Senior Corporate Accountant

| Salary £46,142 - £51,357 Per Annum | Permanent, Full Time - 37 Hours Per Week | Preston |

International Sponsorship – this role is not open to international sponsorship 

Senior Accountant 

Corporate Finance

£46,142 - £51,357 (Grade 10)

About the Role

We are seeking a highly motivated and technically proficient Senior Accountant to join our Corporate Finance team. This is a key role in ensuring the Council meets its statutory financial reporting obligations and maintains strong financial governance.

You will report to the Corporate Accounting Manager and Head of Service, assisting with the planning and production and audit of the Annual Statement of Accounts while providing expert technical accounting advice and contributing to the delivery of the Council’s financial strategy. Strong communication, prioritisation and a sound understanding of local government accounting are essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Play a crucial role in the preparation of the Council’s Annual Statement of Accounts, ensuring compliance with statutory deadlines and accounting standards.
• Facilitate the external audit process, including responding to queries and ensuring timely resolution of issues.
• Provide technical accounting advice on a range of complex issues.
• Support the production of the Whole of Government Accounts (WGA) return.
• Maintain and develop robust working papers and audit trails.
• Contribute to the development of financial policies and procedures.
• Deliver training and guidance to the team and finance colleagues on technical accounting matters.

What we're looking for:

• Professional qualification or relevant degree, with substantial experience
• Proven experience in statutory accounts preparation and external audit management
• Advanced Excel and financial systems proficiency

What We Offer

Benefits

Enjoy flexible working arrangements and a generous leave package: up to 32 days annual leave plus bank holidays, 2 additional days at Christmas, and the option to purchase up to 20 extra days. Our benefits include a Local Government pension scheme with shared AVCs, Medicash, long service awards, cycle-to-work schemes, and discounts on everything from childcare to holidays.

Development

We support your professional growth through mentoring, supervision, and multidisciplinary initiatives. You’ll have opportunities to make a real impact, feel valued, and achieve genuine job satisfaction.

Inclusivity

We don't have a "one size fits all" idealism, we embrace diversity and that includes personal and family requirements so appreciate that you'll want to be working from home when you can, your hours may vary or change and for us – delivering successful outcomes is more important than watching the clock.

Please ensure you have uploaded and attached your supporting statement to evidence how you meet the criteria for the role. The panel may be unable to shortlist you for interview without this evidence.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Matthew Kenyon, Corporate Accounting Manager on 01772 530 480.

Please ensure you have uploaded and attached your supporting statement to evidence how you meet the criteria for the role. The panel may be unable to shortlist you for interview without this evidence.

We reserve the right to close down a vacancy early, before the closing date, if we receive sufficient applications.

Job Description & Person Specification