Project Accountant

£46,359 - £49,128 per annum

London

The Finance function at Hackney Council is going through a transformational change and in response to new needs to deliver our service we are looking for a Project Accountant to be at the forefront of this. We are an ambitious local authority, renowned for the way we manage our finances to get the best for our residents. This job offers an exciting opportunity to support and shape this work.

As Project Accountant you will help us meet our statutory and internal financial responsibilities. You will provide strategic financial advice to our directorates and support a range of management processes. This is a broad role and one that will mean the individual getting involved in all aspects of Council responsibilities. The role needs a candidate that can quickly grasp the requirements of each project, articulate a plan and get individuals together to deliver.

You’ll report directly to the Chief Accountant and day to day you will be involved in various projects across the Council. You will put in place new financial systems and processes and your focus will be to promote efficiency. You will also help service and finance managers in the directorates reach the stringent cost savings that we must achieve.

While you will not be directly managing anyone, you will lead the team involved in a specific project, the projects you support will be really varied. This is a fantastic opportunity to be involved with a broad remit of our work as a council - from programmes to support Children and Young people to Corporate Strategy.

We need a logical thinker with proven delivery skills. Your background will involve project management work within a finance setting. The right candidate will need a good understanding of the public sector. You won’t necessarily have worked within it, but will need to understand the importance of what we do and the impact it has on people’s lives. You will bring fresh thinking to take on the financial challenges we face, and will be as determined as we are to keep service standards high. You should remain level headed under pressure and enjoy thinking strategically about how to get the best for the people who use our services.

You will need to be an effective communicator, able to explain complicated finance processes and technical information in an easy to understand and engaging way. You must have a CCAB qualification or equivalent, be IT literate and therefore be able to grasp and understand used to a variety of packages, including MS Office and financial systems.

Proven skills and experiences of carrying out financial appraisal, financial modelling techniques and project management will be a real bonus. This is an important role, you will be helping ensure the Council remains high performing and efficient amid significant financial challenges.

At Hackney, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment which is stimulating, fast moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high profile organisation. 

Closing date: 18th October 2015.

Job reference: HC00816

We are passionate about equal opportunities and welcome a diversity of talent to apply.