Job Description
Chief Accountant
A Local Authority in the South West is seeking an exceptional Interim Chief Accountant to lead its technical accounting function and steer the delivery of a complex and high-profile Statement of Accounts - Spencer Clarke Group is supporting the council in identifying a seasoned professional capable of operating at a senior strategic level.
What's on offer
- 500+ per day, Inside IR35 (negotiable, dependent on experience)
- Hybrid working
- 3-month initial contract
- 37 hours per week, 09:00-17:00
About the role
The Chief Accountant serves as the council's professional lead for financial accounting, overseeing a wide-ranging portfolio that includes the Statement of Accounts, treasury management, VAT and Tax, banking, insurance, asset accounting, and the chart of accounts.
You will ensure excellence in the council's financial control environment, act as the senior technical advisor on accounting regulation, and support strategic decision-making through high-quality financial modelling and insight.
Key functions of the role include:
Core Responsibilities
- Lead the production of the council's single-entity and group Statement of Accounts, a complex, multi-month project requiring deep technical expertise.
- Act as the professional and technical advisor on accounting standards and statutory requirements, including CIPFA Code compliance.
- Oversee treasury management strategy, including multimillion-pound investment and borrowing decisions.
- Maintain robust financial controls, reconciliations, and governance frameworks across the authority.
- Provide strategic modelling across 5-10 year periods for capital and revenue planning.
- Lead the submission of all statutory returns including VAT, Tax, government returns, and grant claims.
- Manage and develop the Financial Accounting Team (approx. 10 FTE), instilling excellence and continuous improvement.
- Support senior leadership, including the Director of Finance / Deputy S151, and work closely with External Audit.
About you
The ideal candidate will bring:
- Full CCAB qualification (CIPFA, ACCA, ICAEW, ICAS or equivalent).
- Extensive senior-level experience in local authority technical accounting.
- A proven track record delivering Statement of Accounts, leading complex year-end processes, and managing financial control environments.
- Experience interpreting and advising on complex financial regulations, treasury management, VAT legislation, and balance sheet governance.
- Excellent technical accounting capability, including reconciliations and the use of GL systems (SAP desirable).
- Strong leadership skills, with experience motivating and developing professional finance teams.
Why this role matters
This position plays a pivotal part in safeguarding the council's financial stewardship. You will influence strategic financial planning, ensure statutory compliance, and uphold the integrity of financial reporting for a revenue budget of 527m and a 500m capital programme.
How to apply
If your CV demonstrates the required experience, our team will be in touch. Owing to the volume of applications, we may only be able to contact shortlisted candidates.
About Spencer Clarke Group
We connect professionals with leading public-sector opportunities and provide:
- Access to a broad range of temporary & permanent roles
- Free DBS checks
- Post-placement aftercare
- A loyalty reward scheme
- Referral bonuses up to 300
To refer a candidate, ask them to email their CV to Brad at and include your details.
