Accountant

Accountant Salary: £37,938 - £40,746 pa Location: Luton Borough Council Contract: Permanent, Full-time Why Join Luton As a dynamic authority at the heart of a thriving and diverse borough, Luton Council is driving forward ambitious regeneration plans, delivering vital public services, and making a measurable difference to the lives of its residents. Few places can offer the same blend of scale, community impact, and opportunity for leaders across finance, HR, transformation, and other key corporate functions. Joining Luton means contributing to a clear and compelling vision for a town where everyone can thrive and being part of an organisation that truly puts people and place at its heart. A distinctive part of that story is London Luton Airport, one of the UK’s busiest airports and a critical economic engine for the town. Uniquely, the airport is wholly owned by the council, generating significant revenue that is reinvested back into local services, regeneration projects, and community wellbeing. It symbolises Luton’s ambition and financial resilience, providing employees with the rare opportunity to work for an authority that not only delivers for residents but also benefits from and shapes a major national asset. At Luton Council, colleagues are supported to develop, grow, and achieve their ambitions. The organisation promotes a flexible and inclusive culture, with hybrid working options, generous leave, and strong wellbeing support. There’s a clear commitment to professional development through training, mentoring, and opportunities to lead high-profile projects that deliver visible change. Staff are empowered to innovate, collaborate, and lead, knowing their contribution makes a real difference both locally and nationally. About the Role As an Accountant, you’ll provide high-quality financial support to one or more service areas — covering everything from budget planning, monitoring, and reporting to capital and technical accounting, systems development, or forward planning, depending on your specialist area and interests. You’ll work closely with managers, senior finance colleagues, and partner organisations, offering expert advice that supports effective service delivery within an approved financial framework. You’ll also have the opportunity to lead projects, improve financial processes, and contribute to corporate financial planning. This is a broad and varied role that provides excellent exposure to all aspects of local authority finance, ideal for someone who’s looking to develop their career in a collaborative and supportive environment. Key Responsibilities Prepare, coordinate, and monitor revenue and capital budgets, ensuring financial integrity and effective use of resources. Provide professional financial advice and information to managers, supporting them to deliver services within budget. Close the annual accounts for your service area, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely completion. Support service and corporate projects, bringing financial insight and analysis to drive better outcomes. Contribute to value-for-money reviews, business cases, and grant claims, ensuring sound financial governance. Represent Finance at management meetings, working groups, and cross-departmental initiatives. Support the continuous improvement of systems, processes, and reporting to enhance efficiency and financial control. About You You’ll be an experienced and capable finance professional — fully AAT-qualified (or equivalent), or with significant relevant accounting experience. You’ll combine strong technical and analytical skills with the ability to communicate financial information clearly to non-specialists. You’ll enjoy solving problems, working collaboratively, and managing competing priorities. Most importantly, you’ll have the drive to help make every pound count for the community we serve. Essential experience includes: Providing financial advice and support in a complex organisation. Managing or monitoring budgets and completing financial returns. Working with financial systems and large spreadsheets. Delivering or supporting project-based work. Desirable experience: Working in a local authority or public sector finance environment. Supervising or mentoring staff. Familiarity with Civica Authority Financials or similar finance systems. A Great Career Move At Luton, they’re transforming how they deliver public services, focused on innovation, collaboration, and improving lives. As part of their finance leadership team, you’ll be at the heart of that transformation, shaping strategy, building financial resilience, and supporting key projects such as housing, regeneration, and infrastructure. You’ll enjoy: A culture that values inclusion, learning, and wellbeing. Hybrid and flexible working arrangements. Access to generous local government pension and annual leave schemes. Opportunities for professional development and leadership growth. To discuss this opportunity in more detail, please reach out to Thomas Porter on 07951795790, or email thomas@mlcpartners.co.uk