Accountant

Job introduction

• Are you skilled in analysing and interpreting financial data?
• Do you have a passion for supporting managers who deliver front line services in the public sector?
• Do you enjoy working on complex spreadsheets?
• Are you skilled in writing and presenting financial reports in an accessible manner for non-finance experts?

We are looking for someone who is an effective finance Business Partner. You will be joining a diverse, friendly and professional finance team. We are operating in an environment of increasing financial complexity and expanding demands for high level advice. The team are working at home for part of the week and also in Hove Town Hall.

For an informal discussion, please contact Jeff Coates - Principal Accountant (01273) 292364 or James Hengeveld - Head of Finance (01273) 291242

Provisional interview dates: 24th or 26th April

About the role

The successful candidate will have:

• Extensive experience of producing and evaluating business cases, setting budgets, closing accounts and monitoring budgets to meet the needs of budget managers.
• Strong technical skills with experience of budget management and supporting large and complex projects.
• A positive proactive approach with the ability to work on your own initiative and as a team player.
• Strong problem solving and analytical skills and competency in using Microsoft Office and other financial systems.
• Excellent customer service and communication skills with the ability to clearly communicate financial matters to a non-financial audience.

Why us?

• You will have the opportunity to work in a dynamic team where diversity is valued.
• You will be able to work flexibly, including working from home.
• The team is supportive, friendly and sociable.
• You will be supporting the delivery of services to the residents and visitors of the City
• Brighton & Hove City Council promises to be a fair and inclusive place to work.

Please read our Apply for a job at the council (brighton-hove.gov.uk) pages carefully. They give you all the guidance you need to complete your application as well as information on what will happen after you’ve submitted your application and at interview.

As part of your application, you will need to complete your education and work history and upload a supporting statement. Your supporting statement is the most important part of your application as it will be used in the shortlisting process to assess whether you meet the essential requirements for the role that are set out in the person specification and to decide whether you should be offered an interview. Before you start your application, please read our guidance here (Supporting statement guidance (brighton-hove.gov.uk) as this gives important advice which will increase your chance of success in the shortlisting process.

Additional information

Your starting salary will be pro rata if the above position is less than 37 hours or term-time only.

Work Permits: We may be able to obtain a Work Permit for this post but this is subject to meeting the requirements of the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) Points-based Immigration System. Please see Gov.uk for more information on the Skilled Worker Visa.

We are a workplace that supports flexibility and employee wellbeing in the way we work whilst providing the best service for our customers. Team and service working arrangements are designed to support both employee work life balance and team collaboration. These would be part of your individual working arrangements alongside any personal preference agreed with your manager in advance of joining.

For more information about our values and the benefits of working at the council, visit Why work for us (brighton-hove.gov.uk)

Company information

Encouraging a diverse workforce

Our city is known and loved for its diversity. Not only is the mixture of people, culture and skills vital to the economic and social development of the city, it's what makes Brighton & Hove such a great place to live, work and visit. We are committed to developing and retaining a workforce that is representative of the diverse communities we serve so we welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds. In order to achieve our aims of proportionate representation, we particularly encourage applicants from a BME or White Other background as well as those who identify as disabled, male or trans.

Find out more about our commitment to being a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone can achieve their potential by reading about our fair and inclusive actions, our anti-racism strategy and the work we are doing to encourage a diverse workforce (brighton-hove.gov.uk).