Senior Accountant

Are you an experienced accountant looking for a new challenge within a dynamic and supportive finance team? West Berkshire Council is seeking a Senior Accountant to join the Finance and Property Service, reporting to the Finance Business Partner. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to the financial management of a diverse range of services within the Council.

The Role

Responsibilities

As a Senior Accountant, you will play a key role in delivering high-quality financial services and support. Your main responsibilities will include:

• Providing accurate and timely financial information to service managers and budget holders
• Supporting the Finance Business Partner in budget planning, monitoring, and forecasting
• Conducting variance analysis and providing insightful commentary on financial performance
• Ensuring compliance with financial regulations and procedures
• Assisting in the year-end closure process and preparation of statutory accounts
• Managing and mentoring junior finance staff, providing guidance and support

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will possess the following skills and attributes:

• Qualified accountant (ACCA/CIMA or equivalent)
• Strong technical accounting skills and knowledge
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with stakeholders
• Proactive and self-motivated, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Experience of leading and managing finance staff

Why Work for West Berkshire Council?

West Berkshire Council Offer Excellent Employment Benefits Such As

• Flexible working wherever possible between the hours of 07.00-21.00
• Hybrid working wherever possible working 40% in the office
• Access to a wide range of training and development opportunities
• Generous Local Government pension scheme
• Family friendly policies
• A range of local discounts
• Wellbeing Programme including Employee Assistance Programme and employee benefits
• You will also be entitled to a generous annual leave entitlement starting at 29 days per annum (plus public holidays) Rising by an additional 5 days after 5 years’ service.

Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

Join us at West Berkshire Council and make a positive impact in our community while advancing your career. Explore everything that a career with West Berkshire Council has to offer here: Working with Us

For an informal discussion to learn more about the role, please contact Mollie McQuade on email ***email_hidden***

Equal Opportunities

The Council supports Equal Opportunity of employment and positively encourages applications from people who fall within any of the nine protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.

How To Apply

Please now complete a short online application form. You will then be able to upload your CV.

This role has been identified as public facing in accordance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016; the requirement to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in English applies.

This privacy notice applies to job applicants applying for vacancies with West Berkshire Council https://info.westberks.gov.uk/pnapplications

AI in Applications

We recognise that candidates may choose to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support the preparation of their job applications. When used appropriately, AI can be a helpful aid in structuring responses, checking clarity, and improving presentation.

However, applications must reflect your own skills, experience and understanding. If an application appears to rely excessively on AI-generated content, it may not meet the required standard and could be rejected.

We encourage all applicants to ensure their submissions are authentic, tailored to the role, and clearly demonstrate their own knowledge, experience and suitability.