Deputy Chief Accountant

Reference: 4839896Job ID: 5422101Posted: 2026-10-27Closing date: 2027-01-26Location: OxfordSalary: 50,000-55,000 DOE (per annum)Job type: PermanentWorking pattern: Full time / Flexible workingIndustry: Government & Public Services / Senior Finance QualifiedCompany: HaysConsultant: Paul EmeryHays office: Oxford — Part 1st floor (north), East Wing, Seacourt Tower, Oxford,Phone: 01865727071Email: paul.emery@hays.comYour new companyYou’ll be joining a large, complex public-sector organisation with a significant statutory financial reporting environment. The organisation offers agile working arrangements, with flexibility alongside the requirement to travel between office locations across the county when necessary.Your new roleAs Deputy Chief Accountant, you’ll support and deputise for the Chief Accountant, playing a key role in delivering accurate and timely statutory financial reporting, including the annual Statement of Accounts. You’ll also line-manage three Assistant Accountants and work closely with the wider financial planning and reporting team to make effective use of team capacity throughout the financial year.Your key responsibilities will include:Managing and coordinating the final accounts timetable, working with internal and external stakeholders to resolve issues and meet statutory deadlines.Managing fixed asset reporting and capital balance sheet accounts, ensuring leases are accounted for in line with professional and legislative requirements.Preparing the capital accounting elements of the final accounts and associated government returns.Coordinating and completing the Whole of Government Accounts (WGA) return.Working closely with external auditors, responding to information requests and queries relating to the accounts.Maintaining oversight of revenue hierarchies to support effective financial monitoring and reporting.Overseeing Financial Regulations and Financial Procedure Rules, coordinating updates and working with the Financial Systems team on finance policies, procedures and guidance.Supporting improvements to the organisation’s financial accounting systems and processes.What you'll need to succeedYou’ll ideally be CCAB or CIMA qualified, with experience of helping to plan and produce accounts within a large, complex organisation operating under a statutory accounting framework.You’ll also need:Experience of working with external auditors and supporting external audit processes.Strong knowledge of financial policies, practices, procedures and relevant legislation.Excellent knowledge of capital accounting regulations, policies and procedures.Strong stakeholder management, influencing and negotiation skills.The credibility to work effectively within a political environment and develop productive relationships with senior managers, members, colleagues, partners and customers.Previous experience producing local authority accounts and an understanding of the CIPFA/LASAAC Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting would be particularly advantageous.What you'll get in returnThis is an opportunity to take on a senior technical accounting position with genuine responsibility across statutory reporting, capital accounting and year-end delivery, while developing leadership experience through line management and deputising for the Chief Accountant.The organisation supports flexible working in line with its agile-working approach with an expectation of being in office once per week.

They also offer a generous public sector pension and a broad range of additional benefits.What you need to do now If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now. If this job isn't quite right for you but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion on your career. #4839896 - Paul Emery