Interim Group Accountant
| Posting date: | 12 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £32.93 per hour |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 14 March 2026 |
| Location: | Ilford, Essex |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 3 days per week |
| Company: | Nations Recruitment |
| Job type: | Contract |
| Job reference: |
Summary
Job Category: Interims
Location; 255 - 259 High Road, Ilford, Greater London, IG1 1NN,
Redbridge Council
Hours Per Week : 36
Start Date : Immediate Start
Salary: £32.93
At least 2 days in the office
Role purpose -
Provide a professional lead within the Finance Service, maintaining awareness and knowledge of relevant legislation, financial reporting standards, best practice and new developments.
Providing high quality financial services to senior stakeholders across all Service Areas, in accordance within the Council's vision and values. The Group Accountant will act as the principal point of contact and support a portfolio of service managers, providing effective support and challenge to these senior colleagues.
Through working closely with senior customers, to provide them with clear and unambiguous monthly and quarterly financial monitoring information, including robust and detailed forecasts of financial outturn.
Support the delivery of service's transformation and innovation through the provision of expert financial analysis and business case preparation
Support services in the development and financial evaluation of savings options and monitoring of savings delivery
In partnership with service managers, devising robust options for managing budget variances and the development of recovery and action plans
To support the statutory accounts process and the delivery of the Council's statement of accounts and associated financial returns. Supporting the delivery of the requirements of the external audit team and ensuring that all required working papers and evidence are provided in a timely manner.
Provide effective management of a team in the Finance Service Area, providing excellent supervision and providing clear guidance on team priorities in response to changing circumstances and deadlines.
Ensuring that team members are adequately trained to meet the requirements of the service and the organisation
To support the Head of Business Partnering, providing input to the development of business strategy and plans, in the review of performance and in maintaining appropriate relationships with other Service Areas and External Agencies.
To deputise for the Head of Business Partnering in providing financial advice to the Council through its formal meetings. This will involve occasional committee attendance
Represent the Council's views on national and regional bodies on a range of complex and challenging matters, promoting the interests of the Council and the Finance Service function and ensure that the Council's priorities are taken into account.
Promote and develop a culture that supports a Self Service approach to service delivery.
Group Accountants will be responsible for ensuring that the support received by service areas meets their needs and that advice / guidance provided is clear and robust. They will be specifically required to:
Promote a culture which empowers budget holders and supports the delivery of value for money services, including reporting on benchmark information and key cost drivers.
Take an active lead in the design and development of the reports that service managers are able to access for the purpose of financial management - with an emphasis on constantly improving the quality and customer focus of this information.
Drawing on an in-depth knowledge of the services and the financial complexities under the remit of the post, to design systems and procedures that enable effective budgetary control, ensuring that variations and emerging financial pressures are drawn to the attention of managers, with options for their resolution, and incorporated into corporate reports.
Determine and evaluate the ongoing implications of forecasts as part of the medium term financial strategy preparation.
Write the departmental monitoring reports for consideration by managers and senior decision makers.
Represent the Finance Service Area at meetings with Members, Chief Officers, senior officers of external organisations and Government Departments / Agencies, providing advice on the financial implications of policy and service delivery issues.
On behalf of the Corporate Director of Finance, to monitor the financial implications of matters under consideration by the Council, providing advice on the financial and resource implications of proposals for inclusion in reports to Committees.
Advise on developments in the financing and operation of individual services within the remit of the Team, including national, regional and local policy initiatives, ensuring that these are reflected in financial plans and work programmes.
Assist in identifying, evaluating and securing mainstream and alternative sources of funding
Location; 255 - 259 High Road, Ilford, Greater London, IG1 1NN,
Redbridge Council
Hours Per Week : 36
Start Date : Immediate Start
Salary: £32.93
At least 2 days in the office
Role purpose -
Provide a professional lead within the Finance Service, maintaining awareness and knowledge of relevant legislation, financial reporting standards, best practice and new developments.
Providing high quality financial services to senior stakeholders across all Service Areas, in accordance within the Council's vision and values. The Group Accountant will act as the principal point of contact and support a portfolio of service managers, providing effective support and challenge to these senior colleagues.
Through working closely with senior customers, to provide them with clear and unambiguous monthly and quarterly financial monitoring information, including robust and detailed forecasts of financial outturn.
Support the delivery of service's transformation and innovation through the provision of expert financial analysis and business case preparation
Support services in the development and financial evaluation of savings options and monitoring of savings delivery
In partnership with service managers, devising robust options for managing budget variances and the development of recovery and action plans
To support the statutory accounts process and the delivery of the Council's statement of accounts and associated financial returns. Supporting the delivery of the requirements of the external audit team and ensuring that all required working papers and evidence are provided in a timely manner.
Provide effective management of a team in the Finance Service Area, providing excellent supervision and providing clear guidance on team priorities in response to changing circumstances and deadlines.
Ensuring that team members are adequately trained to meet the requirements of the service and the organisation
To support the Head of Business Partnering, providing input to the development of business strategy and plans, in the review of performance and in maintaining appropriate relationships with other Service Areas and External Agencies.
To deputise for the Head of Business Partnering in providing financial advice to the Council through its formal meetings. This will involve occasional committee attendance
Represent the Council's views on national and regional bodies on a range of complex and challenging matters, promoting the interests of the Council and the Finance Service function and ensure that the Council's priorities are taken into account.
Promote and develop a culture that supports a Self Service approach to service delivery.
Group Accountants will be responsible for ensuring that the support received by service areas meets their needs and that advice / guidance provided is clear and robust. They will be specifically required to:
Promote a culture which empowers budget holders and supports the delivery of value for money services, including reporting on benchmark information and key cost drivers.
Take an active lead in the design and development of the reports that service managers are able to access for the purpose of financial management - with an emphasis on constantly improving the quality and customer focus of this information.
Drawing on an in-depth knowledge of the services and the financial complexities under the remit of the post, to design systems and procedures that enable effective budgetary control, ensuring that variations and emerging financial pressures are drawn to the attention of managers, with options for their resolution, and incorporated into corporate reports.
Determine and evaluate the ongoing implications of forecasts as part of the medium term financial strategy preparation.
Write the departmental monitoring reports for consideration by managers and senior decision makers.
Represent the Finance Service Area at meetings with Members, Chief Officers, senior officers of external organisations and Government Departments / Agencies, providing advice on the financial implications of policy and service delivery issues.
On behalf of the Corporate Director of Finance, to monitor the financial implications of matters under consideration by the Council, providing advice on the financial and resource implications of proposals for inclusion in reports to Committees.
Advise on developments in the financing and operation of individual services within the remit of the Team, including national, regional and local policy initiatives, ensuring that these are reflected in financial plans and work programmes.
Assist in identifying, evaluating and securing mainstream and alternative sources of funding