Senior Accountant (Capital)

Senior Accountant (Capital)

Job reference: CSDB0221

Salary: £49,282 - £54,495 p.a.

Hours: 37 per week (full time)

Package: permanent, 29 days annual leave per annum, rising to 34 days per annum after 5 years’ service

Help shape more than £300 million of investment across North Somerset. We're looking for a talented and ambitious finance professional to join our Capital Finance Team. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced local government accountant, or a qualified finance professional looking to step into a management role, to influence major investment decisions and support projects that make a real difference to our communities.

Working closely with senior leaders, budget holders and project managers, you'll play a key role in developing and monitoring the Council's capital programme, supporting high-profile projects including MetroWest Rail and Birnbeck Pier.

With a supportive team environment, flexible hybrid working and opportunities for professional development, this role offers the chance to broaden your experience, develop leadership skills and help shape North Somerset's future.

What you'll do:

• Lead financial support for a capital programme worth over £300 million.
• Provide strategic financial advice to senior officers, budget holders and project managers.
• Produce clear and accurate capital monitoring and forecasting reports.
• Support capital strategy development and long-term investment planning.
• Manage year-end capital accounting and statutory reporting requirements.
• Build strong partnerships across the Council and with neighbouring authorities.
• Support and develop staff within the Capital Finance Team.

This role offers a genuine opportunity to develop your leadership skills, manage staff and gain exposure to strategic financial decision-making at a senior organisational level.

We’re looking for a highly skilled and motivated Senior Accountant (Capital) to play a leading role in managing and developing our ambitious five-year capital programme. In this high‑impact role, you’ll provide expert financial insight, partner with services across the Council, and ensure our capital activities are delivered with accuracy, pace and professionalism. Your strong analytical skills, technical knowledge, attention to detail and confidence working with stakeholders at all levels will help drive excellent financial management across the organisation.

As a key member of our six‑person Capital Finance Team, you will:

• Support the development of the council’s long‑term capital and asset‑based plans, ensuring alignment with council priorities.
• Produce accurate, clear, timely monthly capital monitoring reports for project managers, budget holders, Directors and governance boards.
• Support year‑end capital activities, including asset register updates, funding reconciliations and preparation of statutory account notes.
• Work collaboratively with senior officers and neighbouring authorities on major projects such as MetroWest Rail, Birnbeck Pier, and support S106, CIL and VAT return responsibilities.
• This is an exciting opportunity to apply your technical expertise in a varied, high‑profile role while making a real difference to our community.

What you will be doing:

• Provide high‑quality strategic financial advice to support the council’s capital programme, working closely with the Finance Business Partner (Capital) and Section 151 Officer.
• You will help shape and maintain the council’s multi‑year capital and asset plans, ensuring they align with our Corporate Plan, and contribute to the preparation of annual strategy reports for Cabinet and Council.
• You will support the production of monthly capital monitoring reports, providing clear, timely updates to project managers, budget holders, senior leaders and key governance boards. This includes oversight of capital expenditure, resources, internal recharges, and both existing schemes and new proposals.
• You will play a key role in year‑end processes, including closing the capital accounts, updating the asset register, and preparing supporting notes for the statutory accounts, and work directly with External Audit throughout the audit process.

We're looking for a proactive, customer‑focused senior finance professional who thrives in a dynamic environment. You’ll be confident managing multiple priorities, continuously seeking smarter ways of working, and delivering high‑quality support to stakeholders across the council.

In this role, you’ll work closely with the Finance Business Partner (Capital) on complex accounting and budgeting matters, acting as a trusted point of contact for technical finance queries. You’ll bring strong analytical skills, excellent communication, and the ability to build effective relationships at all levels.

You will bring:

• Fully qualified member if an accountancy body under s113 of the LGFA 1988 (includes CIMA).
• Significant post qualification experience in a public sector financial environment, demonstrating a thorough understanding/technical competence in complex activities.
• Completion and submission of external funding bids and grant claims.
• Knowledge and understanding of capital transactions at year-end, and preparation of notes for inclusion within the Statement of Accounts.
• Demonstrate ability to develop collaborative relationships with key stakeholders
• Previous experience of managing staff and the ability to set and meet deadlines.

Additional experience:

• Other higher-level qualification covering management or finance.
• Preparation of capital related policies, procedures and strategy reports.
• Knowledge and experience of preparation of other components within the Statement of Accounts.

At North Somerset Council, we value our employees and provide a supportive and inclusive work environment. You can expect to work mainly from home, with around one to two days per month in the office at Weston-super-Mare, as well as attending meetings or focused work sessions where required. During induction, more office time may be helpful to support learning and development

What we offer:

• We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment, including:
• competitive salary and benefits
• flexible working arrangements
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• professional development and learning opportunities
• 27 days annual leave, rising to 32 days after five years’ service
• option to purchase additional annual leave
• wellbeing support
• inclusive staff groups
• salary sacrifice, Cycle to Work, and Electric Vehicle schemes.

How to apply

Visit: https://itrent.n-somerset.gov.uk/ce0985li_webrecruitment/wrd/run/ETREC179GF.open?WVID=385762Qh12

Closing date: 11.59pm on Thursday 3 September 2026

Interview dates: Thursday 10 September 2026 to Thursday 17 September 2026

When completing our online application form, please explain how your skills, experience and qualifications meet the requirements of the role.

For further information about the role, call Lisa Smith, Finance Business Partner Capital on 07392 137 999 or email lisa.smith@n-somerset.gov.uk

As a Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job role. We are currently only able to accept applications from candidates who have full permission to work in the UK and are unable to provide Sponsorship for this role.

Please be aware that we will be reviewing the applications we receive on a daily basis, and we reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified. Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we regret that we are unable to respond to every applicant individually. If you do not hear from us within four weeks of the application closing date, please assume that your application has not been successful on this occasion.