Principal Accountant (Financial Services)

Principal Accountant (Financial Services)

London Borough of Barking & Dagenham (LBBD)

📍 Barking - Hybrid working - 3 days office
💰 £57,239 per annum (PO7)
🕒 35 hours per week (Monday - Friday)
📄 Permanent
📅 Start Date: ASAP (subject to notice period)

Are you a qualified finance professional looking to play a key role in shaping financial strategy and delivering excellent public services?

We are seeking an experienced Principal Accountant to join our Finance Service. This is an exciting opportunity to provide strategic financial leadership, support major service areas, and influence decision-making across the Council. You'll act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, helping to ensure financial sustainability, robust governance, and value for money for our communities. Based on the role outlined in

About the Role

As a Principal Accountant, you will:

• Lead financial planning, budget setting, forecasting, monitoring and reporting for significant service areas.
• Provide expert financial advice to Directors, Heads of Service and Budget Managers.
• Support the development and delivery of the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS).
• Assess financial risks and opportunities, developing practical solutions and mitigation strategies.
• Produce high-quality financial reports, business cases and statutory returns.
• Champion continuous improvement, innovation and best practice within financial services.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders, influencing decision-making through insightful financial analysis.
• Support corporate projects, transformation programmes and strategic initiatives.

Depending on your area of responsibility, you may also provide specialist expertise in areas such as the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), schools finance or other statutory funding streams.

About You

We are looking for a finance professional who can combine technical expertise with excellent business partnering skills.

You will have:

• A CCAB professional accountancy qualification and membership of a recognised accounting body.
• At least three years' accounting experience, including a minimum of two years' post-qualification experience.
• Strong knowledge of local government finance, accounting regulations and financial reporting requirements.
• Experience managing complex budgets and delivering financial planning, analysis and reporting.
• Proven ability to influence stakeholders and communicate complex financial information to non-finance audiences.
• Strong analytical and financial modelling skills.
• A track record of driving improvement, delivering value for money and managing financial risks.
• Experience working within a large, complex public sector organisation.

Why Join Us?

We are committed to creating an inclusive, supportive and flexible workplace where our employees can thrive.

Our Benefits Include:

• Diverse, inclusive and safe teams, supported by active employee-led networks.
• Flexible working arrangements, including condensed hours, flexi-time, part-time and term-time working.
• Extensive learning and development opportunities, including specialist training, accredited post-qualification programmes and mentoring.
• Access to Perkbox, offering discounts, wellbeing support and home and technology benefits.
• Employee support and networking groups.
• Up to 32 days annual leave.
• Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Support for employees with caring responsibilities.
• Support for Armed Forces Reservists and Adult Cadet Volunteers.
• Workplace adjustments for employees with disabilities or long-term health conditions.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Credit Union membership.
• Cycle purchase scheme.
• Discounted gym membership.
• Season ticket and travel loans.

Adecco acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and an employment business for the supply of temporary workers. The Adecco Group UK & Ireland is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

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