Lead Accountants - Ref: RT63720
G12: £45,406 - £50,808 per annum

2 posts:
Lead Accountant –  Supporting the Council-wide Capital Programme
Lead Accountant – Finance Business Partnering supporting the Council Resources, Transformation and Customer Engagement Services.

Walsall Council is transforming and with it, so is Walsall’s Financial Services. This is an exciting time to join our team. The Walsall Proud Programme is our transformation Programme, which aims to transform the way the council works so that we can provide a better customer experience, increase staff satisfaction and engagement, and improve service efficiency and performance to our customers and communities. The Programme is closely linked with our medium-term financial strategy and Walsall’s Financial Services are a key driver in achieving the organisation’s aspirational vision.

So, what do we need from you?

We are looking to recruit two experienced financial professionals to Lead Accountant roles – one leading a newly formed finance capital team supporting all financial aspects of the capital programme and the other replacing a soon to be vacant role leading an existing Business Partnering team supporting services under the Resources & Transformation Directorate as well as Customer Engagement and Money, Home Job services.

These posts will be responsible for working with a team of finance officers, embracing and helping develop our excellent business partnering approach in support of our service managers and directors.  We are looking for enthusiastic and pragmatic individuals, with a 'can-do' attitude, significant experience of financial stewardship, along with excellent people, communication and staff management skills. Specifically for the role of Lead Accountant Capital, we are looking for someone with significant experience in supporting the financial aspects of a large Capital Programme.

Though these roles are for specific areas, the posts are generic Lead Accountant positions and therefore can be deployed to work  across the services, supporting the organisations key directorates, Adult Social Care, Children Services, Environment and Economy and Resources and Transformation.

What does Walsall’s Finance Service offer you?

Our commitment to you is to provide a safe learning environment, where we will offer you the platform to develop and enhance your career prospects, with the aim to support your drive and commitment to progress and build on your existing experience.  The diverse services that we support and the progression of our transformation programme, brings with it exposure to many scenarios requiring financial support and advice. You can therefore expect opportunities to get involved and strengthen both your accountancy knowledge and your broader skillsets, enabling you to adapt to an ever changing business environment and support the many challenges public sector organisations face.

As a Lead Accountant you should hold a CCAB / CIMA qualification, be undertaking CPD and be able to demonstrate extensive experience in managing staff. In recognition of the knowledge that experience in other sectors can bring, whist an understanding of local government finance would be an advantage we would stress that it is not essential.

On top of this, we provide an attractive employment package that includes a generous annual leave entitlement of up to 33 days, a flexible working scheme that allows up to a further 12 days leave per year, working from home opportunities with emphasis on an optimum work life balance arrangement and a career average pension scheme.

These posts are covered by the Government’s Code of Practice on the English Language Fluency Duty for public sector workers. 

Closing Date: 17th January 2021.

Interviews will be conducted remotely via Microsoft Teams, due to current social distancing guidelines and will be in 2 parts. This will consist of a test/presentation, which for successful applicants will be followed by an interview. It is likely the first part of the process will be held week commencing 18 January 2021.

For more information or an informal discussion please contact Tracey Evans Tracey-A.Evans@walsall.gov.uk, Ross Hutchinson Ross.Hutchinson@walsall.gov.uk or Rowena Hawkins Rowena.Hawkins@walsall.gov.uk

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