Fixed Asset Accountant - Braintree District Council

Fixed Asset Accountant - Braintree District Council

Braintree District Council

Temporary, Full Time

Up to £550 per day (Umbrella, Inside IR35) Dependant on experience

Location: Braintree

Closing Date: 1st March 2026

We are pleased to be recruiting for a Capital Accountant on behalf of Braintree District Council. This is a temporary assignment for an initial period of three months, with an immediate start required. The role offers a competitive day rate of up to £550 (umbrella), depending on experience. The successful candidate will be expected to attend the Braintree office one day per week.

The Opportunity:

To lead on the Council’s Fixed Asset Register and capital accounting processes for the 2025-26 financial accounts. The role to ensure the accurate recording, valuation, depreciation, and reporting of the Council’s assets in accordance with the CIPFA Code of Practice, IFRS, and statutory reporting requirements. The post holder will prepare audit‑ready documentation, lead on the production of the capital sections of the statutory accounts and be able to provide expert and practical technical advice.

· Update the Council’s Fixed Asset Register, ensuring accurate classification, valuation, depreciation, additions, disposals, and impairment adjustments.

· Ensure the register complies with statutory accounting standards, the CIPFA Code, and internal financial controls.

· Reconcile the Fixed Asset Register to the general ledger, investigating and resolving discrepancies in a timely manner.

· Proven experience maintaining and overseeing a Fixed Asset Register (ideally the CIPFA system or very similar), including asset recognition, valuation, depreciation, additions, disposals, and impairment adjustments.

· Experience liaising with and challenging work undertaken by external valuers or other specialists to ensure that valuations are robust for year-end reporting and scrutiny by the external auditor.

· Recent experience preparing capital sections of statutory accounts within local government

· Knowledge of IFRS 16 lease accounting; experience preparing IFRS 16 entries (even for a small lease portfolio).

· Demonstrable experience producing audit‑ready supporting documentation, including reconciliations and schedules.

· Experience providing technical accounting advice for the finance team and other staff involved in the year-end accounting valuation process e.g. the Asset Management Team. to both finance and non-finance colleagues.

· Experience preparing effective handover documentation, procedures, and coaching of other finance staff.

“We require a qualified and experienced capital accounting expert to lead on Fixed Asset register and capital accounting processes for the 2025-26 financial accounts. You will be required to review, challenge, and process property valuations and the related accounting entries to ensure proper and auditable accounting disclosures for the Councils Statement of Accounts. The assignment must be undertaken in a timely and accurate manner which ensures that the Council can meet its reporting deadline of end June 2026. The expected duration for completion of the initial assignment is expected to be 3 months, but this may be extended further to provide ongoing support.” The asset portfolio in Braintree District Council consist of General fund assets only has it transferred it’s HRA stock in 2007. Total NBV of PPE consists of £120m and £49m of investment property assets.

Experience:

· CCAB qualified with demonstrable continuing professional development

· Strong capital accounting background in Local Government (or similar)

· In depth knowledge of the CIPFA Accounting Code and related guidance and any other statutory or non-statutory guidance related to capital accounting

· Wealth of experience in dealing with property valuers for providing valuations for year-end reporting.

· Using Finance systems including GL, and Asset Register (ideally CIPFA or similar) as well as MS Office-based products including high level competence in using Excel

· Ability to work as an individual and part of a wider Finance Team

· Self-starter and able to work to strict deadlines while ensuring accuracy and comprehensive working papers

· Good communication skills with other finance and non-finance staff

· Must be able to undertake the required task with minimal supervision required – i.e. able to demonstrate being an obvious expert in the field

· Flexible around working arrangements to ensure required task is completed on time and to auditable standard

Why choose Braintree District Council?

Braintree District Council is a great place to work. We pride ourselves on our creative, innovative and forward-thinking approach that is led by our staff. We are committed to having an engaged workforce who understand our strategy and how they can help deliver it.

Closing date for receipt of applications: Sunday 1 ^st March 2026.

Please Note –Essex County Council is advertising this role on behalf of Braintree District Council and if successful you will be employed by Braintree District Council