Principal Accountant

As Principal Accountant within the Financial Planning and Technical Accounting team, this role offers an excellent opportunity to develop your career within a forward looking council with bold ambitions and gain financial and strategic experience across our large finance function. You will learn from, and work alongside amazing and talented people, enabling you to strengthen your technical and softer skills and you grow as a professional. Finance Business Partnering is at the heart of our approach to financial management with emphasis on collaboration between our finance teams , operational services and external partners. In this role, you will provide strategic and technical financial information and advice to senior officers and elected members in relation to the Council's Capital Programme and Treasury Management function. You will be directly accountable to the Finance Manager, supporting the Financial Planning and Technical Accounting team in relation to forecasting and managing the Council's financial affairs You will also be responsible for:

• Co-ordinating the financial management of the Council's capital programme, ensuring robust governance arrangements for the programme and its financing requirements.
• Providing professional financial advice on complex capital finance and treasury management matters.
• Formulating the Council's Treasury Management Strategy.
• Formulating the Council's Capital and Investment Strategy
• Co-ordinating the Capital Accounting and financing year-end processes, supporting the external audit process
  
  You should be CCAB Qualified (or equivalent), or CCAB exam-qualified with evidence of working towards the completion of any requisite portfolios of work experience needed to finalise the applicable CCAB qualification (or equivalent).
You should have knowledge of public sector accounting principles and procedures and have experience of delivering financial advice and guidance to a range of audiences alongside the ability to develop, analyse, understand and interpret complex financial information.

Durham County Council is currently seeking a Principal Accountant (Capital and Treasury Management) to work within their Coporate Finance and Commercial Service. Why Durham County Council? County Durham is a forward thinking area with a strong sense of community. Our friendly people, fascinating history and beautiful natural environment, from the dales to the coast, are what makes our county great. We have rebuilt and reinvented our economy and communities to overcome past challenges. We are passionate about building a better future for all and building on our relationship between the County Durham Partnership and everyone who lives in, works in or visits our county. The Council's vision for County Durham (delivered through the County Durham Partnership) is structured around three ambitions:
• More and better jobs
• People living longer and independent lives
• Connected Communities
To achieve these ambitions, we recognise that we need people who share our passion, and have an overriding commitment to serve our communities, delivering better services and better outcomes for residents and places across the county.

We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked after young person, care leaver or a veteran. OUR OFFER TO YOU We offer a competitive rewards package that includes attractive salaries, a generous annual leave entitlement of 27 days (rising to 32 after five years' continuous local government service), membership of the excellent contributory career average Local Government Pension Scheme, and a range of flexible working arrangements including hybrid working (home and office) where applicable. Explore the full range of rewards and benefits on our website. Rewards and benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions.