About the job Salary: £51,802 - £54,924 a year plus £3,203 car benefit allowance Hours per week: 37 Contract type: Permanent As a Principal Accountant, you will play a pivotal role in leading, coordinating, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality financial management services across critical areas of Adults Social Care, Children's Social care and Transport, Public health and partnership working with Health (ICB). You will be responsible for overseeing budget monitoring for revenue, capital, and balance sheet accounts, ensuring all financial data is accurate, timely, and aligns with corporate policies and best professional practices. A key aspect of your role will involve working closely with senior managers, budget holders, and finance teams, providing expert financial advice and guidance to support strategic decision-making. You will also take charge of preparing revenue and capital estimates, budget profiling, and managing trading accounts, ensuring compliance with all financial regulations. Additionally, you will lead specialist projects, contribute to working groups, and continuously review and improve financial processes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness. Acting as a key point of contact for auditors, you will ensure the provision of timely and accurate financial information, and when required, deputise for the Finance Business Partner to ensure seamless financial operations across the organisation. Key responsibilities will include leading on financial planning, forecasting, and monitoring across high-value and high-risk budgets, ensuring robust financial governance in Adults' and Children's Social Care, Public Health, and Health integration. Supporting financial sustainability and transformation projects in collaboration with operational teams and external health partners. Developing and implementing financial strategies that optimise resources while meeting service delivery objectives. Ensuring compliance with funding regulations, grant conditions, and financial frameworks, particularly in areas involving NHS funding, pooled budgets, and social care grants. This role will require close collaboration with Integrated Care Systems (ICS), Integrated Care Boards (ICB), NHS Trusts, and partner organisations, ensuring financial alignment across health and social care. Please note this role does not attract sponsorship. About you You'll be a highly experienced and qualified accountant (CCAB or part-qualified with extensive experience) with a deep understanding of financial management in a complex service areas particularly in Adults and Children's Social Care, Public Health and health Partnerships. Your expertise includes budgeting, financial planning, year-end closure, and financial modelling, coupled with a proven ability to provide strategic financial advice at a senior level. You'll have substantial experience in using IT-based financial systems and possess excellent analytical skills that enable you to interpret and present complex financial information clearly to a range of stakeholders. Your expertise will include: Budgeting, financial planning, and year-end closure, particularly in local authority-funded social care and NHS-funded services. Financial modelling and analysis, providing insight to drive efficiency and inform strategic decisions. Navigating complex funding streams and regulations, including pooled budgets, Better Care Fund (BCF), and Public Health grants. Your ability to lead and motivate a team sets you apart, and you thrive in a role where you can influence and challenge decision-making processes. You are an excellent communicator, adept at building relationships with senior managers and non-financial professionals. A problem solver, excel in managing projects, implementing process improvements, and responding flexibly to changing priorities and tight deadlines. Additionally, you'll have a strong understanding of equality issues and legislation, ensuring inclusivity in service delivery. Willing to travel across the Borough and occasionally beyond, you are committed to delivering excellence in financial management and contributing to the success of the organisation. About us Our ambitious Luton 2040 Vision - that no-one in Luton will have to live in poverty - is at the heart of everything we do. We recognise that our people are remarkable, talented, committed and passionate about serving our residents. The people of Luton depend heavily on this council - and that means our workforce Are you ready to realise the remarkable and help us deliver our vision? Benefits We offer a range of excellent staff benefits which include: - From 25 to 32 days' annual leave: linked to length of service and grade - Buying annual leave scheme: buy up to 20 days additional annual leave - Career Pathways: step up in your career or move into a specialist area - Pension scheme: with generous employer contributions of up to 20.2 per cent (at July 2023) and 3x salary death in service grant - Generous relocation package: up to £8,000 (subject to eligibility) - Employee Assistance Programme: a free, 24/7 confidential counselling and wellbeing support service available to all employees, their partner or spouse and dependent children over 16 still living at home - Work/life balance: flexible working options including working from home where possible. We welcome requests for flexible working arrangements including part-time hours and alternative working patterns - Training and support: unlimited access to development courses, mentoring and support and clear career pathways - Staff offers: includes discounts on your MOT, gym and fitness, restaurants and salons - Arriva Travel Club: great value savings on local bus travel