Interim Technical Accountant – Closedown Review

Location: Fully Remote Rate: TBC – Inside IR35 Hours: 37 hours per week Contract: Until 31 December 2026 Start: 7 September 2026 Interview: MS Teams ### The Role We are recruiting an experienced Interim Technical Accountant to undertake a comprehensive review of the year-end closedown and Statement of Accounts processes across two local authority organisations. This is a senior technical assignment requiring extensive local government accounting and closedown experience. The successful candidate will review the 2025/26 closedown process, identify weaknesses and opportunities for improvement, strengthen audit readiness and ensure processes comply with the CIPFA Code of Practice and local authority accounting requirements. Alongside the closedown review, you will provide senior technical support to the Corporate Finance function, undertaking responsibilities aligned with a Chief Accountant-level role. ### Key Responsibilities Undertake a fundamental review of the 2025/26 year-end closedown process. Review the Statement of Accounts, disclosure notes, working papers and supporting documentation. Review revenue and capital closedown processes. Assess closedown timetables, responsibilities, resources and technical capability. Review capital accounting, asset valuations and the Fixed Asset Register. Review balance sheet reconciliations and key control accounts. Assess year-end accruals, grants, journals and prior-year adjustments. Review pension accounting and actuarial information. Identify and address issues raised by Internal and External Audit. Review the quality, consistency and sign-off of working papers. Assess spreadsheet controls, data quality and financial-system processes. Review compliance with the CIPFA Code of Practice and Disclosure Checklist. Strengthen audit trails and external audit preparedness. Recommend improvements to streamline and modernise accounts production. Support Corporate Finance at Chief Accountant level as required. ### Essential Requirements Applicants must be fully qualified CCAB accountants – CIPFA, ACCA, ACA, CIMA or equivalent – with a minimum of five years' post-qualification experience. You must also be able to demonstrate: Extensive Local Government finance experience. Significant hands-on year-end closedown experience. Production and/or senior review of local authority Statements of Accounts. Strong technical knowledge of local authority accounting. Detailed knowledge of the CIPFA Code of Practice. Capital accounting and Fixed Asset Register experience. Strong balance sheet and reconciliation experience. Experience working directly with External Audit and resolving audit queries. Experience improving closedown and financial reporting processes. Ability to operate at Chief Accountant / senior technical finance level. This assignment would particularly suit an Interim Chief Accountant, Technical Accountant, Financial Reporting Manager, Corporate Finance Manager or similarly senior local-government finance professional. Fully remote \| Inside IR35 \| Contract to 31 December 2026