Accountant (Business Partner)

Cheshire East Council

Accountant (Business Partner)

Reference: E2494

Location: Crewe

Salary Min: £39,186 Per Annum

Salary Max: £45,291 Per Annum

Hours per week: 37

Weeks per year: 52.143

Employment Type: Permanent

Closing date: 12/05/2024

Apply link:

Cheshire East is an amazing place to live and work. As one of the largest employers in the borough, we are able to offer you a wide range of challenging and rewarding career opportunities.

At Cheshire East Council we are working for a brighter future - together and our commitment to you is that our workplace culture will provide a shared purpose, a well-led organisation with valued people succeeding together as one team and one council to deliver the best service for our customers and communities.

If you want to be part of our award-winning council and contribute to our ongoing success, have the flexibility and drive to enable us to innovate, are committed to working as part of a team and striving to deliver exceptional service wherever you can, we would especially like to hear from you.

As an equal opportunities employer, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds and want our workforce to reflect the diversity of our local communities so that we can all work for a brighter future - together.

Cheshire East Council’s Finance Team has an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and motivated finance professional to come and join our team as an Accountant / Finance Business Partner.

Our Finance Team provides financial support and advice to directors, heads of service, budget holders, elected Members and stakeholders across the full range of services delivered by Cheshire East Council and our wholly owned companies.

As a Finance Business Partner, you will manage your own team, be responsible for providing specialist financial and service improvement advice to the Council’s services, and ensure effective management of resources, proper accountability and control, and compliance with the statutory obligations of the Section 151 Officer and corporate standards.

You will be collaborating with Service Directors and Managers and Company Directors to help further policy goals, influencing strategy and business outcomes, offering expert analysis and interpretation; and presenting options to resolve problems and exploit opportunities, developing financial understanding and informed decision making.

The Council, like many other local authorities, is facing unprecedented challenges in terms of increasing demand for services and rising costs. A Council-wide transformation programme is planned to enable us to deliver the proposals we set out in our Medium-Term Financial Strategy, and to help us become stronger and more flexible, so we can deliver our vital services better and continue to support those who need it most. Finance Business Partners will play a key role in supporting managers to deliver financially sustainable services through the provision of high quality financial advice and support.

Cheshire East Council has a proven track record of delivering on its financial policies and strategies, with a comprehensive Medium Term Financial Strategy updated and approved each year, and statutory Statement of Accounts completed annually in accordance with national deadlines.

About You

• You will be a full member of a professional accountancy body (CIPFA or CCAB Equivalent).
• Have an extensive accountancy background, and knowledge of working in a public sector or large organisation.
• Have a proven track record of delivering reliable and technically accurate financial information.
• Be flexible and to be able to work in a fast-paced financial environment where deadlines and priorities may change.
• Be able to work on your own initiative as well as being part a wider finance team, plan and prioritise competing workloads.
• Have the ambition for career progression within the finance team when opportunities arise.
• Be able to constructively challenge and have excellent communication skills to liaise with senior managers, budget holders, Members and external stakeholders.
• Able to actively contribute to improve the working practices within the finance team and the service offer we provide to others.
• Have the ability to supervise, motivate and coach staff and contribute to technical skills development within the team.

What we can offer you

• Hybrid Working ~ we offer a flexible approach to work that includes the option to work from home on a regular basis. While the Finance Team is based in Delamere House, Crewe, there is also scope to work Macclesfield Town Hall as needed, as well as attend meetings at other sites around the borough.
• Competitive Salary with a pay award pending.
• Flexible Working Pattern - 37 hours per week, with up to 18 days flexible leave per annum.
• Annual Leave - 26 days (plus bank holidays) up to 31 days after 5 years service.

CONTACTING US

Please ensure you check the email account (including junk/spam boxes) from which you apply regularly as we will use this to contact you regarding your application.

If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date then it is likely that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion, however please do not be discouraged from applying again.

Please quote job reference number in all correspondence.