Principal Accountant
Job Title: Principal Accountant (X5)
Location: Bernard Weatherill House, Croydon
Salary: Grade 14 - £50,031 to £52,116 (pay award pending) per annum
Employment Type: 1 Year fixed term contact
Croydon has faced significant challenges in recent years, in terms of the Council’s financial position and of course the pandemic challenge faced by every local authority.
This is a very exciting time to join Croydon as we move from the recovery and improvement phases to the transformational phase of our journey to bring the Council back to financial sustainability.
You will be helping to rebuild the Council, its finances, its governance, its culture and its services. The financial challenge is steep, but the Government has noted our strong progress, with a new Executive Mayor, Cabinet, Chief Executive and Corporate Management Team, who all share a commitment to the task ahead and putting Croydon’s people first.
Croydon is a fantastic place; a vital part of London’s growth story with a strong identity in its own right and this is a rare chance to make genuine change in a place of great opportunity. What we do together over the next three years will help shape the future of one of London’s most diverse and exciting boroughs.
As a Principal Accountant, you will be supporting the Finance managers and service directorates in the budget setting and managing process, to meet statutory and best practice financial requirements, and to promote the Council’s corporate competencies and values.
Following the recent restructure of the finance function, we are looking to appoint five Principal Accountants for the following services: Adult Social Care & Health (x1), Children, Young People & Education (x1), Housing (x1) Resources (x1) and Sustainable Communities, Regeneration & Economic Recovery.
Key responsibilities include:
- To manage the financial and management accounting processes for a range of services covering revenue and capital. This includes, budget preparation, financial close and external audit, budget preparation, budget monitoring and financial analysis
- Ensure that internal and external deadlines are met.
- To drive the improvement of financial processes and systems and the adoption of best practice in financial management
- To maintain a proactive relationship with key stakeholders across the council, providing valuable finance support and effective challenge.
- To maintain up to date technical knowledge and develop processes and procedures to ensure compliance with new requirements and legislation.
- To provide support to the relevant Finance Manager and Head of Strategic Finance, deputising when required
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To act as an effective task manager (and line manager where necessary) by:
- providing regular honest feedback and coaching
- delegating work appropriately
To be suitable for the role you should be a qualified accountant (CCAB, CIMA or equivalent) or have extensive knowledge and experience of local government finance. You will have extensive knowledge and experience of budget setting, budget monitoring (capital and revenue) and closing the accounts. You will also have substantial experience of budget preparation as well as delivering finance service improvements and supporting the delivery of strategic projects and initiatives.
Croydon Council operates a hybrid working policy with staff working a minimum of 2 days a week in the office.
For further information about the roles please contact:
Housing – Orlagh.Guarnori@croydon.gov.uk
Adults - Mirella.Peters@croydon.gov.uk
Education - Jenny.Bartlett@croydon.gov.uk
Sustainable Communities – Zaber.Ahmed@croydon.gov.uk
Resources – James.Huggett@croydon.gov.uk
To view the Principal Accountant Role Profile click here
Closing date: Sunday 4th August 2024 at 23:59pm.
Interviews are likely to take place the week beginning 12th August 2024
Equal opportunities
Croydon Council is an inclusive employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Subject to business needs, we will be pleased to consider applications from candidates seeking flexible working arrangements and support hybrid working, whereby staff attend the workplace for part of their working week and work from home, or elsewhere, remotely for the rest of the time.
As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the advertised role.
Croydon council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. The Successful candidate will be subject to a Standard DBS check.