Head Accountant

Chief Accountant (Local Authority) - Interim Contract Rate: Up to £625 per day (inside IR35) Contract Length: 6 Months Start Date: Immediate Location: Fully Remote with approximately 1 office visit per month Sector: Local Government Overview

Our local authority client is seeking an experienced Chief Accountant to provide strategic and operational leadership across the authority's financial accounting, statutory reporting, treasury management oversight, and year-end accounts processes.

This is a critical interim appointment requiring a candidate with a proven track record within UK Local Government finance functions. Applications from candidates whose experience is primarily within central government, NHS, public bodies, or the private sector will not be considered.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Financial Accounting function and provide professional leadership across the finance service.
• Manage the production of the authority's Statement of Accounts and supporting working papers.
• Ensure compliance with the CIPFA Code of Practice, IFRS requirements, and all relevant local government financial regulations.
• Lead and coordinate the year-end closedown process.
• Act as the principal liaison for external auditors throughout the accounts and audit cycle.
• Provide technical accounting advice to senior finance colleagues, directors, and budget holders.
• Oversee balance sheet management, reconciliations, reserves, provisions, and capital accounting.
• Support treasury management activities and ensure compliance with relevant regulations and reporting requirements.
• Review and develop accounting policies, procedures, and financial controls.
• Contribute to financial governance, risk management, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Provide leadership and mentoring to qualified and part-qualified finance staff.

Essential Requirements Qualifications

• Fully qualified accountant holding one of the following:
• CIPFA
• ACA
• ACCA
• CIMA

Please note:

Candidates who are qualified by experience (QBE) only will not be considered.

Experience

• Significant experience working as a Chief Accountant, Head of Financial Accounting, Financial Accounting Manager, or equivalent within a UK Local Authority.
• Extensive experience producing local authority statutory accounts.
• Strong understanding of:
• CIPFA Code of Practice
• Local Government finance regulations
• Collection Fund accounting
• Capital accounting
• Treasury management reporting
• VAT within Local Government
• External audit processes

Skills

• Strong technical accounting expertise.
• Ability to quickly assess and improve financial controls and processes.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills.
• Proven ability to operate effectively in a politically sensitive environment.
• Experience managing and developing finance teams.

Desirable Experience

• Recent experience supporting local authority accounts closure programmes.
• Experience working with authorities receiving audit recommendations or requiring improvements to financial accounting processes.
• Experience of major finance system implementations or upgrades.
• Prior exposure to unitary, county, district, metropolitan, or London borough councils.

Contract Details

• Day Rate: Up to £625 per day
• Duration: Initial 6-month contract
• Start: Immediate
• Working Arrangement: Fully remote
• Office Attendance: Approximately one day per month on site
• Interview Process: Single-stage virtual interview

Additional Information

This role requires an individual who can quickly establish credibility within a local authority finance environment and provide hands-on leadership across statutory accounting and financial governance activities from day one. Candidates must demonstrate recent and substantial local government experience and hold a recognised professional accountancy qualification.