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 ..... full job details .....