Lead Accountant - Ref: RT04321
Salary: G12 (SCP 42-47) - £ 45,859 - £ 51,315 per annum

2 posts (permanent and fixed term contracts):-
Lead Accountant – Supporting the Council-wide Capital Programme
Lead Accountant – Supporting the Adult Social Care Finance Business Partnering Team

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 for two of our Lead Accountant roles – one leading a newly formed finance capital team supporting all financial aspects of the Councils ambitious capital programme and the other supporting an existing and growing Business Partnering team, supporting the  Adult Social Care & Public Health Directorate through their transformation journey.

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, Environment and Economy, Adult Social Care, Children Services and Resources and Transformation on their transformation journey.

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. 

View Job Description and Employee Specification

View Information for Applicants

The closing date for applications is 27^th June 2021.

Interviews will be conducted remotely via Microsoft Teams, due to current social distancing guidelines and will be in 2 parts. Consisting of a test/presentation followed for successful applicants by an interview.

It is likely the first part of the process will be held week commencing 5^th July 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