Interim Principal Accountant

Interim Principal Accountant 📍 Location: Home‑based (office attendance once per month max - Ealing - London) ⏳ Contract: 3 months initially (very likely extension) 💼 Start: ASAP 💰 Rates: £36.37 per hour (PAYE) £47.74 per hour (Umbrella) 👋 The Opportunity We're looking for an experienced Principal Accountant to join a London local authority on an interim basis. Reporting into a Finance Manager and working closely with the Section 151 Officer, you'll provide senior‑level financial advice and business partnering support across key council services. This role suits someone confident operating at a strategic level, influencing senior stakeholders, and ensuring strong financial governance. ✅ What You'll Be Doing Lead finance business partnering for allocated service areas Provide strategic and operational financial advice to senior managers Support capital & revenue budget setting, monitoring and forecasting Contribute to delivery of the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) Identify, manage and escalate financial risks Support year‑end accounts closure and audit requirements Deputise for the Finance Manager when required Promote financial best practice and literacy across services 🧠 What We're Looking For Essential experience: Strong local authority finance background Capital budget setting and monitoring experience Revenue budget management experience Experience managing or leading finance staff Comfortable influencing and advising at senior management level Able to explain complex finance matters to non‑finance colleagues 🎓 Qualifications Fully qualified: CIPFA / CCAB / CIMA (AAT considered with substantial senior‑level local authority experience) 🏡 Working Arrangements Predominantly remote Office attendance once per month maximum Adecco acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and an employment business for the supply of temporary workers. The Adecco Group UK & Ireland is an Equal Opportunities Employer. By applying for this role your details will be submitted to Adecco. Our Candidate Privacy Information Statement explains how we will use your information - please copy and paste the following link in to your browser