Support Accountant - Financial Planning

Support Accountant

• Financial Planning - 3 Month Contract Local Authority | 3 Month Contract Location: Melton, Suffolk Rate: £25.00 per hour (Umbrella) Contract: 3 Month Contract ( November 2026
• End of January 2027) Hours: 37 Hours Per Week (4 Days Per Week Considered) Working Pattern: Hybrid - 2 Days Per Week On Site Pay: Bi-Weekly Summary An excellent opportunity has arisen for an experienced Support Accountant to join a Local Authority Finance Team on an interim basis. Working within the Financial Planning Team, you will provide practical support to Finance Business Partners across a range of service areas, helping to deliver effective financial management, budget monitoring, forecasting, reporting, and year-end activities. The successful candidate will be able to hit the ground running, supporting budget holders and managers with financial information while contributing to the Council's financial planning and reporting processes.

Key Responsibilities

Support Finance Business Partners with revenue and capital budget monitoring. Assist with annual budget setting processes. Produce financial forecasts and monitor financial performance. Prepare and analyse financial reports and management information. Support year-end accounts preparation and associated working papers.

Undertake reconciliations and investigate discrepancies. Support reviews of fees and charges. Provide financial advice and guidance to service managers and budget holders. Assist with Government and statutory returns. Support staffing budget exercises, reserve administration, and overhead apportionments. Ensure correct accounting treatment of grants and maintain supporting documentation.

Assist with financial management projects across multiple service areas. Support the administration and development of financial systems. Help deliver financial awareness and training to non-finance colleagues. Support apprentices and junior finance colleagues where required. Essential Requirements Requirements: Proven experience delivering accounting services within a finance environment.

Experience supporting non-financial managers with financial information. Good understanding of accounting principles and budgetary control. Experience supporting budget monitoring and financial forecasting. Strong Excel skills for analysis and reporting. Experience using financial management systems. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Excellent attention to detail. Ability to communicate financial information clearly to non-finance stakeholders. AAT Qualified with relevant post-qualification experience, or significant experience working at a similar level. Desirable Local Authority finance experience. Public sector finance experience. Experience supporting year-end accounts processes.

Experience producing management reports for senior stakeholders. Experience delivering financial training or guidance. Experience working with revenue and capital budgets. What's on Offer? £25.00 per hour (Umbrella) 3 Month Contract 37 Hours Per Week (4 Days Considered) Hybrid Working (2 Days Office-Based) Bi-Weekly Pay Opportunity to support a wide range of Council services.

Varied role covering budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and year-end activities. Supportive Finance Team environment. Potential contract extension. Ideal for candidates with experience as a Support Accountant, Assistant Accountant, Assistant Management Accountant, Management Accountant, Finance Officer, Financial Planning Officer, Finance Business Partner Support Officer, or Local Government Accountant.