Transformation Programme Accountant

Overview of the Transformation Programme Accountant role

Sellick Partnership is pleased to be supporting a local government organisation, in their search for a Transformation Programme Accountant for an initial 6 month contract.

The Transformation Accountant provides senior financial leadership across two major areas:

• The ERP Transformation Programme - managing the full programme budget, financial governance, cost control and forecasting across all ERP lifecycle phases (design, build, test, cutover, go-live, hypercare)
• The whole council Transformation Portfolio - leading financial planning, monitoring and reporting for the organisation's broader transformation activity, ensuring alignment and clear traceability back to the Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP)

Key responsibilities of the Transformation Programme Accountant will include:

• Budget Definition & Baseline Control
• Establish and maintain budget baselines for both the ERP Programme and Transformation Portfolio.
• Build and maintain the cost breakdown structure (CBS) including internal resources, suppliers, and contingency.
• Maintain budget version control and phased forecasting aligned to programme plans and milestones.

• Actuals Tracking & Month-End Control
• Reconcile actuals through council finance systems, ensuring accurate allocation to workstreams and cost categories.
• Produce monthly variance analysis with clear narrative and recommended actions.
• Support the year end cycle including accruals, prepayments and recharges.

• Forecasting (ETC / EAC)
• Own the programme and portfolio Forecast to Complete (ETC) and Estimate at Completion (EAC).
• Work with PMO and Workstream Leads to refine assumptions, phasing, and cost drivers.
• Quantify financial impacts of risks, delays, scope changes or extensions.

• Supplier Spend Governance & Invoice Assurance
• Maintain supplier spend trackers and invoice logs for SI partners and all vendors.
• Validate invoices against contractual terms, POs, milestones, deliverables and agreed rates.
• Track commitments and remaining contract values to support forward planning.
• Maintain audit ready documentation for all approvals and spend decisions

• Change Control Financial Management
• Maintain a financial impact log for all Change Requests (CRs).
• Support the Change Control Board (CCB) with affordability analysis and funding recommendations.
• Update budgets, forecasts, POs and reporting following CR approval.

• Programme Financial Reporting (programme board, TMO & steering group)
• Produce monthly finance packs for programme board, TMO and steering group.
• Provide clear narrative explaining variances, forecast movements, risks, mitigations and decisions required.
• Maintain dashboards and KPIs to monitor financial health.

• Controls, Audit & Assurance
• Maintain complete audit ready evidence packs including approvals, reconciliations and spend assurance.
• Support internal/external audit requests.
• Ensure compliance with financial policies, processes, and programme governance standards.

• Benefits Tracking Support
• Provide cost evidence to support benefits realisation and business case tracking.
• Report programme spend to date and cost to achieve benefits

Required experience/qualifications for the Transformation Programme Accountant:

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA / ACCA / CIMA)
• Programme/Project Finance experience within local government or wider public sector
• Forecasting, modelling and reconciliations experience
• Advanced Excel
• ERP Programme finance experience