Accountancy Manager - Deputy Section 151 Officer

Located in the heart of beautiful Gloucestershire, Stroud District Council is seeking an experienced, values driven finance professional to join our leadership team as our new Accountancy Manager & Deputy S151 Officer. This is a pivotal role at a time of both financial challenge and opportunity for local government, offering the chance to make a significant contribution to the Council’s financial sustainability, strategic decision making and service delivery.

As Accountancy Manager & Deputy S151 Officer, you will lead the Council’s technical finance and accountancy functions, ensuring robust financial governance, effective stewardship of public funds and high-quality financial advice across the organisation. You will play a central role in supporting the Council’s ambitions by ensuring that financial planning, budgeting and resource allocation are aligned with the Council Plan and corporate priorities.

This is a highly influential role, working closely with senior leaders, Members and budget managers across the organisation. You will oversee all aspects of the finance team’s work, including budget setting and monitoring, financial strategy, accounts production, treasury management and financial systems. You will provide clear, proactive and insightful financial advice that supports decision making and helps services achieve the best outcomes for residents and communities. In addition, you will deputise for the Strategic Head of Finance and S151 Officer, undertaking statutory responsibilities when required and contributing to the Council’s strategic leadership.

The role offers an exciting opportunity to further develop and modernise financial management arrangements, ensuring the Council remains resilient, innovative and financially sustainable in an increasingly complex environment. You will lead a skilled and committed team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration and professional excellence.

We are looking for a qualified accountant (CCAB or equivalent) with experience at a senior management level within a finance environment. You will bring strong technical accounting expertise, an excellent understanding of accounting codes of practice, and experience of budget setting, budget monitoring, accounts production, treasury management and financial systems. Equally important is your ability to communicate complex financial information clearly and confidently to a wide range of audiences, including those without a financial background.

You will be an effective and supportive leader who can motivate, inspire and develop others, manage competing priorities and deliver results in a politically sensitive environment. Experience of working within local government is desirable, together with an understanding of the governance, systems and processes required to fulfil statutory responsibilities.

At Stroud District Council, we are passionate about making a positive difference for our residents, businesses and communities. We are proud of our inclusive culture, our commitment to flexible working and wellbeing, and the strong relationships we have built across the organisation. We want people who share our values and who are motivated by public service and the opportunity to make a real impact.

We offer flexible hybrid working, although visibility and relationship building across the organisation will remain important.

To view the job description and person specification, please scroll to the bottom of the page, tick to agree to the privacy policy, then click 'Continue to full details'.

Contacts