Financial Reporting Manager - Permanent

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and technically strong Financial Reporting Manager to join a high-performing local government finance function.

This is a leadership role within a collaborative finance team, where you will play a pivotal role in leading the financial reporting and statutory accounts process for a large and complex authority. You will provide expert technical accounting advice, drive financial integrity and transformation initiatives, and support strategic decision making at the highest levels of the authority.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Head of Financial Reporting, you will lead the annual closedown process and production of statutory accounts. You will act as a key technical expert across areas including balance sheet management, grants accounting, collection fund accounting, and financial governance.

You will work closely with senior finance leaders and key stakeholders, providing clear and commercially focused advice on complex accounting matters while ensuring compliance with all relevant regulatory and reporting requirements.

This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious finance professional, either someone already in Local Government Finance, or someone working in a public practice Audit team focussed on Local Government, looking to influence strategic outcomes, develop a team and contribute to the ongoing transformation initiative for the finance team. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the year-end closedown process and production of annual Statement of Accounts.
• Provide technical accounting expertise across a broad range of local government finance matters.
• Support senior finance leadership and statutory officers with accurate financial reporting and advice.
• Ensure compliance with relevant accounting regulations and reporting standards.
• Develop and maintain robust financial controls and governance arrangements.
• Lead, coach and develop a team of finance professionals.
• Build effective relationships with senior stakeholders, auditors and external partners.
• Drive continuous improvement across financial reporting processes and systems.

About You

We are seeking a CCAB qualified finance professional with significant experience operating within a large and complex local authority environment, or someone with significant exposure to Local Authority clients within the Top 10 Accounting firms. 

You will ideally possess:

• ACA, ACCA, or CIPFA qualification 
• Extensive experience leading local authority year-end accounts production.
• Strong technical knowledge of the CIPFA Code of Practice and local government accounting.
• Proven experience managing and developing finance staff.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain complex technical issues to non-finance stakeholders.
• A collaborative leadership style and commitment to high standards of financial governance.
• The ability to operate confidently in a fast-paced and politically sensitive environment.

What's on Offer

• Hybrid and flexible working arrangements.
• Generous annual leave entitlement. Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Enhanced family-friendly policies.
• Ongoing professional development and career progression opportunities.
• Access to wellbeing support programmes.

If you are in a technical finance team in local government, either at Manager level or looking to make the step up, we'd be delighted to hear from you. I also welcome applications from professionals in public practice with exposure to public sector clients. 

For a confidential discussion or further information, please apply below or contact me directly - luis@ambientpeople.co.uk