Principal Accountant (Schools)
Luton Borough Council
Date: 1 week ago
City: Luton
Contract type: Part time
About The Job
Salary: £51,802 - £54,924 a year plus £3,203 car benefit allowance
Hours per week: 37
Contract type: Permanent
As a Principal Accountant (schools), you will play a pivotal role in and ensuring that financial services for schools are delivered to the highest professional standards, generating value for schools and contributing to the Council's objectives. Your expertise will play a key role in providing strategic financial advice to Head Teachers, Senior Managers, and the Schools Forum, ensuring both schools and the Council benefit from informed financial decision-making.
You will be responsible for ensuring school budgets and medium-term financial plans are aligned with relevant regulations and financial planning frameworks. Regular reviews of school funding formulae, budget modelling, and the implications of policy changes will be essential. You will also manage the Dedicated Schools Grant budgets, monitor monthly expenditures, and promptly address deviations or volatility. As the lead Finance Officer at Schools Forum meetings, you will present reports and offer strategic recommendations.
In addition to your advisory role, you will ensure financial monitoring systems remain compliant with regulatory standards. You will oversee school accounts, ensuring their closure adheres to corporate guidelines and Department for Education requirements. By fostering a customer-oriented approach, you will ensure schools receive financial guidance that supports their individual priorities and maximises value for money. Furthermore, you will contribute to the strategic development of the schools finance service, ensuring it remains market-leading, innovative, and responsive to the evolving educational landscape.
Please note this role does not attract sponsorship.
About You
You’ll be a qualified accountant (CCAB) or part-qualified with extensive relevant experience and evidence of continuing professional development. You will have substantial experience in managing teams and providing strategic financial advice, particularly in the context of local authority education finances and the Dedicated Schools Grant. Your strong leadership and management skills will enable you to motivate and develop a high-performing team, while your customer-oriented approach will ensure the financial service provided to schools is both effective and trusted.
Exceptional communication skills are essential, as you will need to engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including non-accountants, senior leaders, and Schools Forum members. You will be adept at presenting complex financial information clearly and persuasively. Your analytical abilities will support robust financial modelling and decision-making, and your organisational skills will enable you to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
A deep understanding of school’s finance legislation, frameworks, and best practices is essential. Your commitment to equality and diversity will ensure inclusive and fair financial practices. You must also be willing and able to attend meetings across the Borough, including occasional evening commitments.
Apply today!
About Us
Our ambitious Luton 2040 Vision – that no-one in Luton will have to live in poverty – is at the heart of everything we do. We recognise that our people are remarkable, talented, committed and passionate about serving our residents.
The people of Luton depend heavily on this council – and that means our workforce! Are you ready to realise the remarkable and help us deliver our vision?
Application Process
Because of the nature of this job, it will be necessary for the appropriate level of criminal record disclosure to be undertaken. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare all unspent cautions and convictions; and also any adult cautions (simple or conditional), and spent convictions that are not protected as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020). A person’s criminal record will not in itself prevent a person from being appointed to this post. Applicants will not be refused posts because of offences which are not relevant to, and do not place them at or make them a risk in, the role for which they are applying. However in the event of the employment being taken up, any failure to disclose such offence, as detailed above, will result in dismissal or disciplinary action by the Authority.
Benefits
We offer a range of excellent staff benefits which include:
We understand that job applications take time and effort, but a high-quality application shows that you are professional with a good attention to detail. The recruiting manager may receive a number of applications for each job advertised so you want yours to stand out!
Our ‘How to apply' page has more tips to help with your application: How to apply
Salary: £51,802 - £54,924 a year plus £3,203 car benefit allowance
Hours per week: 37
Contract type: Permanent
As a Principal Accountant (schools), you will play a pivotal role in and ensuring that financial services for schools are delivered to the highest professional standards, generating value for schools and contributing to the Council's objectives. Your expertise will play a key role in providing strategic financial advice to Head Teachers, Senior Managers, and the Schools Forum, ensuring both schools and the Council benefit from informed financial decision-making.
