and ownership of specific finance processes to ensure consistency and efficiency.

Key Duties/Accountabilities (Sample):

• Lead and deliver specific finance service activities such as budget review, corporate accounting, financial planning, and audit support.

• Support either Corporate Accountancy (e.g., annual accounts, audit queries, VAT, statutory returns) or Finance Business Partnering (e.g., budget monitoring, savings proposals, financial reconciliations).

• Coach, mentor, and train colleagues to ensure consistent and high-quality service delivery.

• Act as the first point of contact for service enquiries and resolve escalated financial issues effectively.

• Champion continuous improvement, promoting automation and efficiency within finance processes.

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation, financial practices, and ICT tools to support automation and service enhancements.

• Prioritise workload effectively, keeping managers informed of potential impacts on deadlines or service standards.

• Ensure compliance with council policies, financial regulations, and health and safety requirements.

Skills/Experience:

• Proven accountancy experience within local authority, public sector, or not-for-profit finance teams, ideally in financial accounting or business partnering.

• Strong knowledge of local authority accounting, statutory reporting, year-end processes, and audit requirements.

• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, with experience engaging senior stakeholders.

• Advanced IT skills, particularly Microsoft Excel and other Office packages.

• Experience supporting organisational change and efficiency initiatives.

• Ability to work accurately under pressure and to deadlines with high attention to detail.

• Highly numerate and proactive in developing technical skills and knowledge.

Additional Information:

• The closing date: 01/08/2025 @12:00.

• Part or fully qualified CCAB or CIMA accountant, and ICT technical experience.

Senior Finance Officer Permanent

Senior Finance Officer Permanent

Job description

Karina Nazarenko