Senior Accountant

As a Senior Accountant, you will be a key business partner for the Children, Families and Education Directorate which has a gross budget of £77m. You will manage a small professional team to deliver a full range of high-quality financial management and accountancy services. You'll provide specialist knowledge and expertise to assist in the budget setting process, budget monitoring, closure of accounts, grants, financial appraisals, and completion of statutory returns.

You need to be CCAB qualified, with post qualified experience. You have substantial experience of preparing budgets, budget monitoring reports, and monthly and annual accounts. You have experience of appraising and evaluating the financial implications of projects and proposals, and of developing and maintaining complex financial models. You have excellent communication skills, and experience of advising senior officers and attending management teams and working groups whilst demonstrating respect and integrity. You have good organisational and leadership skills, and are open to new ideas and willing to learn. You are a skilled user of spreadsheets and other financial information systems. You are collaborative and an effective team player, and have a positive outlook. Knowledge of Local Government Finance would be beneficial.

We really appreciate our employees and fully realise they are essential to our success and look to offer an inclusive, supportive working environment where employees can reach their potentials with a healthy work life balance, offering the following rewards:

• Generous annual leave (27 days per year rising to 31, pro rata for part time hours) with the potential to purchase additional leave.


• A fantastic pension which allows you the opportunity to pay in more for that greater return.


• Flexible working hours including hybrid working with at least two days a week in the office.


• Access to a wide range of training and development opportunities including apprenticeships.


• Extensive wellbeing support through the Employee Assistance Programme


• Discount on travel, travel loans and the bike loan scheme


• Discounts on a wide range of goods and services - access a range of discounts and offers from thousands of restaurants, shops and more.


Staff rewards: https://careers.portsmouth.gov.uk/working-for-the-council