Interim Head of Finance: Close Down

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

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