Senior Finance Officer

Number of Vacancies:
1

Time Type:
Full time

Worker Type:
Regular

Proposed Interview Date:
Thursday, October 8, 2026

Hours of Work:
37

Hiring Manager:
Kayleigh Blaza

Contact Number:
01482 613526

Job Description Summary:

This is a Full Time Permanent Position

Are you a talented, ambitious Finance Officer looking to make your next move? We are looking to recruit an AAT level 4 or equivalent qualified finance professional to join the council’s Financial Assurance Team. We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated candidate with a ‘can do’ attitude.

This is a broad and varied role including supporting with the production of the Statement of Accounts, updating cashflows, making treasury management decisions, managing core reconciliations, and providing financial support and guidance to external bodies. The successful candidate must have an analytical approach supported by strong excel skills including data analysis techniques and a proactive approach to improving systems, with experience of delivering financial services and excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

We are committed to investing and ‘growing our own’ senior finance professionals and therefore there is potential to undertake a CCAB qualification. This role offers a combination of office/hybrid working to enable staff to work more flexibly with an expectation of three days in the office.

For an informal discussion please contact Kayleigh Blaza (01482 613 526) or Mike Armstrong (01482 613 282)

Please note that the closing date for applications is 23:59 on 20/09/2026

ROLE AND PURPOSE

To perform monthly and annual accounting activities including balance sheet reconciliations, financial reporting and data analysis. Activities include access and maintenance of the general ledger, daily dealings of working capital through the treasury systems process, financial planning and controlling daily bank reconciliation transactions. As a team player, responsibilities include coordination and completion of annual audits, providing internal and external auditors with the required supporting financial information as necessary.

The role requires an analytical approach supported by strong excel skills including data analysis techniques and a proactive approach to improving systems, including implementing change resulting in financial and process efficiencies.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Responsible for the compilation, maintenance and accounting of the Council’s Councils’ Capital Programme including short and medium term forecasting, budgeting and monthly reporting. Responsible for capital accounting, management of service area capital programme update reports and submission of statutory returns.
• Responsible for the Council’s Treasury Management function in line with statute, accounting standards and specifically the Prudential Code. Responsible for the accounting and administration of the treasury function in respect of working capital management, dealing in money markets and other financial instruments. Prepare, maintain and manage daily, weekly and monthly liquidity for the authority. Ensure liquid position complies with minimum requirements at all times. Monitor and maintain treasury investment and borrowing contracts. Monitor and manage the list of daily limits and exposures split by company and industry sector. Ensure accurate monthly interest payments and receipts are monitored, accounted for and received. Review client and broker balance confirmations for audit purposes.
• Responsible for the delivering capital budget monitoring information to Service Heads, and the compilation of corporate monitoring thereby meeting the needs of the Corporate Management Team and Elected Members.
• Responsible for producing the annual revenue budget and Council Tax pamphlet allowing for the setting of the Council’s Council Tax rates as required by statute and ensuring consistency with the Council’s accounts. This includes financial planning, scenario analysis and financial modelling which is required to produce the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan.
• Supports the Accountancy and Control Manager with compilation and production of the Annual Statement of Accounts, including completion of financial control reconciliations, information gathering, data analysis, financial reporting, an understanding of the latest International Financial Reporting Standards and overall ledger integrity.
• Responsible for Council Tax and Business Rate accounting including liaising with the Revenues and Benefits team and ultimately calculating and submitting the NDR 3 estimates to Central Government.
• Actively responsible for the implementation of new accounting standards into the Council’s Statement of Accounts process including risk assessing new system and data gathering requirements. Responsible for producing and maintaining the Statement of Accounts project plan, putting emphasis on new requirements and identifying areas where efficiencies can be made through system developments and by removing non value added tasks.
• Supports the Accountancy and Control Manager with various Vat and stamp duty and land tax queries required to complete service contractual arrangements.
• Responsible for keeping up to date with changes to tax laws and regulations which specifically impact the Council’s ability to operate efficiently when being exposed to tax related risks. Responsible for managing the Council’s partial-exemption VAT position against the Local Authority partial-exemption threshold.
• Prepare the council’s tax error voluntary disclosures. Manage the production of Vat return submissions through integrity controls, system reviews and reconciliations.
• Ensures that appropriate systems and procedures for effective financial management and controls are in place and adhered to by Operational Managers, City Managers and Schools across areas of the Council to allow Corporate Directors to provide assurance to the s151 Officer that the statutory and fiduciary requirements of s151 of the Local Government Act 1972 and s113 & s114 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 are being fulfilled in areas of the business.
• Interprets legislation, and responds to consultation proposals on the financial aspects of a diverse range of issues impacting on all areas in the Council. Provides technical guidance to the Assistant City Treasurer and City Managers on any necessary changes to financial systems and controls to ensure that standards of probity and efficiency are maintained in the light of legislative developments. Supports Principal Finance Officers and the Assistant City Treasurer in developing and implementing the Council’s value for money and efficiency strategies.
• Contributes to the development and enhancement of financial services to specific areas of the directorate on an ongoing basis, and actively participates in the provision of a range of business support activities (e.g. the identification of information system requirements, the co-ordination of performance management information etc.) to enhance the management capabilities of operational managers in the relevant areas, thereby contributing to the continuous improvement of services provided by the directorate.
• Maintains good employee relations through effective communication and consultation with members of the finance team to ensure that the objectives of all areas of the Council and of Corporate Finance are achieved. Assists in the recruitment, induction, training, development and motivation of staff on the team to ensure a flexible, economic, efficient and effective service is provided to operational managers and other stakeholders.