Senior/Principal Accountant (Corporate Services & PH&RS)

About the role

North Somerset Council provides a wide range of services to people who live and work within our communities and these are at the heart of everything that we do. We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced and motivated individual to join the Finance Service at North Somerset Council as a Senior / Principal Accountant who will support the Corporate Services and Public Health & Regulatory Services Directorates.

This post will provide business partnering services including financial support and advice to directors, senior leaders and budget managers across both of these directorates and will lead on the budget setting, budget monitoring, forecasting, and out-turn reporting processes and supporting the development of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan in order to support Council decision making throughout the year.

Our new system of hybrid working means that although your work base will be the Town Hall, Weston-super-Mare, you will be able to work from home and only expected in the office one or two days a month.

About you

You should be a fully qualified accountant and have previous experience of working in a business partnering role with a clear understanding of how to support budget managers through the year with direct experience in key activities such as monitoring, forecasting and reporting.

As a finance professional you will have robust knowledge of accounting regulations, year-end procedures, and the technical expertise required to deliver statutory requirements.

Applicants should be able to demonstrate excellent ICT, presentation and communication skills and have an aptitude that positively embraces and influences change. The role is primarily working from home so the successful candidate would need to be self-motivated, able to prioritise and manage their workload to meet deadlines. The post is career graded, so starting salary will be dependent on qualifications and experience as detailed in the supporting Person Specification.

We invite applications from candidates who are passionate about the work that they do, are keen to deliver high quality services and who can build effective relationships with all of those that they work with. In return, we offer flexible working arrangements, ongoing learning opportunities and a rewarding environment from similar like-minded enthusiastic individuals. 

About us

The post is based within the Corporate Services Directorate although is responsible for ensuring and overseeing the effective delivery of financial services to other directorates. As a team we provide a diverse and broad range of management accounting and technical financial services.  

Our vision

Our council vision is ‘an open, fairer, greener North Somerset’ and we have four key ambitions:

• Our children and young people are cared for, safe, supported, and are given equality of opportunity to thrive
• Our communities are caring, healthy and safe, where people help each other to live well
• Our towns and villages are thriving and sustainable places to live, work and visit
• Our council delivers consistently good services and value for money to support our community.

Our values

Our organisational values are important. They help guide us in how we work and provide services for our residents. Our people produced our values in collaboration with elected members. They provide a strong ethos and help us to deliver our ambitious agenda, working in partnership across the council and beyond:

• We act with integrity
• We respect each other
• We innovate
• We care
• We collaborate.

Our Benefits

We offer:

• A competitive salary,
• A pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution. It provides life cover and ill-health protection,
• Opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential through formal and on-the-job training,
• Agile and flexible working arrangements to help you enjoy a healthy work-life balance and family leave options,
• Generous leave entitlement (29 days, rising to 34 days) pro rata and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days,
• Discounts on shopping, days out, travel and gym memberships,
• 24/7 access to our Employee Assistance Programme.

Further details of our excellent rewards package can be found in our Benefits booklet. 

Want to know more and apply?

For an informal discussion, please contact: Melanie Watts, Head of Finance & Deputy S151 Officer on 01934 634618 or contact by email melanie.watts@n-somerset.gov.uk.

Anticipated interview date: Wednesday 17 July 2024.

At North Somerset Council we want all our employees to feel valued and appreciated.  We aim to ensure equality of opportunity and prevent discrimination irrespective of your sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion or belief, race, age, disability, including neurodiversity, if you are married or in a civil partnership or are pregnant.  We strive to create a workplace that reflects the communities we serve and where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work. 

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

North Somerset Council – Open, Fairer, Greener. 

Please note: We are currently only accepting applications from candidates who have full permission to work in the UK.