Senior Accountant

Salary: £38,089 - £42,846
Location: Sittingbourne, Kent
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: 34-hours per week
About the Role
A rare opportunity has arisen for a hardworking, proactive and customer focused individual to join the Council’s high performing Finance team. This is a permanent position working 34 hours per week.
With new leadership over the past two years, the team is currently going through a period of change, so this is a great opportunity for someone with energy to really make their own mark on the role.
This role provides financial support and advice on the Council’s budget and final accounts to ensure that the Council meets its statutory financial obligations, with a strong focus on capital accounting. It also provides financial support and advice to service units to help them create a sound financial environment within their units in full compliance with the Council’s Financial Regulations.
The role is also responsible for compiling the annual VAT partial exemption calculation and maintain oversight of taxation matters for the Council.
About Swale Borough Council
Swale Borough Council is a progressive and ambitious Local Authority, located less than an hour from Central London in an attractive and diverse part of Kent involving urban, rural, and coastal areas. We believe that staff are our most valuable asset and we’re committed to attracting and retaining the very best. In recent times we have adapted and evolved to meet the current world by introducing a highly flexible hybrid working policy, along with a 34-hour week, recognising that staff wellbeing and work-life balance is high on our agenda.
Our Offer
A range of benefits including:

• 34 hour full-time working week with the offices closing at 1:30 pm on Friday
• Highly flexible hybrid working opportunities
• 7 am to 7 pm flexi-time to suit personal circumstances for most roles
• Generous holiday entitlement which increases after 5 years LG service plus  bank holidays with the option to buy additional leave.
• Additional 3 days leave given to enable a close down of the offices between Christmas and New year.
• Free parking
• Range of flexible working opportunities to accommodate people’s home/work life balance including compressed hours, 9-day fortnight, part time.
• Invitations to staff events to celebrate success and support wellbeing that include holistic therapies and outdoor activities
• Employee Assistance Programme which provides confidential & independent information and access to counsellors
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) with valuable life cover and financial protection for your family.
• Life Assurance – three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
• Season Ticket Loan - to help with the cost of your rail/ bus journey, to & from work 
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand-new car. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax. 
• Annual flu vaccine
• Cycle to work scheme
• Staff benefits discounts on leisure, eating out, holidays and shopping
• Excellent learning and career opportunities for committed individuals
• A professional fee payment, if required for the role

About You
The ideal candidate will be educated to a minimum of 5 GCSE’s level 4 or above (or equivalent) with a specific aptitude for Maths, English and IT, be a qualified member of AAT or have a minimum of two years’ of appropriate accounting experience.
You should be experienced in the use of computerised financial systems, and Microsoft products including Excel, Word and Outlook. You should also be numerate and have the ability to work accurately under pressure with minimum supervision and excellent attention to detail.
A CCAB Accountant qualification is desirable but not essential.
Selection Process
Following the submission of your application form, it will be reviewed by the recruiting manager. Those that are successful in securing an interview can expect job specific interview assessment, followed by an interview.
Swale Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
Swale Borough Council has a Skilled Worker Sponsorship License which enables successful candidates in eligible roles to be sponsored for work Visa purposes.
If you would like to discuss this position, please contact Claire Stanbury, Head of Finance and Procurement on 01795 417550.
To apply for the position please click the apply button and complete the online application form or by phone on 01622 602555.
Closing date: 1 April 2024
Assessment date: 9 April 2024
Interview date: 16 April 2024