Senior Accountant | Schools | Full Time | Preston

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Job Description

Salary £55,612 - £60,147 | Permanent, Full Time 37 hours per week | County Hall, Preston

Join us as a Senior Accountant and contribute to our council's Education services while advancing your career in a supportive and innovative environment. As the Senior Accountant, you will act as the Strategic Business Partner to Lancashire Schools, supporting school leaders to effectively manage their finances.

As the Senior Accountant, you will:

• To provide technical expertise and advice to school leaders with responsibility for financial management in education establishments ensuring the provision of a high-quality financial management support service to schools and academies.
• To provide service expertise to support Lancashire County Council colleagues to discharge statutory financial monitoring duties for LA maintained schools and ensuring that the LA can demonstrate compliance to statutory regulation and government guidance.
• Delivery of flexible and responsive financial services to over 500 Lancashire schools to meet changing client demands.
• Provide enhanced support to schools in financial difficulty and delivering financial training to schools as required.
• Manage a small team of finance professionals, providing guidance and support to deliver high performance.
• Be part of the management team for schools financial services and be involved in developing and shaping future service delivery, in addition to contributing to initiatives across the wider council finance service.

About you:

• You'll be a qualified Accountant (CCAB or equivalent) and/or substantial experience in a senior finance role.
• You'll take strategic, solutions-focused approach to local government/schools finance.
• You'll have great communication skills with the ability to build effective relationships with your stakeholders and clients. You'll need to explain complex financial information and have difficult conversations when needed.

Closing Date: 13th October 2025

This fantastic opportunity will allow you to see the positive impact of your recommendations on the services delivered in Lancashire. If you'd like to discuss the role further, please reach out to Khadija Saeed, Head of Corporate Finance, at khadija.saeed@lancashire.gov.uk

Application review is ongoing, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid missing out on this exciting opportunity.

Why join us?

By joining Lancashire County Council, you can shape the career path that is right for you, with opportunities to gain personal and professional qualifications, coaching, and mentoring.

In return for your passion and expertise, we offer a generous benefits package, which includes:

• A competitive salary and Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions.
• A great holiday entitlement of 26 days annual leave, which increases with length of service. You will also be entitled to 8 Bank Holidays, 2 additional statutory Bank Holidays, and have the option to buy additional leave each year.
• Our staff discount scheme in partnership with Vivup, allowing you to access discounts with a range of UK retailers, saving on everything from weekly food shops to white goods and cars.
• Access to fantastic development and career opportunities.

Job Description & Person Specification