Job Title: Chief AccountantDay Rate: £600 per day (PAYE)Location: West End DistrictContract: 6 Months | Hybrid (Home & all organisation locations)IR35 Determination: Inside IR35

About the Organisation:This fantastic business offers a suite of essential support services to ensure the success of a leading children's services organisation. This includes services across 2 London Boroughs and Berkshire. The finance team within the directorate provides comprehensive financial management services, including management accounts, financial accounts, risk management reporting, schools finance, system control, and development.

About the Chief Accountant Role:The Chief Accountant will report to the Chief Operating and Finance Officer and will oversee a team comprising three heads of finance and a Senior Financial Accountant. The role involves ensuring that workloads are balanced, tasks are effectively delegated, and team members are performing at the appropriate grade level. The postholder will be a key strategic finance leader within the organisation, working closely with both operational and corporate leadership teams to influence financial strategy, communicate key financial issues, and promote the use of robust management information.

This position also oversees day-to-day finance functions, including system control, transactions, management accounts (both DSG and General Fund), schools finance, and risk management. The Chief Accountant will be responsible for corporate reporting to the Company's Board on financial risks and issues and will lead on financial projections, reporting, and modelling. The postholder will participate in high-level meetings, including the Pensions Board and the Commissioning Board, and will support the Chief Operating and Finance Officer in ensuring compliance with all financial regulations.

Qualifications for the Chief Accountant Role:

CCAB qualified or equivalent
Minimum three years of post-qualification experience

Skills and Experience for the Chief Accountant Role:

Proven strategic leadership experience, including team development, performance management, and change management
Strong background in financial control, statutory compliance, reporting, and systems
Experience in developing finance systems and processes
Expertise in Medium Term Financial Planning, budget setting, and financial reporting
Extensive experience in financial accounting and account closures
Ability to leverage data, intelligence, and evidence to inform decision-making
Experience in contributing to the development of strategy or policy, ideally in a children's services context
Familiarity with addressing diversity or equality issues within practice
Experience building strong partnerships and solving challenges collaboratively with diverse stakeholders

Personal Attributes for the Chief Accountant Role:

Passionate about supporting children and young people to lead safe, healthy, and successful lives
Strong organisational, time management, and problem-solving skills
Able to work independently and flexibly with minimal oversight
Driven, with the determination and ambition to achieve challenging objectives and deliver excellent outcomes
Excellent communication, negotiation, and influencing skills
Commitment to collaborative working within dedicated entity and across organisational boundaries

This is an exciting opportunity for a Chief Accountant to make a significant impact within an innovative organisation dedicated to achieving the best outcomes for children.

If this role is of interest to you, please apply today I want to hear from you!