Strategic Finance Lead

Wiltshire Council are seeking an exceptional Strategic Finance Lead to act as the council's technical accounting expert and professional lead for the production of the annual Statement of Accounts and key statutory financial returns. This is a senior leadership role, overseeing financial governance, technical accounting, and strategic modelling in support of the council's long term financial sustainability.

Location: Wiltshire Council

Set-up: Hybrid - 2-3-days per week on-site

Rate: £500/day via umbrella inside IR35

Duration: Initially 3-months, subject to extension

Hours: Full-time position

• Lead the production of the council's Statement of Accounts and statutory financial returns, ensuring full compliance with CIPFA and national regulatory requirements
• Provide high quality financial accounting, advice, and technical assurance across the organisation, including supporting robust financial controls
• Deliver strategic financial insights and long term modelling (5-10 years) to support effective decision making for both capital and revenue planning
• Act as the council's lead professional for treasury management, setting strategy, policy, and controls for multimillion pound investments and borrowing
• Oversee the council's central finance technical functions, including VAT & Tax, the Chart of Accounts, asset accounting, banking, insurance, and the Collection Fund

• Fully qualified CCAB accountant with extensive experience in senior finance leadership roles
• Significant experience interpreting complex financial regulations and delivering large scale technical accounting projects
• Proven track record in preparing statutory accounts, financial modelling, and producing high quality financial data
• Strong experience managing and motivating technical finance teams, with credibility in delivering successful outcomes
• Advanced technical skills, including SAP/general ledger systems, fixed asset systems, Excel, and data interrogation tools