Interim Strategic Accountant

A public sector organisation is currently recruiting a Strategic Accountant for a 6 month interim contract.

Based in central London, they offer an attractive hybrid working policy with 1 – 2 days in the office per week.

The role will be offered as a 6 month initial contract for a day rate of £550 - £650 per day umbrella. (inside IR35)

Job Purpose

• Provide a professional, high quality and responsive finance service that supports and promotes efficient and effective service delivery in line with their objectives and priorities. In doing so, ensuring value for money and that resources are aligned to priorities and agreed outcomes achieved.

• Ensuring effective financial oversight and strong financial governance is in place. The financial portfolio includes major transformational change programmes, estates strategy, major commercial contracts and managing national programmes as well as fulfilling statutory responsibilities.

• With significant investment proposals, the role will scrutinise and analyse major investment proposals and major procurements, providing advice on the financial implications, benefits and risks to support effective decision making. 

Principal Accountabilities

• Responsible for effective oversight of the budget and interpretation of performance financial performance information.
• Carry out financial appraisal of new business cases/developments, policies and other initiatives and advise on the financial implications including value for money.
• Oversight of major transformation programmes including estates, considering risks, financial implications and ensuring outcomes are realised as set out in business cases.
• Advise on financial implications of processes and decisions, referring to the Head of Financial Management - Oversight where appropriate.
• Responsible for updating, interpreting, analysing, explaining and validating financial benchmarking information provided.
• Support the scrutiny of the capital   programme, including the assessment of risks and evaluation of benefits.
• To actively contribute to relevant change programmes and support continuous improvement of functions and services.
• To identify weaknesses in financial control and gaps in policies and
• Provide financial analysis and interpretation of relevant new legislation, government initiatives and other developments including ad-hoc projects such as appropriate.
• Assist in the development of appropriate value for money analysis for the evaluation revenue and capital programmes including commercial opportunities and financial targets.
• Responsible for ensuring that value for money is achieved wherever possible and to critically challenge internal and external customers to ensure value for money is met.

The ideal candidate

• CIPFA or equivalent CCAB accounting qualification
• Experience of effectively managing budgets and planning and managing projects on their own and to meet deadlines.
• Experience of finalising accounts at year end.
• Experience of working in a politically sensitive environment.
• Knowledge of local government financial and accounting framework and relevant legislation would be an advantage.
• Understanding of governance within the public sector

If this sound like an ideal role for your skills and experience, apply now and we’ll be in touch.