Interim Head of Finance: Close Down

INTERIM HEAD OF FINANCE: CLOSE DOWN / DEPUTY CHIEF ACCOUNTANT / * Local Authority | Hybrid Working * Immediate Start * Initial Contract with Potential Extension * Excellent Daily Rate Morgan Law is supporting a local authority client seeking an experienced and highly hands-on finance professional to help lead a complex financial reporting and audit programme. This is a critical assignment requiring someone who can quickly take ownership of external audit relationships, drive year-end accounts production and help navigate multiple years of audit activity. Key responsibilities include: * Managing the external audit process end-to-end, including requests, evidence gathering and stakeholder coordination * Liaising with auditors across: Current year audit (2025/26) Historical audit backlog (2021/22 to 2024/25) Value for Money (VfM) audits* Preparing and posting audit adjustments across the general ledger, CIES, MiRS, reserves and balance sheet areas * Updating and finalising the Statement of Accounts, including primary statements and disclosures * Leading year-end closedown activities and coordinating deadlines across the wider finance team *Managing and developing a small team, including graduate trainees and a Principal Finance Officer * Strengthening working papers and ensuring audit-ready financial reporting throughout We are keen to speak with candidates who have operated as: * Chief Accountant * Deputy Chief Accountant * Technical Accountant * Head of Technical Accounting * Financial Reporting Manager * Corporate Accounting Manager Essential experience: * Strong local government finance background * Extensive Statement of Accounts experience * Detailed knowledge of CIPFA Code, IFRS, CIES, MiRS and reserves accounting * Significant experience managing external audit relationships * Experience dealing with audit backlogs and complex year-end processes * Hands-on delivery approach rather than purely strategic oversight If you're interested, or know someone who may be suitable, please get in touch for a confidential discussion, messaging me at (url removed)