GROUP ACCOUNTANT

As the Group Accountant for Education and Inclusion, you will provide strategic financial leadership and expert advice to support the delivery of Council priorities.

You will:

• Lead financial management and business partnering across Education and Inclusion services.
• Act as the lead finance advisor for the High Needs Block, overseeing funding, expenditure, and financial sustainability.
• Deliver robust budget monitoring, forecasting, and financial reporting.
• Support transformation programmes through financial modelling, business cases, and option appraisals.
• Work with senior managers to identify savings, manage financial risks, and develop recovery plans.
• Contribute to the year-end closedown, Statement of Accounts, statutory returns, and external audit.
• Lead and develop the SEND Finance Team, promoting high performance and continuous improvement.
• Provide trusted financial advice to senior leaders to support effective governance and decision-making.

Essential Requirements

• CCAB or CIMA qualified, or able to demonstrate substantial equivalent experience at a senior level within a finance function.
• Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD) and commitment to maintaining professional knowledge.
• Significant experience of delivering financial management within a large, complex organisation, ideally within local government or the wider public sector.
• Extensive experience of financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, financial modelling, and medium-term financial strategy development.
• Experience of leading or contributing to corporate and service improvement projects, working effectively across multidisciplinary teams.
• A proven ability to influence, advise, and challenge senior managers and stakeholders to support effective financial decision-making.
• Comprehensive knowledge of local authority finance, statutory accounting requirements, financial reporting standards, and governance frameworks.
• Experience of supporting the annual accounts process, including year-end closedown and the preparation of the Statement of Accounts.
• Understanding of the financial implications of commercialisation, income generation, and transformation within the public sector.
• Experience of leading, developing, and motivating professional finance teams to deliver high-quality services and continuous improvement.

What You''ll Bring

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex financial information and identify practical solutions.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain financial issues clearly and confidently to non-finance colleagues, senior leaders, and elected members.
• Strong partnership and stakeholder management skills, with a collaborative approach to supporting services across the Council.
• A strategic outlook, with the confidence to provide constructive challenge and influence organisational decision-making.
• The ability to manage competing priorities, meet statutory deadlines, and maintain high standards of accuracy in a fast-paced environment.
• A commitment to public service values, good governance, accountability, and delivering value for money for local communities.