We have an excellent opportunity for a Senior Management Accountant to join our Finance Business Partnering Team here at Wokingham Borough Council, on a full-time, 18-month Fixed Term Contract.
As Senior Management Accountant, you will manage the financial liaison between service budget holders and the finance team, overseeing improvement programmes and process reviews. Working alongside the Finance Business Partner, you will support strategic implementation, including the Medium Term Financial Plan, delivering accurate reporting to management and the Chief Finance Officer to ensure sound governance.
You will handle enquiries from senior stakeholders and external parties, providing strategic advice on budgeting, forecasting, and year-end processes. Additionally, you will assist in compiling Statutory Annual Accounts, promote best practices in financial governance, and deliver training to upskill management, ensuring compliance with all relevant legislation and guidance.
This is a fantastic opportunity for a compassionate, empathetic, and motivated professional with proven experience in public sector finance, business partnering, or managing complex financial projects to join our team.
Staff Benefits
Not only is this an excellent opportunity, but it’s a fantastic time to join our team. You will receive an extensive range of employee benefits including:
- Generous Annual Leave – 31 days annual leave (rising by 5 days after 5 years of continued local government service), plus bank holidays
- Local Government Pension Scheme
- GP Helpline - Available 7 days a week
- Employee Assistance Programme - Including a 24/7 Your Care Helpline
- Free Eye Tests and Flu Vaccines
- Free Onsite Gym - Located at Shute End Offices, Wokingham
- Salary Sacrifice Schemes - Including Car and Cycle to Work schemes
- Local & Lifestyle Discounts - Save on shopping, entertainment, dining out & more
- Move through Menopause Course
- Sports & Social Group Activities – Including running, football, cricket & more
- Learning & Development Opportunities
Key Responsibilities:
- Support a range of stakeholders, including Management, to ensure strategic financial decision making, deputising where appropriate
- Manage a team providing financial guidance, coaching and ensure alignment with service goals & objectives
- To deliver timely, insightful and accurate reporting to management
- Promoting strong financial governance and sharing best practice & support on legislative and guidance changes.
- To identify, develop and support opportunities and initiatives to transform the delivery of services across the Council, promoting continuous improvement
- Assisting with delivery of training on financial acumen to upskill and develop management and the services
Candidate requirements:
- Degree-level, equivalent relevant professional qualifications or expertise
- Qualified or actively working towards Professional accounting qualifications, CIPFA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent
- Strong business partnering and stakeholder management skills
- Proactive self starter with the ability to drive change and challenge the existing processes
- Strong problem solving skills and able to analyse complex issues and deliver practical, value adding solutions
- Advanced data analysis capabilities and strong understanding of financial systems and reporting tools
- Experience or awareness of the housing sector is desirable, but not essential
Our Area:
Wokingham Borough Council has recently been ranked 2nd most productive council in England by the Impower Productivity Index, recognising our strong performance and efficient use of public money.
Our Borough is set in the heart of Berkshire with excellent transport links to Reading and central London. Our area comprises of a vibrant and historical market town, attractive villages, and miles of beautiful countryside.
We’re home to a range of high performing schools, a host of international businesses and an incredible community. The borough has a strong local economy with accelerated growth, a range of excellent public facilities and low levels of crime, offering an exceptional quality of life.
Click the link below and Apply Today!
Alternatively, to arrange an informal discussion about the role, contact Asher Stanford, Finance Business Partner, via email - [email protected] (Strictly no agencies).
Closing date: Sunday 26th July 2026 at 11pm
Interview date: TBC
Whilst this is a fixed term contract appointment, for anyone already employed by Wokingham Borough Council this would be classed as a secondment if successful. Therefore, the usual permission requests for secondments apply and you must speak to your line manager in the first instance before applying.
If your application is shortlisted for an interview, you will be required to provide proof of your right to work in the UK at that stage. Additionally, successful candidates must present proof upon receiving a job offer.
Please note that all offers are conditional and subject to the satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks.
Please be aware that we will be reviewing the applications we receive on a daily basis, and we reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified.
Wokingham Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff, other workers and volunteers to share this commitment.
Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we regret that we are unable to respond to every applicant individually.
If you do not hear from us within 4 weeks of the application closing date, please assume that your application has not been successful on this occasion.
We appreciate your interest in joining Wokingham Borough Council and thank you for taking the time to apply.
Wokingham is an equal opportunities employer.
