Job Description
Full job description
The role
This is an exciting opportunity to join Southwark’s Professional Finance Services team as a Divisional Accountant, providing crucial financial and management accounting support to the Education and Schools Division. Reporting to the Senior Finance Manager for Education and Schools, you will take a lead role in supporting schools within the borough, particularly those facing financial pressures, and will be central to maintaining accurate and insightful monitoring of school budgets.
In this varied role, you will build and maintain excellent working relationships with school leaders and education service colleagues, ensuring you are well informed of any financial developments that may impact budgets. This will enable you to produce reliable and timely monthly forecasts, along with high-quality financial reports that keep senior management and key stakeholders informed on budget performance and financial risks.
You will support on the financial year-end process within the finance team, including working closely with external auditors to ensure accuracy and compliance. The role also involves leading on key statistical and grant returns, providing professional finance input on the allocation of resources, and supporting service managers with clear and accurate financial advice throughout the year.
As part of your responsibilities, you will contribute to improving financial processes, supporting key projects across the Education service, and providing specialist advice that helps shape services for children and young people in the borough. This is a great opportunity to take on a meaningful role where your financial expertise will make a real difference to educational services and the wider community.
Key responsibilities:
Provide dedicated financial support to schools, focusing on those experiencing financial challenges, supporting production of deficit recovery plans and reviewing final plans.
Build strong, professional relationships with school leaders and education colleagues to stay informed on financial developments.
Produce high-quality monthly finance reports and lead on the year-end accounts process, including liaison with auditors.
Act as the finance lead for key grant and statistical returns, ensuring timely and accurate submissions.
Support senior managers with financial advice on key projects, resource allocation, and service improvements.
Drive continuous improvements in financial monitoring, reporting, and processes to support effective decision-making.
What you’ll bring to the role:
We’re looking for a proactive finance professional who can bring strong technical skills and a collaborative approach to this key role. To make a real impact, you’ll bring:
A professional accountancy qualification (CIPFA, ACA, CIMA, ACCA) or be part-qualified with relevant experience.
In-depth knowledge of local government finance, including accounting, financial planning, and budget monitoring.
Hands-on experience supporting Education or Schools finance, with a clear understanding of sector-specific challenges.
Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to interpret complex financial information and present it clearly.
Strong Excel skills and confidence working with financial systems (SAP knowledge is a plus).
Experience delivering accurate financial forecasts, reports, and year-end accounts.
The ability to build positive working relationships and communicate financial insights to both finance and non-finance colleagues.
A commitment to continuous improvement, finding ways to enhance financial processes and support service objectives.
The role
This is an exciting opportunity to join Southwark’s Professional Finance Services team as a Divisional Accountant, providing crucial financial and management accounting support to the Education and Schools Division. Reporting to the Senior Finance Manager for Education and Schools, you will take a lead role in supporting schools within the borough, particularly those facing financial pressures, and will be central to maintaining accurate and insightful monitoring of school budgets.
In this varied role, you will build and maintain excellent working relationships with school leaders and education service colleagues, ensuring you are well informed of any financial developments that may impact budgets. This will enable you to produce reliable and timely monthly forecasts, along with high-quality financial reports that keep senior management and key stakeholders informed on budget performance and financial risks.
You will support on the financial year-end process within the finance team, including working closely with external auditors to ensure accuracy and compliance. The role also involves leading on key statistical and grant returns, providing professional finance input on the allocation of resources, and supporting service managers with clear and accurate financial advice throughout the year.
As part of your responsibilities, you will contribute to improving financial processes, supporting key projects across the Education service, and providing specialist advice that helps shape services for children and young people in the borough. This is a great opportunity to take on a meaningful role where your financial expertise will make a real difference to educational services and the wider community.
Key responsibilities:
Provide dedicated financial support to schools, focusing on those experiencing financial challenges, supporting production of deficit recovery plans and reviewing final plans.
Build strong, professional relationships with school leaders and education colleagues to stay informed on financial developments.
Produce high-quality monthly finance reports and lead on the year-end accounts process, including liaison with auditors.
Act as the finance lead for key grant and statistical returns, ensuring timely and accurate submissions.
Support senior managers with financial advice on key projects, resource allocation, and service improvements.
Drive continuous improvements in financial monitoring, reporting, and processes to support effective decision-making.
What you’ll bring to the role:
We’re looking for a proactive finance professional who can bring strong technical skills and a collaborative approach to this key role. To make a real impact, you’ll bring:
A professional accountancy qualification (CIPFA, ACA, CIMA, ACCA) or be part-qualified with relevant experience.
In-depth knowledge of local government finance, including accounting, financial planning, and budget monitoring.
Hands-on experience supporting Education or Schools finance, with a clear understanding of sector-specific challenges.
Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to interpret complex financial information and present it clearly.
Strong Excel skills and confidence working with financial systems (SAP knowledge is a plus).
Experience delivering accurate financial forecasts, reports, and year-end accounts.
The ability to build positive working relationships and communicate financial insights to both finance and non-finance colleagues.
A commitment to continuous improvement, finding ways to enhance financial processes and support service objectives.
💡 Quick Summary
Seeking a career-building opportunity? The Divisional Accountant position is now open for candidates interested in the Accountant Jobs sector. This role in Bristol offers a professional environment and growth potential.
Requirement Snapshot: Candidates should possess basic communication skills, a proactive attitude, and the ability to work in a team. Experience in Accountant Jobs is a plus.