INTERIM HEAD OF FINANCE: CLOSE DOWN / DEPUTY CHIEF ACCOUNTANT /
Local Authority | Hybrid Working
Immediate Start
Initial Contract with Potential Extension
Excellent Daily Rate
Morgan Law is supporting a local authority client seeking an experienced and highly hands-on finance professional to help lead a complex financial reporting and audit programme.
This is a critical assignment requiring someone who can quickly take ownership of external audit relationships, drive year-end accounts production and help navigate multiple years of audit activity.
Key responsibilities include:
- Managing the external audit process end-to-end, including requests, evidence gathering and stakeholder coordination
- Liaising with auditors across:
- Current year audit (2025/26)
- Historical audit backlog (2021/22 to 2024/25)
- Value for Money (VfM) audits
Preparing and posting audit adjustments across the general ledger, CIES, MiRS, reserves and balance sheet areas
Updating and finalising the Statement of Accounts, including primary statements and disclosures
Leading year-end closedown activities and coordinating deadlines across the wider finance team
Managing and developing a small team, including graduate trainees and a Principal Finance Officer
Strengthening working papers and ensuring audit-ready financial reporting throughout
We are keen to speak with candidates who have operated as:
Chief Accountant
Deputy Chief Accountant
Technical Accountant
Head of Technical Accounting
Financial Reporting Manager
Corporate Accounting Manager
Essential experience:
- Strong local government finance background
- Extensive Statement of Accounts experience
- Detailed knowledge of CIPFA Code, IFRS, CIES, MiRS and reserves accounting
- Significant experience managing external audit relationships
- Experience dealing with audit backlogs and complex year-end processes
- Hands-on delivery approach rather than purely strategic oversight
If you’re interested, or know someone who may be suitable, please get in touch for a confidential discussion, messaging me at laraknights@morgam-law.com