Chief Accountant

We are working closely alongside a Local Authority in Bexley to assist with the appointment of a Chief Accountant, on a 5.5-month contract, highly likely to be extended at clients discretion. Please apply with your CV for immediate consideration.

Rate of Pay: £ £96.22 per hour

Summary:

The Chief Accountant is a senior leadership role within the Finance & Technical Accounting team, responsible for delivering the Councils statutory financial reporting and ensuring robust financial governance across the organisation. As the Councils primary expert on financial accounting standards, the postholder will provide high-level technical advice to the Section 151 Officer, senior leaders, and elected members.

This role leads the production of the Councils Single Entity and Group Accounts, oversees the Balance Sheet, and manages all year-end capital and asset accounting processes. The Chief Accountant will also act as the day-to-day owner of the Councils core financial systems, driving improvements in financial controls, reporting quality, and operational efficiency. Strong collaboration with external auditors, internal stakeholders, and budget holders is essential.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the production of the Councils Single Entity and Group Accounts in accordance with statutory deadlines and accounting standards (CIPFA Code of Practice, IFRS).
• Act as the Councils subject-matter expert on financial accounting regulations, providing authoritative advice to the Section 151 Officer and senior management.
• Manage the end-of-year capital accounting processes, including fixed asset register management, valuations, capital financing, and related disclosures.
• Lead on asset accounting policy development and compliance.
  
• Manage senior-level relationships with External Auditors and coordinate the external audit process.

Qualifications:

• Full CCAB qualification (e.g., CIPFA, ACCA, ICAEW, ICAS).

• Significant post-qualification experience in financial accounting within local government or a similar complex organisation.
• Proven track record of producing statutory accounts and managing external audits.
• Strong understanding of IFRS, CIPFA Code, and public sector financial frameworks.
• Experience managing and improving financial controls and Balance Sheet processes.
• Leadership experience managing a multi-disciplinary finance team.
• Experience in capital accounting, asset management, and technical accounting issues.
• Demonstrated ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders, including elected members.
• Experience providing expert technical advice to finance and non-finance colleagues.
• Hands-on experience with financial systems administration or system ownership.

Please note:

• You should be available to work immediately or at a short notice.
• You should have right to work in U.K

Disclaimer: Brackenberry Ltd is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy. We are committed to equality in the workplace and is an equal opportunity employer. Unless otherwise stated all of our roles are temporary, though opening assignments can be and often are, extended by clients on a longer term basis and can sometimes become permanent.

Important: We will interpret your application as being permission to submit your CV to this role (with the right to represent you) unless you advise us to the contrary. Incase the role requires an enhanced DBS, your DBS must be either through us or be accompanied by a subscription to the DBS updating service.

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Discretion
Driving
Capital
Collaboration
Balance
Compliance
Asset Management
Balance Sheet
Financial Accounting
Ownership
Operational Efficiency
Government
Financial Reporting
LTD
Regulations
Administration
Accounting
Finance
Business
Leadership
Management