Principal Accountant (Chief Accountant Team) (x2)

Croydon has faced significant challenges in recent years, in terms of the Council’s financial position and of course the pandemic challenge faced by every local authority.

This is a very exciting time to join Croydon as we move from the recovery and improvement phases to the transformational phase of our journey to bring the Council back to financial sustainability.

You will be helping to rebuild the Council, its finances, its governance, its culture and its services. The financial challenge is steep, but the Government has noted our strong progress, with a new Executive Mayor, Cabinet, Chief Executive and Corporate Management Team, who all share a commitment to the task ahead and putting Croydon’s people first.

Croydon is a fantastic place; a vital part of London’s growth story with a strong identity in its own right and this is a rare chance to make genuine change in a place of great opportunity. What we do together over the next three years will help shape the future of one of London’s most diverse and exciting boroughs.

As a Principal Accountant within the Chief Accountant Team, you will be supporting finance and service personnel with the finalising of the Council’s annual accounts, to meet statutory and best practice financial requirements, and to promote the Council’s corporate competencies and values.

Following the recent restructure of the finance function, we are looking to appoint two Principal Accountants within the Chief Accountant Team across the following areas: Closing/Reporting and Capital/Assets.

Key responsibilities include:

• Ensuring the Council’s final accounts are produced on time and meet the required legislative standards and maintain an open and positive relationship with the external auditor.
• Developing and maintaining procedures to meet new accounting requirements and the changing needs of the Council.
• Revenue and capital financial performance reporting to Cabinet and stakeholders.
• Consolidation and submission for external requirements such as revenue estimate, revenue outturn and capital returns.
• Ensure compliance with best practice guidance including timely and accurate reconciliation of the Collection Fund, government grants and use of reserves.
• Providing strategic financial direction and reporting on the Council’s capital programme and financing, working closely with the Director of Commercial Investment.
• Overseeing capital accounting for the Council to ensure compliance with the code of practice and successful audit of the accounts.
• Ensuring that the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy Statement, Capital Investment Strategy and Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy Statement link with capital programme financing and the Council’s investments and borrowing are shown correctly in the Council’s accounts.
• Leading on the reporting and accounting treatments for companies and charities related to the Council.

To be suitable for the role you need to hold a CCAB/CIMA accountancy qualification or have senior finance relevant accounting experience. You will have extensive knowledge and experience of budget setting, financial monitoring (capital and revenue) and closing the accounts. You will also have substantial experience of successful financial management, financial planning, and budget preparation as well as delivering finance service improvements and supporting the delivery of strategic projects and initiatives. Significant knowledge and experience of general ledger packages and other IT packages is essential.

For more information about the role please contact Jack Murphy at Allen Lane

To apply, please submit your CV alongside a supporting statement (no more than 2 pages) stating why you are interested in applying, what you can bring to this role and highlighting your relevant experience and suitability.

The closing date is Sunday 12th January 2025 at 23:59.

Equal opportunities

Croydon Council is an inclusive employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Subject to business needs, we will be pleased to consider applications from candidates seeking flexible working arrangements and support hybrid working, whereby staff attend the workplace for part of their working week and work from home, or elsewhere, remotely for the rest of the time. As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the advertised role.

Croydon council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment.