Chief Accountant
| Company: | Huntingdonshire District Council |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £60,784 to £68,153 a year |
| Hours: | Full-time |
| Location: | Huntingdon, PE29 3TN |
| Working pattern: | Hybrid - 2 days remote |
| Job type: | Temporary |
| Posting date: | 29 Oct 2026 |
| Closing date: | 22 Nov 2026 |
Summary
Provide professional leadership and help safeguard public money
Are you an experienced, professionally qualified accountant with strong technical knowledge of local government finance? Can you lead complex financial reporting and provide clear, balanced advice that helps an organisation make sound decisions?
Huntingdonshire District Council is looking for a Chief Accountant to provide senior professional and technical leadership across its Finance function. Reporting to the Head of Finance and Deputy Section 151 Officer, you will help ensure effective financial management, governance and stewardship of the Council’s resources.
This is a key role in maintaining high-quality financial reporting, robust financial controls and compliance with legislation, accounting standards, the CIPFA Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting and the Council’s financial framework.
Essential requirements
Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC) is passionate about providing high-quality services to our communities, residents and businesses. This means we must employ and retain the most talented and dedicated people. Situated within the heart of the Cambridge-Peterborough Growth Area, Huntingdonshire is a beautiful district that boasts thriving market towns and many attractive villages, each with its own identity. We are an innovative and forward-thinking local authority whose residents are at the heart of our decision-making. About the Role You will lead and coordinate important corporate accountancy activities, including: Leading the preparation and production of the annual Statement of Accounts, ensuring compliance with the CIPFA Code, accounting standards, statutory requirements and agreed deadlines. Leading year-end closedown arrangements, including timetables, instructions, working papers, quality assurance and supporting evidence. Managing the Finance response to internal and external audit, ensuring audit requests are coordinated and recommendations are appropriately addressed. Acting as a senior technical accounting adviser on complex issues and interpreting changes in accounting standards, legislation and professional guidance. Developing, maintaining and applying the Council’s accounting policies, and maintaining oversight of the integrity of the general ledger and corporate financial accounting arrangements. Supporting the annual budget-setting process and development of the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS), including corporate financial modelling and scenario analysis. Supporting revenue budget and capital programme development and monitoring, identifying and escalating financial risks, pressures and opportunities. Providing analysis and constructive challenge to savings proposals, growth bids, investment proposals and business cases. Working closely with Finance Business Partners to promote consistent forecasting, budget monitoring and financial management standards. Reviewing and improving finance procedures, accounting processes and controls, and supporting the maintenance of Financial Regulations and associated procedures. Leading and developing colleagues, supporting good performance, delegating appropriately and providing development opportunities. About You You will be a confident and credible finance professional, able to understand complex issues quickly and explain them clearly to both finance and non-finance colleagues. You will be comfortable working across the organisation, providing constructive challenge, making timely decisions and balancing competing priorities and deadlines. You will bring a strong commitment to public service and the ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with colleagues and stakeholders. Skills, Knowledge and Qualifications Essential: A full CCAB professional accountancy qualification. Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to the role. Knowledge of local government finance and accounting, the CIPFA Code and relevant accounting standards, statutory reporting and closedown, revenue and capital accounting, budgeting, forecasting and financial control. A thorough understanding of the environment and financial framework in which local government operates, including relevant national and regional policy issues. Significant post-qualification experience, including statutory accounts and external audit, financial planning and monitoring, complex technical advice, and improving controls and processes. Experience of working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to achieve organisational goals. Strong communication skills, including the ability to provide clear, balanced advice to financial and non-financial colleagues. The ability to analyse complex issues, make effective and timely decisions, manage competing responsibilities and work to tight deadlines. The ability to lead by example, enable others to perform, delegate appropriately and support colleagues’ development. Desirable: Knowledge of treasury management, the Prudential Framework, wider local government funding and grants. Experience of inclusively leading and motivating a diverse team. Experience of preparing, managing and controlling complex budgets and capital programmes and deploying resources to achieve corporate objectives. Understanding of equality and inclusion measures and interventions, and local authority safeguarding duties and responsibilities. What We Can Offer At Huntingdonshire District Council, we believe our people are our greatest asset. In return, we offer: Flexible and hybrid working arrangements Generous annual leave entitlement Local Government Pension Scheme Employee wellbeing support and benefits Opportunities to contribute to exciting projects, transformation programmes and the future of local government services Why Join Us? This is an opportunity to play a central role in the stewardship of public money and the quality of the Council’s financial management. You will work with colleagues across Finance and the wider organisation, helping strengthen financial reporting, support effective decision-making and continuously improve the way finance services are delivered. Apply To apply for this position, please complete the application form. The closing date is 9am 22 November 2026 and interviews will be held the week commencing 30 November 2026. However, this is a rolling campaign and we'll be reviewing applications on an ongoing basis and will close the advert early should we receive suitable applications, so please don't delay in applying! For many of our roles, our hybrid work model enables employees to work remotely while allowing for in-office collaboration opportunities across the district, with an expectation of being in the office at least two days a week. However, please note that some positions may require a more consistent presence in the office due to the nature of the work. Please note that the official closing date is as above, and will be the correct date. Some third-party websites may have different dates. Please refer to the HDC website for the official closing date to ensure you do not miss out on applying.
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