Senior Financial Accountant

Senior Financial Accountant

Permanent

Full Time, 37 hours per week

£65,058 to £76,538 per annum

Location: Chelmsford

Working Style: Anywhere worker

Closing Date: 4th May 2026

The Opportunity

As a Senior Financial Accountant, you will be part of a team of expert financial accountants who are collectively responsible for statutory financial reporting, effective treasury management and tax advice. Reporting to the Chief Accountant, you will provide authoritative technical leadership to a team of high performing, customer facing finance professionals, to underpin effective decision making, promote compliance with best professional practice and to ensure the highest standards of financial governance are achieved.

You will be a trusted expert and advisor, translating complex accounting standards, CIPFA codes of practice and government regulations into clear, practical solutions that support sound decision‑making across the organisation. By leading key elements of the annual Statement of Accounts and wider financial closure activity, you will ensure the Council consistently meets statutory deadlines while maintaining the highest professional standards.

You will operate at a strategic level, building strong relationships with internal and external partners and will be a key and active member of senior manager forums.

Specifically, the purpose of the role is to:

• Specialise in, and lead on, aspects of the Council’s statutory financial accounting and reporting requirements (including the Statement of Accounts), its Treasury Management function or other regulatory requirements such as those related to UK duties and taxes, to ensure that the required standards and statutory deadlines are met.
• Support the establishment and maintenance of a framework of accounting policies and internal financial controls which ensure that the Council complies with statutory regulations, Codes of Practice and professional best practice, and to provide practical advice and interpretation consistent with these policies and controls to ensure the highest standards of financial governance in all of the Council’s decision making and operations.
• Ensure that officers are provided with high quality strategic advice and direction on financial strategies, projects and other initiatives.
• Lead on any project or programme as agreed by the Chief Accountant.

To read more about us please visit: Corporate Services

Knowledge, skills and experience

• Full CCAB qualification.
• Minimum 2 years post qualification experience.
• Knowledge and understanding of government regulations (including those related to taxes and duties), Codes of Practice and underlying accounting standards, and practical experience of applying these in a large organisation - preferably public sector.
• Analysing, interpreting, communicating and effectively implementing changes to accounting practice and/or taxation rules and regulations.
• Engaging with and providing high quality technical accounting and taxation advice and support to finance professionals, and non-finance managers.
• Identifying and acting on opportunities for improving financial systems, internal controls and/or processes.
• Evaluating and advising on the accounting, taxation and financing implications of innovative alternatives to the delivery of large-scale services.
• Financial planning and management in a large, complex, customer focussed organisation.
• Inspiring and motivating staff and colleagues, setting targets and goals for the delivery of services.
• Working within and influencing multi-disciplinary teams to achieve service outcomes.
• Ability to establish credibility with other finance professionals, directors, senior management teams, the external auditor and other key stakeholders.
• Strong delivery/performance focus.
• Ability to contribute effectively in a large complex organisation with plans for radical change and improvement.
• Ability to build effective working relationships with finance colleagues, the Council’s external auditor and other key stakeholders; includes commissioning of work and quality assurance of outputs.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills.

Why Essex? Essex County Council has a location to be proud of. Our 1,300 square miles stretch from Constable Country to the Thames Estuary, from the dynamic M11 corridor to the traditional seaside resorts of Clacton and Walton. England’s oldest town, Colchester, and two of its newest – Basildon and Harlow – are right here. Along with the City of Chelmsford, the county town, they form our major population centres. It means real choice and makes Essex the ideal place for your career. Read more about us here.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.

We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

What you should do next

If you are interested in finding out more about this role, we would love to hear from you. Please apply via the Working for Essex website.

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community here .

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk

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