Senior Accountant – Finance Team (Hybrid, London)

About the role

A reputable London Local Authority is looking for an experienced Senior Accountant to join its Finance team on an interim, hybrid basis. The role offers the chance to provide high‑quality financial management, business partnering and strategic advice across a range of council services, at a rate of £28.96 per hour.

Key responsibilities

• Provide professional financial advice and business partnering support to service managers and senior leadership.
• Lead budget setting, in‑year monitoring, forecasting and financial reporting for allocated service areas.
• Produce accurate management accounts, financial analysis and performance reports to support strategic decision‑making.
• Monitor financial performance, identify budget pressures and recommend corrective actions.
• Ensure compliance with CIPFA guidance, accounting standards, financial regulations and council policies.
• Support the Medium‑Term Financial Strategy, annual budget process and year‑end closure of accounts.
• Prepare grant claims, funding returns and statutory financial submissions.
• Develop and maintain effective financial controls, procedures and governance arrangements.
• Assist debt recovery and income management processes.
• Produce financial modelling, business cases and complex spreadsheet analysis using Excel.
• Present complex financial information clearly to both finance and non‑finance stakeholders.
• Mentor junior finance colleagues and, where applicable, supervise finance staff.

Required profile

• Experience working within Local Government Finance or a large, complex public‑sector organisation.
• Strong understanding of local authority financial management, governance and statutory accounting.

Required skills

• Advanced Excel for financial modelling and complex spreadsheet analysis.