Civic Recruitment Limited
Corporate Finance Manager

How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
6 Month Contract With A Local Authority
Job Purpose
To provide hands-on leadership and technical expertise across the Council’s corporate finance function, ensuring the effective delivery of all core accounting, financial reporting, treasury, taxation and statutory finance requirements. The postholder will be responsible for managing and, where required, directly undertaking a broad range of corporate finance activities expected within a District or Borough Council. This is a highly hands-on role requiring a technically strong, fully qualified accountant who can quickly understand the Council’s financial operations, work closely with internal stakeholders and ensure the accurate and timely delivery of statutory and operational finance requirements.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and undertake the preparation of the Council’s Statement of Accounts, ensuring compliance with relevant accounting standards, statutory requirements and deadlines.
- Manage and support the external audit process, including responding to audit queries, preparing supporting information and ensuring the timely resolution of audit issues.
- Oversee and undertake VAT accounting, returns, reconciliations and related compliance requirements.
- Manage Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) processes and returns.
- Maintain and oversee the Fixed Asset Register, ensuring accurate accounting records and appropriate reconciliation to the financial ledger.
- Oversee Accounts Payable processes, ensuring accurate, timely and compliant processing of payments.
- Lead Treasury Management and Banking activities, including cash management, banking arrangements, reconciliations and monitoring of the Council’s financial position.
- Prepare and monitor cash flow forecasts, ensuring effective management of the Council’s liquidity and financial resources.
- Complete and oversee statutory and financial returns, including Delta returns and Whole of Government Accounts (WGA).
- Provide hands-on technical accounting advice and support across the organisation.
- Ensure the accuracy, integrity and completeness of financial records, reconciliations and reporting.
- Identify and resolve technical accounting issues and provide practical solutions to complex financial matters.
- Work closely with senior officers, finance colleagues, external auditors and other stakeholders to ensure effective delivery of corporate finance requirements.
- Review existing processes and implement improvements to enhance efficiency, financial control, compliance and value for money.
- Support the Council with any other corporate finance, accounting or statutory requirements that arise.
- Take responsibility for the full range of normal corporate finance activities expected within a District or Borough Council.
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
See breakdownIt searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Requirements
Essential
- Fully qualified accountant with a recognised professional accountancy qualification (e.g. CCAB, CIPFA, ACA, ACCA or CIMA).
- Significant and recent experience working in a District or Borough Council environment.
- Strong technical accounting knowledge and substantial hands-on experience across local authority corporate finance.
- Proven experience preparing and/or reviewing local authority Statements of Accounts.
- Strong experience supporting and managing external audit processes.
- Practical knowledge and experience of VAT and CIS within a local authority environment.
- Experience managing or maintaining a Fixed Asset Register.
- Experience of Accounts Payable and associated financial controls and processes.
- Strong knowledge and practical experience of Treasury Management, banking and cash flow management.
- Experience completing local government statutory and financial returns, including WGA and Delta returns.
- Ability to work independently and take ownership of a broad range of corporate finance responsibilities.
- Strong technical accounting and analytical skills, with the ability to investigate and resolve complex financial issues.
- Ability to quickly understand existing processes, systems and financial arrangements and identify areas requiring attention.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively with senior officers, finance teams, auditors and other stakeholders.
- Ability to work effectively in a demanding environment and manage competing priorities.
- This is a hands-on technical role, rather than a purely managerial position; candidates must be willing and able to undertake detailed finance and accounting work themselves.


Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Additional Information
- Hours: 37 Hours
- Location: Rugby, Warwickshire – hybrid working
- Initial On-Site Requirement: At least 4 days per week on site for the first couple of weeks to understand the Council’s operations and meet key stakeholders.
- Ongoing On-Site Requirement: Approximately 2–3 days per week on site, depending on business needs.
- Bi-Weekly Payments
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Location