Chief Accountant
£55,617 - £70,580
Hybrid working
The Role
Reporting into the Corporate Head of Finance and Deputy s151 officer, the post of Chief Accountant is a newly created, pivotal role which will see you lead the accountancy team, manage the annual budget and closing of accounts exercises and provide ongoing financial support and advice across the Council to ensure that the best use is made of available financial resources and that decisions are based on appropriate and accurate consideration of the relevant financial issues.
In addition, the role will lead on the production and monitoring of the Council's Capital Programme and have specific responsibility for capital accounting. The Council is also embarking on the process of procuring a new integrated Financial Management System for which the postholder will have a key role in both the implementation and the subsequent roll out to users.
The Person
You will be a CCAB qualified accountant with post-qualification experience in a local government management position, with a commitment to continuous professional development in order to maintain and enhance your specialist knowledge to the benefit of the Council and yourself. You will build great relationships across the Council and motivate and develop your staff, enhancing an already excellent team.
You will be highly numerate with strong technical accounting skills, including knowledge of the Code of Practice and the ability to assemble key statements and notes to the Accounts whilst ensuring that all aspects of your work meet statutory requirements and professional codes of conduct. A practical understanding of the local government capital regime will be essential given the focus on the Council's significant income stream from commercial property investment and associated high level of prudential borrowing. You will be politically aware and sensitive to the context of working in the local government sector, will have good analytical skills and an aptitude for problem-solving.
About The Council
Runnymede is an ambitious, passionate and progressive council with a forward-thinking attitude and award-winning departments. We are a district level authority with big ideas, running a large commercial investment portfolio, three wholly owned companies and our own social housing stock. In addition to statutory services, the Council delivers a wide variety of discretionary services, supporting our residents and the wider public sector, often through partnership working.
The finance function is an essential part of the governance framework supporting these services, never more so than currently as the Council responds to a non-statutory Best Value Notice received in December 2023 and due for review in December 2024. We also have a challenging Savings and Efficiency Programme underway seeking to deliver budget reductions of circa £5m by March 2027.
The Council runs a hybrid working programme based on 3 days per week in the office and 2 remote, with generous annual leave entitlement, and a package of other benefits including flexible working.
Runnymede Borough Council is committed to promoting equality and respecting diversity and welcome applications from all sections of the community.
We are a Disability Confident Employer - committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.
For further information about the role or to request a copy of the full job description please contact Joanne Patel at Morgan Law on or email
Please note Morgan Law are managing this campaign on behalf of Runnymede Council and any CVs sent directly to the council will not be considered.