About the job Salary: £67,406 to £74,667 a year plus £5,000 Market Rate Supplement and £3,203 Car Benefit Hours per week: 37 Contract type: Permanent Are you a visionary financial leader with a passion for strategic excellence and meticulous attention to detail? Do you thrive in high-stakes environments where your expertise directly shapes organisational success? If so, we want you as our next Chief Accountant to drive innovation, inspire teams, and lead the financial future of our Council. As the Chief Accountant, you will define excellence by shaping and implementing the Council's accounting policies, ensuring they align with best practices and professional standards. You will be the financial pillar, serving as a trusted advisor and driving robust financial policies that underpin our strategic goals. You will inspire leadership, by mentoring and empowering the Accountancy division, fostering a collaborative and innovative culture. You will also shape the future as our Deputy Section 151 Officer, influencing the Council's financial strategies to secure long-term sustainability. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who would like to take the next step in their career; as a key financial strategist, you'll help steer the economic success of one of the UK's busiest airports (London Luton Airport Limited). Your influence will directly support its financial planning, ensuring it's continued growth and contribution to the local economy. You will have the chance to dive into high profile initiatives such as multi-million-pound housing projects to innovative sustainability programmes, delivering financial solutions that will drive long-term community impact. With oversight of £600 million in Council income and management of £507 million operating costs for London Luton Airport Limited, you'll work at the forefront of complex and rewarding financial landscapes. Please note this role does not attract sponsorship. About you We are looking for someone with a full CCAB qualification (or equivalent) with a deep understanding of local government finance and accounting standards. The post holder will be required to have substantial financial and budget management experience, including project management and of managing complex financial systems or procedures. You must have proven experience in leading, motivating and developing high-performing teams. You'll have strong analytical skills to align financial strategies with organisational goals at the forefront. You must have the ability to convey complex financial concepts to diverse audiences with clarity and impact and a resilience to navigate change, with the foresight to anticipate challenges and opportunities which may arise. Knowledge of the Airport Industry would be advantageous. 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