Senior Financial Accountant Job at Ipswich, Suffolk Full Time

Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils are looking for a Senior Financial Accountant to join our Finance team in Ipswich, Suffolk. The successful candidate will earn a competitive salary of £53,460 – £63,013 per annum (pro rata for part time).

Join our team

We are looking for a Senior Financial Accountant to join our Finance team.

You will be joining our Finance Team at an exciting time as we look to transform the service we offer to stakeholders and drive forward financial performance.

If you share our values and you are motivated to make a difference for our residents, clients, and communities, we would love to hear from you.

About the role

This role forms a crucial part of the Finance Management Team, and you will be key to making operational finance decisions.

Reporting to the Head of Finance, areas of responsibility will include:

• assume day to day management of the Financial Control team with direct responsibility for three and a wider team of eight
• lead on the delivery of Statement of Accounts and be pivotal in transforming processes ensuring a strong internal control environment
• provide expert financial advice to the Finance Team and across the organisation
• develop, review and improve strategies, policies and procedures
• support the Head of Finance in writing and reporting on the Treasury, Capital and Investment Strategies for both councils
• Work with the Systems team to ensure smooth and timely reporting from the finance system as well as enabling self-service for managers for budget management and forecasting.

About you

You will:

• be a fully qualified Accountant (ACCA, CIMA, ICAEW, CIPFA) with significant finance experience, supporting service teams within the public sector or a similar multi disciplined sector
• have corporate financial management experience, able to deliver Statement of Accounts to tight deadlines and liaise effectively with external auditors, providing explanations and answering queries
• be an excellent communicator with experience of reviewing business cases and financial appraisals providing expert advice and recommendations
• be comfortable dealing with people at all levels and working in a complex and sometimes challenging operating environment
• be an experienced team leader, personable and patient with the ability to motivate and provide a positive environment
• focus on delivery and strive for excellence and continual improvement of the finance service.

About us

At Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils we are passionate about building communities that people want to live, work, visit and invest in.

We serve around 200,000 residents across our two districts and are well known for our collaboration and partnership working across public, private and voluntary sectors.

We believe that the heart of Suffolk is an incredibly special place to live and work, with:

• 60 conservation areas
• two National Landscapes
• many picturesque market towns

It is no surprise we are ranked among the top 50 places to live in the UK (United Kingdom).

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Generous leave entitlement (26 days a year, rising to 31 days after 5 years).
• Competitive Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Wellbeing Support and Employee Assistance Programs.
• Private Health Care Options.
• Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice Scheme.
• Paid volunteering days.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements (Business needs permitting).
• Great learning and development opportunities.

Our ways of working

We believe work is what we do, not just where we go.

We work in a hybrid way, with a mix of office, home, and remote based working (Business need permitting). Our hybrid working arrangements support flexibility and collaboration, helping our teams to thrive.

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, providing opportunity and ambition for all, supporting and enabling our people to deliver the best possible services for our residents.

Closing date: 5.00 pm, 12 June 2026.

If you think you have what it takes to be successful in this Senior Financial Accountant role, even if you don’t meet all the requirements, please apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils are an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.