Principal Finance Officer

Job reference REQ00000019254 Date posted 27/11/2025 Application closing date 28/12/2025 Location PENRITH AND KENDAL Salary £38,220 - £39,152 Package Blank Contractual hours 37 Basis Full time Attachments Blank Location: Penrith, Kendal or Barrow-in-Furness (With the facility to work from Parkhouse, Carlisle. However, this will be a workbase not a contractual location.) Contract Type: Permanent About this opportunity We are seeking a Principal Finance Officer to join our friendly, supportive, and dynamic Finance Team. Our Finance Officers provide essential, flexible financial support across a wide range of Council services. In this role, you will provide support for Thriving Places Directorate, delivering professional financial services to managers throughout the Council. You will consult on their financial needs, provide recommendations, and propose strategies to enhance service delivery and financial performance. Additionally, you will be responsible for maintaining accurate accounting records and preparing financial statements, grant claims, statistical returns, and other reports, all within the required deadlines. Who we are looking for… We are looking for experienced and enthusiastic accountants who are committed to supporting the Council with its goal of achieving financial sustainability. The ideal candidates will be fully qualified CCAB Accountants or AAT qualified with at least five years of relevant accountancy experience. To succeed in this role, you must be able to work accurately under pressure, collaborate effectively as part of a team, and demonstrate initiative. What can we offer you Working at Westmorland and Furness Council you will receive a variety of benefits, including a competitive pension scheme, enhanced annual leave allowance and other various perks and discounts schemes. For more information about life at Westmorland and Furness Council and what we can offer you, please visit our Careers site. Our benefits | Careers (westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk) Would you like to find out more? For further information about this role, such as responsibilities and essential criteria please view the below attachments: Post SpecificationRole Profile If you have any queries about this role or would like an informal chat about this opportunity, then please contact Cara Beamish at cara.beamish@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk Application and Interview information Closing date: 28th December 2025 Interviews: Week commencing 12th January 2026 We are currently operating both in-person and virtual interviews. Options will be discussed with candidates once they have been invited to the interview stage of the process for this specific position, and if you have any concerns or adjustments are needed, we are happy to discuss this with you. Westmorland and Furness Council are now able to offer sponsorship for Skilled Worker Visa applications for eligible roles. Please note, we cannot guarantee the eligibility of all of our roles, therefore, if you would like more information on roles that may be eligible please visit the government website - Skilled Worker visa: eligible occupations and codes - GOV.UK . Safer Recruitment & DBS At Westmorland and Furness Council we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the safety and welfare of children, young people and adults at risk and we expect all workers, employees and volunteers to share our commitment. Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Westmorland and Furness Council is committed to improving the diversity of its workforce to better reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and work to promote an inclusive, supportive culture that values and celebrates our differences. As a Disability Confident Leader, disabled applicants, who meet the essential criteria of this job, are guaranteed an interview. We also offer guaranteed interviews to Armed Forces personnel and veterans and those in care or care experienced and under 24 years old (someone who has been looked after by a local authority at any point, for any length of time, e.g. foster care, residential care, or under the guardianship of a local authority) that meet the essential criteria for the role. #J-18808-Ljbffr