You will be responsible for ensuring school budgets and medium-term financial plans are aligned with relevant regulations and financial planning frameworks. Regular reviews of school funding formulae, budget modelling, and the implications of policy changes will be essential. You will also manage the Dedicated Schools Grant budgets, monitor monthly expenditures, and promptly address deviations or volatility. As the lead Finance Officer at Schools Forum meetings, you will present reports and offer strategic recommendations.
In addition to your advisory role, you will ensure financial monitoring systems remain compliant with regulatory standards. You will oversee school accounts, ensuring their closure adheres to corporate guidelines and Department for Education requirements. By fostering a customer-oriented approach, you will ensure schools receive financial guidance that supports their individual priorities and maximises value for money. Furthermore, you will contribute to the strategic development of the schools finance service, ensuring it remains market-leading, innovative, and responsive to the evolving educational landscape.
Please note this role does not attract sponsorship.
About You
You’ll be a qualified accountant (CCAB) or part-qualified with extensive relevant experience and evidence of continuing professional development. You will have substantial experience in managing teams and providing strategic financial advice, particularly in the context of local authority education finances and the Dedicated Schools Grant. Your strong leadership and management skills will enable you to motivate and develop a high-performing team, while your customer-oriented approach will ensure the financial service provided to schools is both effective and trusted.
Exceptional communication skills are essential, as you will need to engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including non-accountants, senior leaders, and Schools Forum members. You will be adept at presenting complex financial information clearly and persuasively. Your analytical abilities will support robust financial modelling and decision-making, and your organisational skills will enable you to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
A deep understanding of school’s finance legislation, frameworks, and best practices is essential. Your commitment to equality and diversity will ensure inclusive and fair financial practices. You must also be willing and able to attend meetings across the Borough, including occasional evening commitments.
Apply today!
About Us
Our ambitious Luton 2040 Vision – that no-one in Luton will have to live in poverty – is at the heart of everything we do. We recognise that our people are remarkable, talented, committed and passionate about serving our residents.
The people of Luton depend heavily on this council – and that means our workforce! Are you ready to realise the remarkable and help us deliver our vision?
Application Process
Because of the nature of this job, it will be necessary for the appropriate level of criminal record disclosure to be undertaken. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare all unspent cautions and convictions; and also any adult cautions (simple or conditional), and spent convictions that are not protected as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020). A person’s criminal record will not in itself prevent a person from being appointed to this post. Applicants will not be refused posts because of offences which are not relevant to, and do not place them at or make them a risk in, the role for which they are applying. However in the event of the employment being taken up, any failure to disclose such offence, as detailed above, will result in dismissal or disciplinary action by the Authority.
Benefits
We offer a range of excellent staff benefits which include:
- From 25 to 32 days’ annual leave: linked to length of service and grade
- Buying annual leave scheme: buy up to 20 days additional annual leave
- Career Pathways: step up in your career or move into a specialist area
- Pension scheme: with generous employer contributions of up to 20.2 per cent (at July 2023) and 3x salary death in service grant
- Generous relocation package: up to £8,000 (subject to eligibility)
- Employee Assistance Programme: a free, 24/7 confidential counselling and wellbeing support service available to all employees, their partner or spouse and dependent children over 16 still living at home
- Work/life balance: flexible working options including working from home where possible. We welcome requests for flexible working arrangements including part-time hours and alternative working patterns
- Training and support: unlimited access to development courses, mentoring and support and clear career pathways
- Staff offers: includes discounts on your MOT, gym and fitness, restaurants and salons
- Arriva Travel Club: great value savings on local bus travel
We understand that job applications take time and effort, but a high-quality application shows that you are professional with a good attention to detail. The recruiting manager may receive a number of applications for each job advertised so you want yours to stand out!
Our ‘How to apply' page has more tips to help with your application: How to apply
How to apply
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